Lok Sabha Question No. 53 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Farmer Suicides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Nusrat Jahan Ruhi, Chandrani Murmu

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 53

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## FARMER SUICIDES

- *53. MS. NUSSRAT JAHAN: MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that farmer suicides have increased during the last five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year and State-wise;
- (c) the details of major causes of such suicides by farmers;
- (d) whether debt is one of major reasons attributed to suicides by farmers;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to sensitize farmers and to stop suicides by farmers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the house.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 53  REGARDING 'FARMER SUICIDES' FOR REPLY ON 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

(a) to (f):    The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides  in  its  publication  titled  'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India' (ADSI). The report till 2022 is available on NCRB website (https://ncrb.gov.in). In the ADSI Reports, separate reasons for farmers' suicide have not been given.

Government of  India  has  identified  the  following  seven  sources  for  enhancing  income growth of farmers: -

- i. Increase in crop productivity
- ii. Increase in livestock productivity
- iii. Resource use efficiency - reduction in cost of production
- iv. Increase in cropping intensity
- v. Diversification to high value agriculture
- vi. Remunerative prices on farmers' produce
- vii. Shift of surplus manpower from farm to non-farm occupations

To  achieve  the  above  seven  objectives,  Government  of  India  supplements  the efforts  of  States  and  welfare  of  farmers  through  appropriate  policy  measures  and budgetary support and various schemes/ programmes. 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. 1,25,035.79 crore BE during 2023-24.

Agriculture and welfare of farmers are major concern for Government of India. In 2015  the  name  of  the  Ministry  has  been  re-designated  as  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers welfare with the main objective of working for welfare of farmers.  Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare as well as other stakeholder Ministries like Ministry of Cooperation, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries and Ministry  of  Rural  Development  have  launched  various  schemes/programmes  to  make agriculture more remunerative and farmers may get maximum benefit.

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 Bima Yojana (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. Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers
12. Namo Drone Didi
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  benefit  accruing  from  the  above  schemes  are  summarized  in  terms  of achievement is at Annexure-I .

Additionally, DARE, which is a part of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, implemented  schemes  which  have  yield  remarkable  results  towards  augmenting  the income of the farmers. Indian Council  of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  released  a book, which contains compilation of success stories of 75,000 farmers out of innumerable successful farmers who have increased their income more than two times.

The expenditure on farmers' welfare in the country has improved manifold in 202223 i.e. 6.5 lakh crore was spent in this year alone. Details of spending as per Revised Estimate by the Central Government during 2022-23 on agriculture and allied sectors for welfare of farmers are as follows;

| Item of Expenditure                                  |   Amount (Rs in crore) |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|
| Fertilizer subsidy                                   |                 225220 |
| Food subsidy                                         |                 287194 |
| Agriculture & allied activities (Excluding PM-KISAN) |                  76279 |
| PM-KISAN                                             |                  60000 |
| Total                                                |                 648693 |

Besides, there are many  Schemes  implemented by other Ministries and Departments of the Government of India where majority of the beneficiaries are farmers (RE 2022-23)

| Sl No.   | Department/ Scheme                                                    | Amount in crore)                | (Rs                             |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1        | Department of Rural Development                                       | Department of Rural Development | Department of Rural Development |
| i        | Pradhan MantriAwasYojana- Rural (PMAY)                                | 48,422                          |                                 |
| ii       | Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)                               | 19,000                          |                                 |
| iii      | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MNREGS) | 89400                           |                                 |
| iv       | National Social Assistance Programme (Pension)                        | 9,652                           |                                 |
| v        | National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)                              | 13336.42                        |                                 |
| 2        | Ministry of Jal Shakti                                                | Ministry of Jal Shakti          |                                 |
| i        | Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchaiYojana (PMKSY)                             | 7084.50                         |                                 |
| ii       | Jal Jeevan Mission/ National Rural Drinking Water Programme           | 54808.87                        |                                 |
| 3        | Department of Fisheries                                               | 1624.18                         |                                 |
| 4        | Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying                           | 3105.17                         |                                 |
|          | Total                                                                 | 2,46,433.14                     |                                 |

Among  the  Ministries  which  constitute  allied  sectors  of  agricultural  sector  and  their achievements are given below:

