Lok Sabha Question No. 2708 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Incentives to Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2708

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## INCENTIVES TO FARMERS

2708. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to give any incentives to the farmers for growing food products rich in nutritional value;
- (b) if so, the details of such incentives and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  promote  the  production  of health enhancing food products/crops having higher nutritional value; and
- (d) if so, the details of such measures or steps being undertaken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (d): To create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people,  Government  of  India  had  proposed  to  United  Nations  for  declaring  2023  as International  Year  of  Millets  (IYM).  The  proposal  of  India  was  supported  by  72  countries and  United  Nations  General  Assembly  (UNGA)  declared  2023  as  International  Year  of Millets  during  March,  2021.  The  Government  of  India  has  taken  a  proactive  multistakeholder engagement approach (engaging various central government Ministries/Departments, States/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian  Embassies  etc.)  to  achieve  the  objectives  of  IYM  2023  and  taking  Indian  millets globally.

The  action  plan  of  IYM-2023  focuses  on  strategies  to  enhance  production  and productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chain, branding, creating awareness for  health  benefits  etc.  The  Government  of  India  is  celebrating  the  year  2023  as 'International  Year  of  Millets'  to  make  it  peoples'  movement  so  that  the  Indian  millets, recipes,  value  added  products  be  promoted  globally.  Millets  were  promoted  during  G20 presidency in India, Millet Culinary carnival, International Trade Events, Chef's Conference, exhibition  of  Farmers  Producer  Organizations  (FPOs),  road  shows,  kisan  melas,  Chef's training for paramilitary forces, ASEAN India Millet Festival at Indonesia and Delhi etc.

A key event organized towards International Year of Millets was the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference, held from 18th - 19th March 2023 at IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi  which  was  inaugurated by  the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  and  the  exhibition  on millets was further extended by three days.

The Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad is also providing training to the  farmers,  women  farmers,  home  makers,  students  and  young  entrepreneurs  on manufacturing of value-added millet food products, daily recipes etc., and supporting them to  establish  self-enterprise.  The  institute  has  also  developed  value-added  technologies include 'Ready to Eat' and 'Ready to Cook' for millet foods, branding of millet foods under 'Eatrite'  tag,  organized  awareness  programmes,  agri-business  incubator,  technology business incubators etc.

In  order  to  increase  the  production  &  productivity  of  millets  (Shree  Anna),  the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in all districts of 28 States & 2 Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Nutri-Cereals (millets) such as Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua), Minor Millets i.e.,  Foxtail  Millet  (Kangani/Kakun),  Proso  Millet  (Cheena),  Kodo  Millet  (Kodo),  Barnyard Millet  (Sawa/Sanwa/  Jhangora),  Little  Millet  (Kutki)  and  two  Pseudo  Millets  Buck-wheat (Kuttu) and Amaranthus (Chaulai) are covered under NFSM programme.

Under NFSM-Nutri Cereals, the incentives are provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs,  on  crop  production  and  protection  technologies,  cropping  system  based demonstrations, production & distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids,  Integrated  Nutrient  and  Pest  Management  techniques,  improved  farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed minikits, publicity through print and electronic media etc.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  also  provides  flexibility  to  the  states  for  state specific  needs/priorities  under  Rashtirya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY).  The  states  can promote  Millets  (Shree  Anna)  under  RKVY  with  approval  of  State  Level  Sanctioning Committee  (SLSC)  headed  by  Chief  Secretary  of  the  State.  In  addition,  states  such  as Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.

Government  is  promoting  organic  farming  for growing  food products rich in nutritional value in the country since 2015-16 through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern Region  (MOVCDNER).  PKVY  is  being  implemented  in  all  the  States  other-than  North Eastern (NE) States across the country whereas MOVCDNER  scheme  is  being implemented exclusively in the NE States. Both the schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing and post-harvest management. Training and Capacity Building are integral part of the scheme. Incentives to farmers for producing and using organic fertilizers/manure are inbuilt  in  these  schemes  as  on-farm and  off-farm organic  inputs.  Direct  Benefit Transfer (DBT) is provided to the farmers for using organic inputs including organic fertilizers.

Under  PKVY,  an  assistance  of  Rs.50,000  per  ha  for  a  period  of  three  years  is provided  to  States  for  promotion  of  organic  farming  to  cover  different  components  like Training  &  Capacity  Building,  Data  Management,  PGS  Certification,  Value  Addition, Marketing and Publicity. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 31,000 per ha over a period of three years is provided to farmers through DBT for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs. Whereas under MOVCDNER, an assistance of Rs. 46,575/ha for 3 years is provided for creation of FPO, support to farmers for organic inputs,  quality  seeds/  planting  material  and  training, hand  holding  and  certification.    Out  of  this,  assistance  @  Rs.  32500/  ha  for  3  years  is provided to farmers for off -farm /on -farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as DBT to the farmers and Rs. 17,500 for the planting material to be given to the farmers by State Lead Agency  (SLA) in kind.

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