Lok Sabha Question No. 2334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Model Farms for Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2334

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  AUGUST 2024

## MODEL FARMS FOR FARMERS

## 2334. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any specific plans to create model farms for small-holding farmers and increase their income through agricultural diversification, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there are any initiatives to increase the production of pulses and oilseeds and make India self-reliant in these crops;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, including the specific measures being taken to achieve this goal; and
- (d) whether the Government is working on improving the storage system for grain production to ensure better preservation and reduce wastage and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): Government  of  India  is  very  concerned  about  agriculture  and  welfare  of farmers and it is consistently working in collaboration with the State Governments to address various  issues.  Agriculture  being  a  State  Subject,  Government  of  India  supplements  the efforts of States through appropriate policy  measures  and  budgetary  support.  The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 27,662.67 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,32,469.86 crore BE during 2024-25.

Enhanced budgetary provisions have been made to facilitate the below mentioned efforts of the Government. 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:

1. Income support to farmers through PM KISAN
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY)
3. Institutional credit for agriculture sector
4. Fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one-and-a half times the cost of production
5. Promotion of organic farming in the country
6. Per Drop More Crop
7. Micro Irrigation Fund
8. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
9. National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
10. Agricultural Mechanization
11. Namo Drone Didi
12. Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers
13. Setting up of National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) extension Platform
14. Launch of the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)
15. Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
16. Improvement in farm produce logistics, Introduction of Kisan Rail.
17. Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  -  Cluster  Development Programme:
18. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector
19. Achievement in Export of Agri and Allied Agri- Commodities

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  has  established  five  national  level research institutes for conducting basic and strategic research on nine oilseed crops and 12 pulse crops for enhancing their productivity potential and tolerance/resistance to various biotic and  abiotic stresses  and  increasing  their  nutritional quality.  For  developing  location (ecosystem) specific high yielding varieties and good management practices of oilseeds and pulses, seven multi- disciplinary all India coordinated research projects (AICRPs) are also being implemented in collaboration with the state agricultural universities. Consequently, a total of 383 high yielding climate resilient varieties/hybrids of oilseed crops and 398 varieties of different pulses have been released and notified for commercial cultivation during the last ten years (2014-2024). Varieties of pulses (mungbean and urdbean) and oilseeds (mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean and sunflower) of short maturity duration (60-100 days) along with photo-thermo insensitivity traits have also been developed, thus making them suitable for new niches, different seasons and different cropping sequences so as to enhance India's cropping intensity.

Novel research activities for breaking yield barriers such as genome editing and fasttracking  development  of  improved  mega-varieties  of  oilseeds  and  pulses  through  marker assisted breeding have also been taken up in these crops. Development of good agronomic practices such as application of secondary and micro-nutrients, post emergence herbicides, micro-irrigation, mechanization and minimizing the post-harvest losses are also done.

During the last five years (2019-20 to 2023-24), a total of about 153704 quintals breeder seed of indented varieties of oilseeds and 80205 quintals breeder seed of pulses were produced and supplied to the public/private seed agencies for conversion into certified quality seed for farmers. The ICAR is also engaged in augmenting the availability of quality certified/TFL seed of oilseeds and pulses for farmers through 185 district level seed hubs on oilseeds and pulses.

Government  of  India  is  implementing Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH)  for  holistic  development  of  horticulture  sector,  under  which  financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities including setting up of Pack Houses, Integrated  Pack  House,  cold  storages,  Reefer  Transport,  Ripening  Chamber  etc.  The component is demand/entrepreneur driven for which Government assistance in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy is available at the rate of 35% of the project cost in general areas and at the rate of 50% of the project cost in hilly and scheduled areas through respective State Horticulture Mission(s) (SHMs).

*****