Lok Sabha Question No. 2474 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Suicide by Farmers in Punjab
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2474 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  AUGUST 2024

## SUICIDE BY FARMERS IN PUNJAB

2474 SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the frequency of suicides by farmers in the State  of Punja b has jumped since 2015;
- (b) if so, the rate of suicide by farmers in the State of Punjab; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to stop farmers from committing suicides?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी

(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): 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).

Government of India is very sensitive  about farmers issues and concerned about distress of farmers. Government of India is working in collaboration with State Governments and have taken a number of initiatives to address these issues through Policy  measures  and  schemes/programmes.  Agriculture  being  a  State  Subject, Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  States  through  appropriate  policy measures  and  budgetary  support.  The  various  schemes/  programmes  of  the Government  of  India  to  make  farming  more  remunerative  and  make  the  farmers financially more secure are annexed.

## Major achievements of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare since 2014

1. Unprecedented enhancement in budget allocation: In the year 2013-14 the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare was only 21933.50 crore. This has increased by more than 5.5 times to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore in 2024-25.
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. 3.24 lakh crore has been released so far to more than 11 crore farmers as of now.
3.   Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)   : Eight 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  8  Years  of  implementation  -  62.60  crore  farmer applications enrolled and over 17.80 crore (Provisional) farmer applicants have received claims of over Rs. 1,60,838 crore.   During this period nearly Rs.32,280 crore were paid by farmers as their share of premium against which claims over Rs.1,63,518.70 crore (Provisional) have been paid to them. Thus for every 100 rupees of premium paid by farmers, they have received about Rs. 498  as claims.

DigiClaim -  For  transparency  in  calculation  and  payment  of  claims,  Claim  Payment Module  for  payment  of  claims  directly  to  the  farmer's  account  through  National  Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) using PFMS platform has been launched for implementation from Kharif    2022  season  claims  onwards.    All  the  claims  are  now  been  paid  by  insurance companies directly to farmers through Digiclaim.

SARTHI Sandbox for Agricultural & Rural Security, Technology & Insurance : It is an innovative stride conceived by the Government.  Its primary goal is to augment the financial resilience of farming community against multifaceted Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks they encounter.  This pioneering platform goes beyond traditional crop insurance, aiming to provide a comprehensive suite of insurance products  tailored mainly for farmers and rural India.

KRPH -Krishi  Rakshak  Portal  and  Helpline has  been  launched  to  create  efficient grievance redressal mechanism for farmers under PMFBY.  A dedicated Centralized Toll Free  Number  14447    has  been  launched  to  facilitate  query  resolution  and  grievance redressal at national level.  On registration of complaint, a unique ticket number is created, through which complainant can track the progress of their complaint.  Grievance is required to  be  resolved  within  stipulated  time  frame.    It  will  also  help  the  State  and  Central Government to monitor the grievances.

## 4.    Institutional credit for agriculture sector

-  Institutional credit  target  to  Agriculture has increased more than 2.5 times since 2014-15 from ₹  8 lakh crores to ₹  20 lakh crores in 2023-24.
-  Disbursement of easy and concessional crop-loan to help the farmers in accessing short-term agriculture credit from institutional sources has increased more than two times since 2014-15 from ₹ 6.4 lakh crore to ₹ 14.79 lakh crore in 2023-24.
-  Interest subsidy given to farmers through KCC has increased 2.4 times since 201415 from ₹ 6000 crore to ₹ 14252 crores in 2023-24.
-  The number of accounts of Small and Marginal Farmers availing agriculture loans

## 5. Fixing of MSP at one-and-a half times the cost of production -

- 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.
- MSP for Paddy (common) has increased to Rs. 2300 per quintal in 2023-24 from Rs. 1310 per quintal in 2013-14.
- MSP for Wheat increased from Rs. 1400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs. 2275 per quintal in 2023-24.

6.        (A) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): The Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana  (PKVY)  is  the  first  comprehensive  scheme  launched  in  2015-16  by  the  Central Government as a centrally sponsored programme (CSP) for promotion of organic farming in the country.

-  Total fund released Rs 2078.67 Cr since 2015-16 (as on 30.06.2024).
-  Under  PKVY  Scheme  38043  clusters  (20  ha  each)  formed,  8.41  lakh  ha  area covered (including LAC).
-  In addition to above under natural farming fund released for an area of 4.09 lakh ha area to 8 States and Under Namami Gange Programme funds Rs 272.85 crore has been released total  9551 clusters formed and 1.91 lakh ha area covered.
-  A dedicated online web portal- www.Jaivikkheti.in/ has been created to encourage, sale  of  organic  products  directly  by  farmers  to  consumers  farming  by  directly connecting the consumers. On Jaivik-kheti portal total 6.23 lakh farmers have been registered.
-  Various Brands have been developed by the State for marketing of Organic Produce under the PKVY Scheme.
-  Government has initiated Large Area Certification (LAC) programme since 202021 to certify large traditional/default organic areas such as hills, islands, tribal or desert belt with no past history of GMO and agro chemical uses.
-  Under  this  programme  14,445  ha  area  under  Car  Nicobar  and Nancowry group of islands in Union Territory of A&N Islands have been certified to transform entire territory of these islands to organic similar to Sikkim.
-  Proposal of 5000 ha area has been received from Ladakh under LAC and fund Rs 11.475 lakh has been released.
-  The entire cultivable land of 2700 ha area of Lakshadweep have been certified organic under Large area certification
-  Under Large area certification fund Rs 96.39 lakh has been released for 60,000 ha area to the State Government of Sikkim

B) Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) Scheme: The  MOVCDNER scheme  aims  at  development  of  commodity specific, concentrated, certified organic production clusters in value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds,  certification,  to  the  creation  of  facilities  for  collection,  aggregation,  processing, marketing  and  brand  building  initiative  in  Northeast  Region  (Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura). The main focus of the scheme is on export of produce. The scheme was approved with an outlay of Rs. 400 crore for three years during the year 2015-16. The scheme has completed two phases of three years each and is now moving forward in Phase III.

Summary Achievements

-  Total fund released Rs 1150.09 Cr since 2015-16 (as on 30.06.2024).
-  379 FPO/FPCs created covering 189039 farmers and 172966 ha area
-  394 Collection, Aggregation, Grading units, Custom Hiring Centres, 123 processing and pack house entities created under FPO/FPCs and private ownership
-  145 transportation vehicles provided to FPO/FPCs
-  7 states developed their own brands
-  Marketing facilitation of ginger, turmeric, pineapple and king chilli have been major success and FPCs have been supported with buyback agreements
-  The export of king chilli sauce, pineapple (canned) and ginger flakes  to  UK, USA, Australia, France and Swaziland have already started
-  Industry mentorship model with necessary infrastructure development with 3 FPCs
-  Contract production of Ginger and Turmeric with 100% buyback assurance finalized with 3FPOs in Arunachal Pradesh with Parvata Foods
-  Contract  cultivation  of  other  high  value  crops  such as  Perila,  black  thai  ginger  and Calandula flowers is under process.

## C)  National Mission on Natural Farming

-  Natural Farming is way of chemical free farming based on the livestock and locally available resources with no fertilizer and pesticides. GoI is promoting Natural Farming since 2019-20 through  a  sub-scheme  'BhartiyaPrakratikKrishiPaddhati  -  (BPKP)'  under  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) in limited area.
-  Under BPKP, 4.09 lakh ha area has been covered in 8 states Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
-  Prime Minister at various platforms has emphasized on the need to promote natural farming as mass movement. Hon'ble Finance Minister in her budget speech also, emphasized the need for promotion of agrochemical free natural farming.
-  Therefore, to achieve the vision  of Hon'ble PM  and Budget  Announcement, a dedicated centrally  sponsored  schemes  'National  Mission  on  Natural  Farming  (NMNF)'  is  being launched.
-  Committee of Secretaries (CoS) and Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has recommended the launching of NMNF. A Cabinet Note to roll out NMNF is under process.

## 7.       Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)

Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme launched during 2015-16 aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems to benefit the farmers in the country.

During the year 2015-16 to 2021-22, the PDMC was implemented as a component of Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). From the year 2022-23, the PDMC is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Micro Irrigation helps  in  water  saving  as  well  as  reducing  fertilizer  usage  through  fertigation,  labour expenses, other input costs and in overall income enhancement of the farmers.

Under the Scheme, financial assistance of 55% to Small & Marginal farmers and 45% to Other farmers is provided for installation of Micro Irrigation systems. From the year

2015-16 to 2022-23, an area of 78.4 lakh ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the Country through the scheme which is about 81% higher as compared to the Pre-PDMC eight years period. This is a significant achievement.  Total of 89.87 lakh ha. area covered till march 2024.

An evaluation study of PDMC Scheme was taken up by the NITI Aayog during 202021,  which  reveals  that  the  scheme  is  relevant  in  achieving  national  priorities  such  as substantially  improving  on-farm  water  use  efficiency,  enhancing  crop  productivity, generating employment opportunities etc.; Income of farmers has increased in the range of 10% to 69%; Water use efficiency has improved in the range of 30% to 70% and created direct & indirect employment opportunities.

8.    Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF): A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) of initial corpus Rs 5000 crore  has  been  created  with  NABARD  with major  objective  to  facilitate  the  States  in mobilizing  the  resources  for  expanding  coverage  of  Micro  Irrigation.  Under  the  funding arrangement,  NABARD  lends  to  the  States/UTs  at  3%  lower  interest  rate  than  the corresponding cost of fund mobilized by NABARD from the market. The interest subvention on the loan under MIF is borne by Centre under PDMC.  Projects with loans under MIF worth Rs 4724.74 crore have been approved so far. Loans amounting Rs. 3387.80 crore has been disbursed to States. The Ministry provides interest subvention on the loan availed by the States which is met from PDMC Scheme. As per the Budget Announcement of the year 2021-22, the corpus of the fund is to be doubled to Rs.10000 crores.

