Lok Sabha Question No. 1266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Implementation of PM-KISAN Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan, Shri Benny Behanan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1266

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th  JULY, 2024

## IMPLEMENTATION OF PM-KISAN SCHEME

1266. Shri K Radhakrishnan: Shri Benny Behanan:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN) scheme;
- (b) the number of farmers that have benefited from it so far; and

(c) the details of the steps taken to ensure timely payment of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFAR क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under this scheme, the financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year in three equal installments  is  transferred  into  the  bank  accounts  of  farmers'  families  across  the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. The PM-KISAN scheme is one of the largest DBT Schemes of the World.

A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of the intermediaries. Maintaining  absolute  transparency  in  registering  and  verifying  beneficiaries,  the Government of India has so far disbursed over Rs. 3.24 lakh Cr to more than 11 Cr farmers in 17 instalments.

(c)    Government  of  India  fixes  Minimum  Support  Prices  (MSPs)  for  22  mandated agricultural  crops  on  the  basis  of  the  recommendations  of  the  Commission  for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of State Governments and  concerned  Central  Ministries/Departments.  While  recommending  MSP,  CACP considers important factors like overall demand-supply conditions, cost of production, domestic  and  international  prices,  inter  crop  price  parity,  terms  of  trade  between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, the likely effect on the rest of the economy, besides ensuring rational utilization of land, water and other production resources and a minimum of 50 percent as the margin over cost of production.

In  order  to  realize  the  objectives  of  MSP  Policy,  Government  extends  price support for paddy and wheat through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies. Government of India has entered into MOU with the procuring States for procurement of paddy /wheat since procurement of food grains from farmers is mainly carried out by the State govt. agencies . It has been specifically emphasized in the MOU that 'The payment of MSP and bonus, if any, is to be made directly to farmers' bank  accounts  only  through  online  procurement  system  by  the  Govt.  procuring agencies  preferably  within 48 hours of  purchase  of  paddy/  wheat'.    The  entire procurement  of  foodgrains  from  farmers is  carried  out  through  online  portals  and online payment of MSP is also made directly into farmers' account. DBT of MSP has brought in responsibility, transparency & real time monitoring in the system.

Additionally,  Oilseeds,  pulses  and  copra  of  Fair  Average  Quality  (FAQ)  are procured  from  registered  farmers  under  Price  Support  Scheme  under  Umbrella Scheme  of  PMAASHA,  as  per  its  guidelines,  at  MSP,  in  consultation  with  the concerned State Governments, when market prices of these products fall below the MSP. Under the scheme, the payments are made to the farmers in their individual bank  accounts  through  RTGS  or  NEFT  within  three  days  from  the  receipt  of  their produce.

Cotton  and  Jute  are  also  procured  by  Government  at  MSP  through  Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Jute Corporation of India (JCI), respectively. CCI has taken  several  steps  to  ensure  the  timely  payment  to  the  genuine  cotton  farmers including implementation of on-the-spot Aadhar-based farmer registration, launched 'Cott-Ally'  mobile  app,  and  100%  payments  to  cotton  farmers  through  National Automated Clearing House (NACH) of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) directly in their Aadhaar linked bank account. It enables the benefit of MSP scheme only to genuine cotton farmers and thereby sustain their interest in cultivation of cotton. Normally, payment to farmers are made within 7 days.

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