Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Skill Development among Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Mehboob Ali Kaiser

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 121

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG FARMERS

* 121.  CH. MEHBOOB ALI KAISER: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) the details of schemes being implemented by the Government to promote skill development among farmers in agriculture and allied sectors; (b) the amount of funds earmarked and spent under the said schemes during each of the last three years and the current year; and (c) the  details  of  initiatives  proposed  by  the  Government  to  increase  capacity

- building of farmers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 121 FOR 12.12.2023 REGARDING SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG FARMERS:

(a) to (c): The Government has initiated and is implementing the following schemes aimed to promote skill development and capacity building among farmers in the agriculture and allied sectors: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 'Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms' popularly known as Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA)  is    implemented  across  the  country.  The  scheme  promotes  decentralized farmer-friendly  Extension  system  in  the  country  with  an  objective  to  support  State Government's efforts to revitalize the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers. During the last 3 years from 2020-21 to 202223  and  current  year  2023-24  (upto  November,  2023)  48.07  lakh  farmers  availed training benefits under ATMA. The Government is implementing skill development programmes through Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in different States of the Country with mandate of technology assessment and demonstration for its use and capacity building.  As part of its activities, the KVKs impart training to the farmers,  farm  women  and  rural  youth  on  different  aspects  of  agriculture  and  allied sectors for their capacity building. The KVKs trained 73.75 lakh farmers, farm women and rural youth during last three years and current year. The Government has launched National Skill Development Mission under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in July 2015, under which the DA&FW has been operationalising skill training courses for rural youth and farmers as per the approved Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI)  in  the  areas  of  agriculture  and  allied  sectors  through  the  National  Training Institutes  (NTIs),  State  Agriculture  Management  and  Extension  Training  Institutes (SAMETIs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)  and  State  Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs).    MSDE,  under  Pradhan  Mantri Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY)  9.72  lakh  candidates  have  been  trained/oriented under Agriculture and allied sector as on 31.10.2023.

The  Government has  launched  Skill  Training  of  Rural  Youth  (STRY)  in  2015 with the objective to impart short term skill training (7 days duration inclusive of 1 day for  local  travel)  to  rural  youths  and  farmers  in  agriculture  and  allied  areas  for upgradation of their knowledge and skills and promote wage/self employment in rural areas.  The  National  Institute  of  Agricultural  Extension  Management  (MANAGE)  is implementing  STRY  across  the  country  through  State  Agricultural  Management  & Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs), ATMA and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

Centre of  Excellence  (CoE)  for  Horticulture  is  an  approved  component  under Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  for  different  horticulture crops.  More  than  3.60  lakh  farmers  have  been  trained  in  these  centres.  There  is provision in  the Operational  Guidelines  of  Per Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC) for  creating awareness,  organizing  training  programs,  exposure  visits  etc.  to  the  farmers  by  the states.

Also under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), a component  namely  'Promotion  and  Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing and Demonstration' is aimed for skill development programme in various fields of agriculture mechanisation. During 2020-21 to 2023-24 (Upto  November,  2023),  52,080  trainees  have  been  trained  on  various  aspects  of agricultural  mechanisation  which has helped them in improving their skill levels. The Government has also recently approved Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to  the  Women  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  1261  Crores.  The scheme  aims  to  provide  trainings  and  drones  to  15000  selected  Women  SHGs  for providing  rental  services  to  farmers  for  agriculture  purpose  (application  of  fertilizers and pesticides).

The  Capacity  building  component  of  the  PM  Formalisation  of  Micro  food processing Enterprises (PMFME)  Scheme of  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries (MoFPI)  envisages  providing 24  Hours/  3  Days,  Food  Processing  Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) Training for, all applicants viz. individuals and Groups (Self  Help  Groups  /  Farmers  Producer  Organizations/  Cooperatives).  Under  the PMFME Scheme, a total of 54,767 beneficiaries have been trained till 30th November 2023.

Under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) of Ministry of Rural Development  (MoRD),  there  is  provision  for  training  SHGs  and  Farmers  on  drone applications, Natural Farming, Agro Ecological Practices,  Organic Farming,   Millets, Value  chain  Development,  Micro  irrigation,  livestock  management,  fisheries  and Scientific collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce etc. A total of 1,94,057 Community Resource Persons were trained on the above activities under the programme.

Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  imparted  training  to 12,500 Aquaculture Farmers & Marine Capture Fishermen.

The amount of funds earmarked, spent and farmers  trained under ATMA and Skill trainings by DA&FW during 2020-21 to 2023-24 are given at Annexure-I.

*****

Annexure-I

The amount of funds earmarked, spent and farmers trained under ATMA and Skill trainings by DA&FW during 2020-21 to 2023-24.

| Year     |   Funds Earmarked (Rs. in Crores) |   Funds Spent (Rs. in Crores) |   Farmers trained (Nos.) |
|----------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 2020-21  |                            845.07 |                        632.67 |                  1398571 |
| 2021-22  |                            882.74 |                        555.36 |                  1372995 |
| 2022-23  |                            732.56 |                        478.05 |                  1443795 |
| 2023-24* |                            611.23 |                        367.62 |                   635677 |
| TOTAL    |                           3071.6  |                       2033.7  |                  4851038 |

*Upto November, 2023