Lok Sabha Question No. 2036 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Agricultural Budget
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Hasnain Masoodi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2036

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 st  AUGUST, 2023

## AGRICULTURAL BUDGET

2036.  SHRI HASNAIN MASOODI :

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) the details of allocations made in the agricultural budget to address the challenges of climate change and promote crop diversity in the country; (b) if so, the details of the manner in which the agricultural budget reflect the Government's commitment  to  sustainable  and  resilient  farming  practices  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; (c) whether the Government has list of specific  programmes or schemes  introduced to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agricultural sector; (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (e) the details of research and development activities supported by the agricultural budget to address climate change challenges; and

- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): The Government is taking several steps to address the challenges of climate change and promote crop diversity in the country. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the Government in 2008 which provides an overarching policy framework  for  climate  action  in  the  country.  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA) being implemented by  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers Welfare  is  one  of  the Missions within the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The Mission aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate.  NMSA was approved for three major components i.e. Rainfed Area Development (RAD);  On  Farm  Water  Management  (OFWM);  and  Soil  Health  Management  (SHM). Subsequently,  new  programmes  such  as  namely  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC),  Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  in  North  Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Per Drop More Crop, National Bamboo Mission (NBM) etc. were also included. The details of scheme-wise allocations made in the agricultural budget to address the challenges of climate change and promote crop diversity in the country are given below:

| Schemes                                                                        |   Budget Allocation 2023-24 (Rs. Crores) |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Pramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY)                                          |                                   469.85 |
| Mission on Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) |                                   200    |
| Crops Diversification                                                          |                                    95    |
| National Food Security Mission (NFSM)                                          |                                  1623    |
| Rainfed Area Development (RAD)                                                 |                                   227.93 |
| Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme                                               |                                  2655.45 |
| Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)                      |                                  1965.98 |
| National Bamboo Mission (NBM)                                                  |                                    50    |
| National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)                  |                                    48.15 |

(e) & (f): The  following  research  and  development  activities  are  being  supported  to address climate change challenges:

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  under  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers  Welfare,  Government  of  India  has  launched  a  flagship  network  project  namely National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA)to  promote  climate  resilient agricultural practices. NICRA project is a multi-sectoral, multi-location program carrying the major mandate of addressing climate change and variability, and addressing range of stake holders  needs across  the  country.  Research,  demonstration and  capacity building  are  the three  major  components,  besides  providing  policy  briefs  on  several  aspects  related  to agriculture and climate change.

Under NMSA, Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme was launched during 2015-16 to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Till date an area of 78.48 lakh hectare has been covered under  Micro  irrigation  through  the  PDMC  scheme  from  the  year  2015-16.  Rainfed  Area Development (RAD) scheme is being implemented as a component under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) from 2014-15 in the country. RAD focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Till date an area of 7.11 lakh hectares has been covered under RAD programme from  the  year  2014-15.  The  restructured  National  Bamboo  Mission  (NBM)  was  launched during  2018-19  as  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  subsequent  to  the  historical amendment of the Indian Forest Act during 2017 to exclude bamboo from the definition of tree. During the year 2022-23 the NBM has been merged with Mission for Integrated Development of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  scheme.  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC) /  Soil  Health  Management  (SHM) scheme is operational through the State Governments under National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility. Now, this scheme has been merged as Soil Health Component of Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  from  the  year  2022-23.  The  main  objective  of  the scheme  is  to  assist  states  in  promoting  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM)  through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures & bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity. Soil Health Card provides information to farmers on soil nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. So far 22.71 crore grid based soil health cards have been distributed to farmers under the scheme. For promoting organic farming, under Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER), 379 Farmer Producer Companies have been formed comprising of 1.89 lakh farmers and covering an area of 1.73 lakh ha. Mission for Integrated Development of  Horticulture (MIDH) is being implemented in which an area of 11.26 lakh ha have been covered. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was initiated to promote organic farming in the country and so far 11.80 lakh ha area has been covered.

The achievements of ICAR in the field of research on climate resilient agriculture include the following;

-  In total, 1888 climate resilient crop varieties including 891 of cereals, 319 of oilseeds, 338 of pulses, 103 of forage crops, 182 of fibre crops, 45 of sugar crops, and 10 of other crops have been developed.
-  Participatory technology development of climate resilient practices has been undertaken  involving  farmers  in  risk  assessment,  demonstration  and  adaptation techniques  in  151  clusters  covering  454  villages,  with  a  footprint  of  2.13  lakh households, on 2.36 lakh hectares of land.
-  68 climate resilient technologies have been demonstrated in 454 villages on 15857 farmers' fields during 2014-23.
-  88 biocontrol agents, 31 biopesticides and 41 Biofertilizers have been documented and  circulated.  Drip  fertigation  schedules  for  35  crops  and  cropping  systems  for achieving  higher  water  and  nutrient  use  efficiency  have  been  standardized.  Also District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs) for 650 Districts have been developed.
-  To protect the farmers from abnormal weather conditions ICAR in collaboration with India  Meteorological  Department (IMD) is issuing Agromet advisories twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) to around 6 crore farmers of the country through Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva program.

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