## 9.  Promotion of 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 30 th June  2024, 8,872 no. of FPOs  have  been  registered  under  new  FPO scheme. Equity Grant of Rs. 209.9 Crore has been released to 4,135 FPOs . Credit Guarantee Cover worth Rs. 349.28 Cr . issued to 1,542 FPOs.
10. The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) was launched in 2020 as a part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, with an outlay of Rs.500.00 crores for three years i.e., 2020-21 to 2022-23. The scheme has been extended for further three years, i.e., 2023-24 to 2025-26, with the remaining budget of Rs.370.00 crores from the allocated budget of Rs.500.00 crores 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 201415  to  March,  2024  an  amount  of  Rs.7265.00  crore  have  been  allocated  for  agricultural mechanization. 18,16,221 numbers of machines and equipments have been provided to farmers on subsidy.    25,527 custom hiring centers, 594 high-tech hubs and 23,538 farm machinery banks have been established to  make available agricultural machines and equipments to the farmers on rental basis. During 2024-25, Rs.69.99   Crore have been released to States.
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 number of cards have been issued to farmers.
2.  Cycle-I (2015 to 2017) - 10.74 crore
3.  Cycle-II (2017 to 2019)- 12.19 crore
4.  Model Village Programme (2019-20)- 23.71 lakh
5.  In the year 2020-21- 14.57 lakh
6.  In the year 2021-22 - No fund for Soil Samples were allocated to States/UTs.
7.  In the year 2022-23 - 36.73 lakh
8.  In the year 2023-24 - 36.76 lakh
9.  In the year 2024-25 - 1.99 lakh

Regulations for promotion of biostimulants is issued. Nano urea is included under fertilizer control order.

## 14. Setting up of E-NAM extension Platform

-  The Department has integrated 1389 mandis with e-NAM across 23 States &4 UTs.
-  As on 30 th  June 2024, 1.77 crore Farmers & 2.59 Lakh traders have been registered on  e-NAM  portal.  Total  volume  of  9.94  Crore  MT  &  36.39  Crore  numbers (bamboo, betel leaves, coconut, lemon &  sweet corn) collectively worth approximately Rs. 3.59 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 North-Eastern States and 3.22 in Rest of India with a total outlay of Rs. 11,040 crore in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
16. Agri Infrastructure Fund : 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. Following supports are being provided under Agri Infra Fund.

17. 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 agrihorti commodities. First Kisan Rail was started in July 2020. Till 28 th  February, 2023, 2359 services on 167 routes have been operated.

18. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) : Details of physical progress under the major components of NHM/HMNEH scheme of MIDH from 2014-15 to 2023-24 is as under:

-  Area Expansion: - An additional area of 13.79 lakh ha. of identified horticulture crops has been covered.
-  Nurseries:  -  905  nurseries  have  been  established  for  production  of  quality  planting material.
-  Rejuvenation:  -  An  area  of  1.48    lakh  ha.  of  old  and  senile  orchards  has  been rejuvenated.
-  Organic Farming: - An area of 52259 ha. been covered under organic practices.
-  Protected Cultivation:  -  An area  of  3.04  lakh  ha.  has  been  covered  under  Protected Cultivation.
-  Water Resources: - 54630  water-harvesting structures have been created.
-  Beekeeping: - 16.30 lakh bee colonies with hives have been distributed.
-  Horticulture  Mechanization:  -2.73  lakh  horticulture  mechanization  equipment  have been distributed.
-  Post-Harvest  Management  Infrastructures:  -  1.27  lakh  post-harvest  units  have  been established.
-  Market Infrastructures: - 15923 market infrastructures have been set up.
-  Training of Farmers: - Under HRD, 9.73 lakh farmers have been trained under various horticulture activities.

19. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector: So far, 1708 Start-ups working in agriculture & allied sector have been selected during FY 2019-20 to 202324 by different Knowledge Partners (KPs) and Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs).   Rs. 122.50 crore as grants-in-aid has been released in installments to the respective KPs & R-ABIs for funding  to  these  selected  start-ups  under  RKVY  Agri-startup  Programme  of  Department  of Agriculture & FW.

20. Achievement  in  Export  of  Agri  and  Allied  Agri-  Commodities: The  country  has witnessed emphatic growth in export of agri and allied commodities.  The major commodities which posted significant growth as compared to previous year have been Rice Basmati 21.92% (4787.65 to 5837.13 Million USD), buffalo  Meat 17.11% (3193.69 to 3740.16 Million USD), Spices12.17% (3785.36 to 4245.99 Million USD), cotton raw incld. Waste 55.13% (781.43 to 1115.49 Million USD), Fresh Fruits 32.46% (864.62 to 1145.24 Million USD), misc processed items 37.88% (1421.64 to 1652.22 Million USD) etc.

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