- I. Ministry of Cooperation is at Annexure-II
- II. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is at Annexure-III
- III. Department of Fisheries is at Annexure-IV

Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  scheme  on commercial crops viz., cotton, jute &allied fibres and sugarcane in 19 states viz., Assam, Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh,  Uttarakhand  and  West  Bengal for  enhancing  production  &  productivity  under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) from 2014-15. Under this scheme, thrust has been given on transfer of technology through frontline demonstrations and training in order to extend benefits to the farmers. Allocation (central share) made to the states under the scheme during last 3 years & current year is given below:

(Rs in crores)

| Year    |   Allocation |
|---------|--------------|
| 2020-21 |        32.42 |
| 2021-22 |        32.62 |
| 2022-23 |        36.92 |
| 2023-24 |        41.66 |

The government announces an annual target for agriculture credit every year. The Department of Financial Services, in association/consultation with RBI & NABARD, is also taking several measures/initiatives to increase the flow of credit to Agriculture including fixing of target for agriculture lending to each scheduled commercial bank and cooperative bank. The Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target for agriculture is 18% of the Adjusted Net Bank  Credit.      Ground  Level  Credit  (GLC)/ Agricultural  credit  flow  has  consistently progressed  yearly.  The  agriculture  credit  flow  target  for  2022-23  has  been  fixed  at Rs.18,50,000 crores, against the target total achievement of Rs. 21,55,163 crores.

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC), which has been in operation since August 1998, has emerged  as  an  innovative  credit  delivery  mechanism  to  meet  the  production  credit requirements of farmers in a timely and hassle-free manner. The scheme has since been simplified  by  providing  the  farmers  with  ATM-enabled  debit  cards  based  on  one-time documentation, multiple withdrawals within the limit, built-in cost escalation in the limit, etc. During 2018-19, the KCC Scheme and benefits of interest subvention were extended to animal husbandry and fisheries farmers.

The  GoI  is  implementing  the  Modified  Interest  Subvention  Scheme  (MISS)  to provide short-term agri-loans availed by farmers through KCC at a concessional rate of interest to meet their working capital requirements. Under this scheme, interest subvention is provided on short-term loans of up to Rs 3 lakh drawn on KCC to ensure that the loan becomes available to all farmers, including women farmers, at an interest rate of 7% per annum. An additional 3% subvention is also given to the farmers for prompt and timely repayment of loans, thus reducing the effective rate of interest to 4% per annum. In case of short-term loans availed for allied activities like animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, etc, the interest subvention is available on the loan amount up to Rs. 2.00 lakh at the rate of 7%. An additional 3% interest subvention is also available on it.

Though KCC is a demand driven scheme but DA&FW time and again has also run special  campaign  for  increasing  the  saturation  of  KCC.  Currently,  'Ghar  Ghar  KCC Abhiyan',  is  in  progress  with  a  special  focus  on  saturating  PM  KISAN  beneficiaries  to extend the benefit of KCC and interest subvention to the farmers. Further, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) was also conducted to raise awareness through outreach activities to  achieve  saturation  of  various  schemes,  including  KCC.  In  addition,  under  the  PM JANMAN Yojana, the government aims to saturate PVTGs with other centrally sponsored schemes, including the KCC.

## Schemes/ Programmes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

## 1. Unprecedented enhancement in budget allocation

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. 1,25,035.79 crore BE during 2023-24.

## 2. Income support to farmers through PM KISAN

Launch of PM-KISAN in 2019 -an income support scheme providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal installments. More than Rs . 2.81 lakh crore has been released so far to more than 11 crore farmers as on 30.11.2023.

## 3. Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana (PMFBY)

Seven year (Provisional) - PMFBY was launched in 2016 addressing problems of high premium rates for farmers and reduction in sum insured due to capping. In past 7 Years of implementation - 49.44 crore farmer applications enrolled and over 14.06 crore (Provisional) farmer applicants have received claims of over Rs. 1,46,664 crore.   During this period nearly Rs. 29,183 crore were paid by farmers as their share of premium against which claims over Rs. 1,46,664 crore (Provisional) have been paid to them.   Thus for every  100 rupees of premium paid by farmers, they have received about  Rs. 502  as claims.

