Lok Sabha Question No. 710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Financial Support to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth, S. Gnanathiraviam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 710

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 th  JULY, 2023

## FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FARMERS

## 710.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has increased the financial support provided to farmers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the difficulties due to mounting debts and crop loss faced by the farmers leading to their suicide; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the effective steps taken by the Government to mitigate the farmers crisis and safeguard their lives?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): In  the  year  2013-14,  the  budget  allocation  of  Department  of  Agriculture  and Farmers' Welfare was Rs. 21,933.50 crore. This has been increased by more than 5.26 time to Rs. 1,15,531.79 crore in 2023-24.
- (c) & (d): Agriculture  being  a  State  Subject,  the  State  Governments  take  appropriate measures for  development  of  agriculture  and  welfare  of  farmers  in  the  States.  However, Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  States  and  welfare  of  farmers  through appropriate  policy  measures  and  budgetary  support  and  various  schemes/  programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India are meant for the welfare of farmers  by  increasing  production,  remunerative  returns  and  income  support  to  farmers, which include:
- i. Income support to farmers through PM KISAN
- ii. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
- iii. Fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one-and-a half times the cost of production
- iv. Promotion of organic farming in the country
- v. Per Drop More Crop
- vi. Micro Irrigation Fund
- vii. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- viii. A National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
- ix. Agricultural Mechanization
- x. Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers
- xi. Setting up of National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) extension Platform
- xii. Launch of the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm
- xiii. Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
- xiv. Improvement in farm produce logistics, Introduction of Kisan Rail.
- xv. MIDH - Cluster Development Programme:
- xvi. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector
- xvii. Achievement in Export of Agri and Allied Agri- Commodities

Government of India is implementing Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) to provide  short  term  agri-loans  availed  by  farmers  through  KCC  at  concessional  rate  of interest to meet their working capital requirements.

Further, in the event of disaster of a severe nature, additional financial assistance is extended  from  the  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF),  as  per  the  laid  down procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team  (IMCT).  As  per  the  guidelines  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs,  assistance towards  input  subsidy  is  provided  for  crop  loss  of  33%  and  above  and  restricted  to  2 hectares per farmer.

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