Lok Sabha Question No. 228 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Workforce Engaged in Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.228

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## WORKFORCE ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE

*228.  SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

- be pleased to state: (a) the details regarding the area under agriculture in the country; (b) the percentage of the country's workforce engaged in agriculture; (c) the details of the country's workforce that shifted from agriculture to industry and service sector during the last five financial years, State/UT wise; (d) whether more workers need to be weaned out of the agricultural sector; and if so, the steps taken by the Government to incentivize workers to move out of

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

- (e) the agricultural sector?

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 228 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2023.

(a) to (e): As per the latest Land Use Statistics-at a Glance 2021-22 net sown area and gross cropped area in the country during 2021-22 are 1,410 lakh hectares and 2,191 lakh hectares, respectively.

According  to  the  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  the  National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry  of Statistics  and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), about 45.76% of the total workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sector during 2022-23.

The shift in workforce from primary (agriculture) sector to secondary and tertiary sectors is a normal phenomenon of the development process experienced by countries across the world and the same is true for India as well. Agriculture contributes around 15% of Gross Value Added (GVA) in the total economy and has been growing at 4.3% during last six years.

The Government of India has implemented various initiatives and policies to boost economic growth and employment in the country. These initiatives vary across the sectors as a  broader strategy to  promote  economic  growth  and  targeting  towards  creation  of infrastructures, create employment opportunities, and address developmental challenges.  The  economic  strategy  has  also  focussed  upon  industrial,  particularly manufacturing, and services sectors to boost employment growth to facilitate movement of labour from agriculture to these sectors.

The Government is implementing various schemes, which play a pivotal role in promoting agro-based industries by fostering a comprehensive and supportive ecosystem across  the  agricultural  value  chain.  These  schemes  include  Agriculture  Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs, National beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Namo Drone Didi, National Bamboo Mission (NBM), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region. These schemes contribute to the growth and development of agro based industries through infrastructure development, post-harvest management, farmer collectives, promoting agri start-ups etc. Some of the major initiatives of the Government include:

1. Make in India: Make in India initiative was launched in 2014, to facilitate investment, foster innovation,  building  best in class infrastructure, and making India a hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. The development of a robust manufacturing sector continues to be a key priority of the Indian Government. Since its launch, Make in  India  initiative  has  made  significant  achievements and  presently  focuses on  27
2. sectors under Make in India 2.0. which is implemented across various Ministries/Departments, Central Government, State Governments. Due to Make in India Initiative, FDI equity inflow in the manufacturing sector between 2014-2022 has increased by 57% over the previous 8 years i.e. 2006- 2014.
2. National  Infrastructure  Pipeline  (NIP): The  NIP  is  a  government  initiative  that focuses on enhancing infrastructure development across various sectors, including roads,  railways,  energy,  and  urban  infrastructure.  This  can  stimulate  economic growth and create jobs. The NIP currently has 8,964 projects with a total investment of more than ₹108 lakh crore under different stages of implementation
3. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Initiative): Introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative focuses on building a self-reliant and resilient India. It includes economic stimulus packages, reforms, and policies to boost  various  sectors  and  create  employment  opportunities.  The  scheme,  which remained  open  for  registrations  until  March  31,  2022,  had  set  a  target  to  benefit approximately 7.18 million employees across India. As of July 31, 2023, the scheme has already achieved an enrolment of over 7.58 million new employees, surpassing its initial employment generation target.
4. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Keeping in view country's vision of becoming  'Atmanirbhar',  Production  Linked  Incentive  (PLI)  Schemes  for  14  key sectors have been announced with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore to enhance India's Manufacturing capabilities and Exports. The purpose of the PLI Schemes is to attract investments in key sectors and cutting-edge technology; ensure efficiency and bring economies of size and scale in the manufacturing sector and make Indian companies and  manufacturers  globally  competitive.  These  schemes  have  the  potential  of significantly  boosting  production, employment and economic growth over the next five years or so. The scheme has potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.
5. Skill India Mission: Launched as part of the "Make in India" initiative, Skill India aims to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills. This includes providing training for non-agricultural employment opportunities. Under the scheme skill, re-skill and up-skill  trainings  are  delivered  through  an  extensive  network  of  skill  development centres/colleges/institutes etc. under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan  (JSS),  National  Apprenticeship Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsman  Training  Scheme  (CTS)  through Industrial  Training  Institutes  (ITIs).  Under  the  Scheme,  140  lakh  persons  under PMKVY, 22 lakh persons  under  JSS,  25  lakh  persons  under  NAPS  and  65  lakh persons under CTS have been trained.

Apart from the above, Government is also implementing, amongst others, Start-up India,  PM  Gati  Shakti,  Digital  India,  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY),  Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) etc. These would also boost economic growth and employment generation.

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