DigiClaimFor  transparency  in  calculation  and  payment  of  claims,  Claim  Payment Module to workout claims and to transfer these claims directly to the farmer's account is being done through National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) using PFMS platform. This initiative has been launched on 23rd March, 2023 for implementation from Kharif  2022 season claims onwards.  All the claims are now been paid by insurance companies directly to farmers account through Digiclaim.

## 4. Institutional credit for agriculture sector

- i. Increased from Rs. 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 21.55 lakh crore in 2022-23.
- ii. Benefit of concessional institutional credit through KCC at 4% interest per annum has  also  now  been  extended  to  Animal  Husbandry  and  Fisheries  farmers  for meeting their short-term working capital needs.
- iii. A special drive has been undertaken since February 2020 to provide concessional institutional credit with focus on covering all PM-KISAN beneficiaries through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). As on 05.01.2024, 465.42 lakh new KCC applications have been sanctioned with a sanctioned credit limit of Rs. 5,69,974 crore as part of the drive.

## 5. Fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one-and-a half times the cost of production

- i. Government  has  increased  the  MSP  for  all  mandated  Kharif,  Rabi  and  other commercial  crops  with  a  return  of  at  least  50  per  cent  over  all  India  weighted average cost of production from 2018-19.
- ii. MSP for Paddy (common) has increased to Rs. 2,183 per quintal in 2023-24 from Rs. 1,310 per quintal in 2013-14.
- iii. MSP for Wheat increased from Rs. 1,400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs. 2,275 per quintal in 2023-24.

## 6. Promotion of organic farming in the country

- i. ParamparagatKrishiVikasYojana  (PKVY)  was  initiated  in  2015-16  to  promote organic farming in the country. 32,384 clusters have been formed and an area of 6.53  lakh  hectare  has  been  covered  benefitting  16.19  lakh  farmers.  In  addition, Under  NamamiGangeProgramme  1.23  lakh  hectare  area  covered  and  under natural farming 4.09 lakh hectare area covered.
- ii. Government also proposes to promote sustainable natural farming systems through the scheme BhartiyaPrakratikKrishiPadhati (BPKP). The proposed scheme aims at cutting down cost of cultivation, enhancing farmer's income and ensuring resource conservation and, safe and healthy soils, environment and food.
- iii. Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER) has  been  launched.  379  Farmer  Producer  Companies have  been  formed comprising of 189039 farmers and covering 1,72,966 hectare area.

## 7. Per Drop More Crop:

Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme was launched in the year 2015-16 which aims to increase water use efficiency, reducing cost of inputs and increasing productivity at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. So far, an area of 81.87 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro irrigation through the PDMC scheme from the year 2015-16 and central assistance of Rs. 18,893.74 crore has been released.

## 8. Micro Irrigation Fund:

A Micro  Irrigation  Fund  of  initial  corpus  Rs 5,000 crore has  been  created  with NABARD.  In the  Budget  Announcement  for  2021-22,  the  corpus  of  the  fund  is  to  be increased to Rs.10,000 crores. Projects worth Rs 4,710.96 crore have been approved so far.

## 9. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

- i. A  new  Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Formation  &  Promotion  of  new  10,000  FPOs launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 29th February, 2020 with budget outlay of Rs 6,865 Crore till 2027-28.
- ii. As on 31.12.2023, 7,774 no. of FPOs have been registered under new FPO scheme.
- iii. Equity Grant of Rs. 129.5 Crore has been released to 2,933 FPOs.
- iv. Credit Guarantee Cover worth Rs. 226.7 Cr. issued to 994 FPOs

10. The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM ) was launched in 2020 as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with an outlay of Rs. 500.00 crore for the period of 3 years, i.e., 2020-21 to 2022-23, and the scheme has been extended for next three years, i.e., 2023-24 to 2025-26, with the remaining available budget of Rs. 370.00 crore from the allocated budget of Rs. 500.00 crore for the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping and to achieve the goal of "Sweet Revolution".

## 11. Agricultural Mechanization :

Agricultural mechanization is extremely vital to modernize agriculture and reduce drudgery of farming operations. During the period from 2014-15 to March, 2023 an amount of Rs.6405.55 crore have been allocated for agricultural mechanization. 15,23,650numbers  of  machines  and  equipments  have  been  provided  to  farmers  on subsidy.   23,018 custom hiring centers, 475 high-tech hubs and 20,461 farm machinery banks have been established to make available agricultural machines and equipments to the  farmers  on  rental  basis.  During  2023-24,  Rs.252.39  Crore  have  been  released  to States for distribution of 37937 nos. of agricultural machinery ,for establishment of 1916 custom Hiring Centres, 41 Hi-Tech Centres and 82 nos. of Farm Machinery Banks.

