Lok Sabha Question No. 4112 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Technological Interventions for Expansion of Rabi Crop Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4112

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH   MARCH, 2025

## TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR EXPANSION OF RABI CROP CULTIVATION

4112.  SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

be pleased to state:(a)  the  details  of  the  Government policies, incentives and technological interventions that have supported the expansion of Rabi crop cultivation in 2024-25; (b)  the impact of improved irrigation infrastructure, better seed varieties, and climate-resilient farming  techniques  on  enhancing  Rabi  crop  yields  and  ensuring  long-term  agricultural sustainability; (c)   the measures taken to facilitate access to credit, crop insurance, and market linkages for farmers  cultivating  Rabi  crops,  particularly  small  and  marginal  farmers,  to  enhance  their profitability and financial security; and (d)  the steps undertaken to strengthen storage, transportation and procurement mechanisms to ensure a stable supply chain and prevent post-harvest losses in Rabi crop production?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  National  Food  Security  and  Nutrition Mission  (NFSNM)  in  28  States  and  2  Union  Territories  (UTs)  viz.  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and Ladakh,  to  increase  production  of  foodgrains  through  area  expansion  and  productivity enhancement  by  providing  incentives  to  the  farmers,  through  the  States/UTs,  on  crop production and protection technologies, cropping system-based demonstrations, 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  seasons.  The  area under Rabi foodgrains in 2024-25 has increased by 14.35 lakh hectares, reaching a total of 565.46 lakh hectares, compared to 551.11 lakh hectares in 2023-24.

(c): The Government is implementing 'Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)' across various States and UTs in pan India to provide concessional interest rates on shortterm agricultural loans through Kisan Credit Cards. The Government of India has also implemented several measures to improve the accessibility, transparency, and efficiency of the crop insurance scheme, which includes National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP), a centralized  platform  for  data  management,  subsidy  payment,  coordination,  and  online farmer enrolment. Digiclaim Module has been introduced to monitor the claim disbursal process. District and State Level Grievance Redressal Committees has been established to resolve farmer complaints. Additionally, the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (tollfree number 14447) allows farmers to raise issues related to claims, with fixed timelines for resolution. Other technological interventions such as YES-Tech, Weather information and Network Data System (WINDS), App for Intermediary Enrolment (AIDE App) etc. have also been implemented.

(d): Government on 31.05.2023, has approved the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector. The Plan entails creation of various agri infrastructure at Primary Agricultural  Credit  Societies  (PACS)  level,  including  godowns,  custom  hiring  center, processing units, Fair Price Shops, etc. The coordination between Railways and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) ensures efficient movement of foodgrains from surplus to deficit regions, addressing  storage capacity, procurement,  and  allocations. Further, the government arranges procurement for all six mandated Rabi crops. For wheat and barley, FCI and state agencies provide price support to farmers. Procurement of pulses (Gram, Masur)  and  oilseeds  (Rapeseed/Mustard,  Safflower)  is  done  under  the  Price  Support Scheme (PSS) through the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan  (PMAASHA) when market prices fall below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

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