## 12. Namo Drone Didi:

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  drones  to  15000  selected  Women  SHGs  for  providing  rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides). Of the total 15,000 drones, first 500 drones will be procured by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in  2023-24, using their internal resources for distribution to selected SHGs. Remaining 14500 drones will be provided under this scheme and Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs. 8.0 lakhs will  be  provided  to  the  women  SHGs    for  purchase  of  drones.  The  Cluster  Level Federations (CLFs) of SHGs may raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy) as loan under National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF).  Interest subvention @ 3% on the AIF loan will be provided to the CLFs. The scheme will help in infusing advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation for the benefit of farmers. The scheme will also provide sustainable  business  and  livelihood  support  to  SHGs  and  they  would  be  able  to  earn additional income of at least Rs. 1.0 lakh per annum.

## 13. Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers :

Soil Health Card Scheme was introduced in the year 2014-15 to optimize usage of nutrients. The following numbers of cards have been issued to farmers:

- i. Cycle-I (2015 to 2017) - 10.74 crore
- ii. Cycle-II (2017 to 2019)- 12.19 crore
- iii. Model Village Programme (2019-20)- 23.71 lakh
- iv. In the year 2020-21- 11.52 lakh

## 14. Setting up of National Agriculture Market ( e-NAM) extension Platform

- i. 1389 Mandis of 23 States and 04 UTs have been integrated to e-NAM platform. (28 additional mandis have been integrated with e NAM which included J&K (6) Madhya Pradesh (3) Maharashtra (15) Uttrakhand  (4).
- ii. As  on  31 st   Dec  2023,    1.76  crore    Farmers  &    2.50  Lakh  traders  have  been registered on e-NAM portal. Total volume of 8.96 Crore MT & 30.99 Crore numbers (bamboo, betel leaves, coconut, lemon & sweet corn) collectively worth approximately Rs. 3.19 lakh crore of trade has been recorded on e-NAM platform.

## 15. Launch of the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm

A  new  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  namely,  National  Mission  on  Edible  Oil (NMEO)-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has been launched during August, 2021 with the aim to enhance the edible oils availability in the country by harnessing Oil Palm area expansion, increasing CPO production and to reduce the import burden on edible oil. The Mission will bring additional area of 6.5 lakh ha under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28 lakh ha in northeastern states and 3.22 lakh ha in Rest of India with a total outlay of Rs. 11,040 crore in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

## 16. KISAN Credit Card (KCC):

Department of Agriculture  & Farmers' Welfare  is  implementing  Modified  Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), a Central Sector Scheme, with a view to provide short term Agri-loans  availed  by  farmers  through  KCC  for  their  working  capital  requirements  at concessional rate of interest. Under this scheme, farmers are given KCC loan at subvented interest rate of 7%. For this, at present, interest subvention of @1.5% is being given to financial institutions. Therefore, short term loans for Agriculture and other allied activities including animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries etc. uptoRs. 3.00 lakh is available to farmers at an interest rate of 7% per annum. Additional 3% prompt repayment incentive (PRI) is also  given to the  farmers for prompt and timely repayment of loans; thus reducing the effective rate of interest to 4% per annum. In case of short term loan availed for allied activities only (other than crop husbandry), the loan amount uptoRs. 2.00 lakh is available at the rate of 7%. Additional 3% PRI is also available on it.

To bring the maximum number of farmers under KCC so that they can get loan at a cheaper rate from institutional banking system, the Government has been running a campaign for Saturation of KCC to farmers since February, 2020 to cover all left over farmers with special focus on PM KISAN beneficiaries.

Under AtmaNirbar Bharat package, a target to cover 2.5 crore farmers with credit flow of about Rs.2.00 lakh crores was set. Special drive was undertaken to provide Kisan Credit Cards to eligible and willing farmers with special focus on PM KISAN beneficiaries. This enabled such farmers to gain access to institutional credit at concessional interest rate. Target to cover 2.5 crore farmers was achieved on 15.10.2021 and as on 05.01.2024, 465.42 lakh new KCC applications have been sanctioned with a sanctioned credit limit of Rs.  5,69,974  crore  as  part  of  the  drive.  Budget  estimate  for  MISS  under  which  KCC scheme operates has been allocatedRs. 23000 crores for the year 2023-24.

A revised KCC Saturation drive i.e. 'GharGhar KCC Abhiyan' has been launched with special focus to saturate PM KISAN beneficiaries. The main objective of this drive is to  mobilise  the  potential  farmers  through  a  special  drive  under  Block  Level  Bankers Committee to saturate PM KISAN beneficiaries with KCC and to enrol maximum number of farmers/PM KISAN beneficiaries under all types of KCC schemes (for Crop cultivation, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries etc.).

## 17. Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) :

A one Lakh Crore,Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched with an objective to mobilize a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects  for  post-harvest  management  Infrastructure  and  community  farming  assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country. Interest Subvention and Credit Guarantee supports are being provided under Agri Infra Fund.

## 18. Improvement in farm produce logistics, Introduction of Kisan Rail.

Kisan  Rail  has  been  launched  by  Ministry  of  Railways  to  exclusively  cater  to movement of perishable agri-horti commodities. First Kisan Rail was started in July 2020. Till 28 th  February, 2023, 2359 services on 167 routes have been operated.

## 19. MIDH - Cluster Development Programme:

Details of physical progress under the major components of NHM/HMNEH scheme of MIDH from 2014-15 to 2023-24 (as on 30.12.2023) is as under:

-  Area Expansion: - An additional area of 13.24 lakh ha. of identified horticulture crops has been covered. Nurseries: - 882 nurseries have been established for production of quality planting material.
-  Rejuvenation: - An area of 1.44 lakh ha. of old and senile orchards has been rejuvenated.
-  Organic  Farming:  -  An  area  of  52108  ha.  been  covered  under  organic practices.
-  Protected  Cultivation:  -  An  area  of  3.13  lakh  ha.  has  been  covered  under Protected Cultivation.
-  Water Resources: - 51476 water-harvesting structures have been created.
-  Beekeeping: - 15.94 lakh bee colonies with hives have been distributed.
-  Horticulture Mechanization: -2.65 lakh horticulture mechanization equipment have been distributed.
-  Post-Harvest Management Infrastructures: - 1.17 lakh post-harvest units have been established.
-  Market Infrastructures: - 15522 market infrastructures have been set up.
-  Training of Farmers: - Under HRD, 9.31 lakh farmers have been trained under various horticulture activities.

## 20. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector

So  far,  1259  Start-ups   during  FY  2019-20  to  2023-24  have  been  selected  by different   Knowledge  Partners  (KPs)  and  Agribusiness  Incubators  (R-ABIs)  working  in agriculture  &  allied  sector.    Rs.  83.67 crore  as  grants-in-aid  has  been  released  in installments  to the respective KPs & R-ABIs for funding to these Start-ups  under RKVY Agri-startup Programme of Department of Agriculture & FW.

## 21. Achievement in Export of Agri and Allied Agri- Commodities

The  country has witnessed emphatic growth in export of agri and  allied commodities.  As  compared  to  previous  year  2021-22,  the  Agri  and  allied  export  has increased  from 50.24 billion  USD  in  2021-22  to 53.15 billion  USD  in  2022-23  i.e.  an increase of 5.79%.

## Ministry of Cooperation

## A. Making Primary Cooperatives economically vibrant and transparent

1. Model Bye-Laws for PACS making them multipurpose, multidimensional and transparent entities : Model Byelaws have been adopted by 31 States/UTs so far.
2. Strengthening of PACS through Computerization :  A total of 62,318 PACS from 28 States/ UTs have been sanctioned under the project. Software is ready and trials have already started in 5,673 PACS in 26 States/ UTs so far.
3. New  Multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives in uncovered Panchayats : As reported by the States/ UTs, the process for registering 9,961 new PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery cooperative societies in 23 States/ UTs is in various stages.
4. World's Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative sector : 22 States/ UTs and National level Cooperative Federations such as National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural CooperativeMarketingFederationofIndiaLtd.(NAFED),haveidentified1,711PAC S  for creation  of  storage  capacity under  the  Pilot Project. At present, construction is going in 13 PACS of 13 States/ UTs under the Pilot Project.
5. PACS as Common Service Centers (CSCs)for better access to e-services : So far, 24,470 PACS have started providing CSC services to the rural citizens which will also result in increase in income of those PACS at the same time.
6. Formation  of  new  Farmer  Producer  Organizations(FPOs)  by  PACS : Government hasallowed1,100additionalFPOstobeformed.
7. PACS  given  priority  for  Retail  Petrol/  Diesel  outlets :  Government  has allowed PACS to be included in the Combined Category 2 (CC2) for allotment of  retail  petrol/  diesel outlets. As per information received from Oil Marketing Companies  (OMCs),  a  total  of  228  PACS  have  applied  online  for  retail petrol/diesel outlets.
8. PACS given permission to convert bulk consumer petrol pumps into retail outlets :  109  PACS  from  5  States  having  wholesale  consumer  pumps  have given consent for conversion into Retail Outlets, out of which 43 PACS have received Letter of Intent (LOI) from the OMCs.

## Annexure-II

9. PACS  eligible  for  LPGD  is  tributorship  for  diversifying  its  activities : Government has now allowed PACS to apply for LPG Distributorships.
10.  PACS  as  PM  Bharatiya Jan  Aushadhi Kendra  for  improving  access  to generic  medicine  satrural  level :So  far,  4,289  PACS/  cooperative  societies have applied online for PM Janaushadhi Kendras, out of which 2,293 PACS have been given initial approval also.
11.  PACS as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK): As per the information shared by States/ UTs, 28,648 PACS are functioning as PMKSK so far.
12.  Convergence of PM-KUSUM at PACS level : Farmers associated with PACS can adopt solar agricultural  water pumps  and install photovoltaic modules in their farms.
13.  PACS  to  carry  out  O&M  of  rural  piped  water  supply  schemes  (PWS) : AsperinformationreceivedfromStates/UTs,1,381PACShavebeenidentifiedby12 States/UTstoprovideO&Mservices at Panchayat/ Village level.
14.  Micro-ATMs to Bank Mitra Cooperative Societies for providing doorsteps financial services : As a pilot project, 1,723 Micro-ATMs have been distributed to Bank Mitra cooperative societies in Panchmahal and Banaskantha Districts of Gujarat.
15.  Rupay  Kisan  Credit  Card  to  Members  of  Milk  Cooperatives :  As  a  pilot project, 73,503 Rupay KCC have been distributed in Panchmahal and Banaskantha Districts of Gujarat.
16.  Formation  of  Fish  Farmer  Producer  Organization  (FFPO) :  NCDC has registered 69 FFPOs in the initial phase. Department of Fisheries, Government of

Indiahasfurtherallocatedconversionof1000existingfisheriescooperativesocieties into FFPOs to NCDC, with an approved outlay of Rs 225.50 crore..

## B.  Strengthening the Rural Cooperative Banks

1. Cooperative  banks  have  been  allowed  to  make  one-time  settlement  of outstanding  loans,  like  Commercial  Banks: Co-operative  banks,  through board- approved policies, can now provide process for technical write-off as well as settlement with borrowers.
2. Individual  housing  loan  limit  more  than  doubled  by  RBI  for  Rural  Cooperative  Banks :  Housing  loan  limit  of  Rural  cooperative  banks  has  been increased to two and a half times to Rs 75 lakh.
3. Rural  Co-operative  Banks  will  now  be  able  to  lend  to  commercial  real estate/ residential housing sector, there by diversifying their business :
4. License fee reduced for Cooperative Banks .
5. Monetary ceiling doubled by RBI for Gold Loan: RBI has doubled monetary ceiling from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh, for those UCBs that meet the PSL targets.

## Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying

(i) Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines and to make milk production more remunerative to the farmers.

(ii) National Programme  for  Dairy  Development  to  create  dairy  infrastructure for procurement, processing and marketing of milk and milk products.

(iii)  For  the  first  time  the  KCC Scheme  is  extended  for  all  farmers  involved  in  animal husbandry sector.

(iv) Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) worth Rs. 15000 crore to facilitate incentivisation of investments in Animal Husbandry sector.

(v) National Livestock Mission is focusing on enhancing productivity of small ruminants and entrepreneurship Development in livestock sector.

(vi) Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC) to provide assistance for control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis and also to provide assistance to  State  Governments  for  Control  of  other  infectious  diseases  of  livestock.  Mobile Veterinary  Units  are  established  under  the  scheme  to  deliver  quality  livestock  health services at farmers doorstep.

## Department of Fisheries

1.  Creation of New Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Recognizing  the  immense  potential  of  the  Fisheries  Sector  and  for focused and holistic development of the sector with fishers and fish farmers' welfare at the core, the Government of India created a separate Department of Fisheries in  February,  2019 and  this  was  followed  up  by  creation  of  a new Ministry  of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in June, 2019.
2.  Highest ever investments in fisheries sector: During last 9 years, the Government  of  India  has  stepped  up  investments  in  fisheries  and  aquaculture sector. From 2015, the central government has approved or announced cumulative investments to the tune of Rs 38,572 crore . These include:
- a)  Rs. 5,000 crore investment under Blue Revolution Scheme;
- b)  Rs. 7,522 crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF);
- c)  Rs. 20,050 crore investment  under  Pradhan Mantri  Matsya  Sampada Yojana;
- d)  Rs  6,000  crore Sub-scheme  under  PMMSY,  announced  in  Union  Budget 2023-24

The Flagship Scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is under implementation  since  FY  2020-21  and  it  is,  by  far,  the  highest  ever  investment  in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in the country.

3.  Record  National  Fish  Production :  During  the  last  9  years,  the  annual  fish production of India has increased from 95.79 lakh tons (at the end of FY 2013-14) to an all-time record of 175.45 lakh tons in 2022-23.
4.  Doubling of Inland and Aquaculture Production :  Fish  production  from  inland fisheries  and  aquaculture  increased  from  mere  2.18  lakh tons  in  FY  1950-51  to 131.13 lakh tons in FY 2022-23 which has doubled from 61.36 lakh tons at the end of FY 2013-14 to 121.12 lakh tons at the end of FY 2021-22.
5.  Doubling of Seafood Exports: Indian seafood is exported to 129 countries with largest importer being USA. In fact, the value of the cumulative exports for the 9year period of FY 2014-15 to FY 2022-23 stood at Rs. 3.41 lakh crore as against Rs 1.20 lakh crore for the 9-year preceding FY 2014-15 i.e. the period FY 200506 to 2013-14.
6.  Doubling of Brackish Water Aquaculture Production : The shrimp production of the country increased by 267% from 3.22 lakh tons at the end of FY 2013-14 to a record 11.84 lakh tons (provisional figures) at the end of FY 2022-23.  Similarly, the  shrimp  exports  have  more  than  doubled  with  an  increase  of  123%  from

Rs.19,368 crore at  the end of FY 2013-14 to Rs 43,135 crore at  the  end  of FY 2022-23.

7.  Sustained  Growth  Rate  and  Increased  Contribution  of  Fisheries  Sector  in National Gross Value Add (GVA) and Agriculture GVA: The fisheries sector in India has shown a sustained annual average growth rate of 8.61% for the 8-year period  from FY 2014-15  to  FY  2021-22  (at  constant  prices).  During  eight-year period from FY 2014-15 to FY 2021-22, the GVA of Fisheries Sector has increased from Rs. 76,487 crore in FY 2013-14 to 1,47,518.87 crore (at constant prices) and from 98,189.64 crore in FY 2013-14 to 2,88,526.19 crore in FY 2021-22 (at current prices).
8.  Institutional  Credit  through  Kisan Credit  Card  (KCC)  for  Fishers  and  Fish farmers: The Government of India extended the KCC facility to fishers and fish famers from the financial year FY 2018-19 to help them meet their working capital requirements. Till date, 1.70 lakh KCC cards have been issued to fishers and fish farmers.

Focus  on  creation  of  Infrastructure  in  Fishing  Harbours (FHs)  and  Fish Landing Centres (FLCs): During the last 9 years, the Government of India approved project  proposals  for  construction/modernization  of  107  Fishing  Harbours and  Fishing Landing Centers under Blue Revolution Scheme, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF); and Pradhan Mantri Matysa Sampada Yojana.

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