Lok Sabha Question No. 3842 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Agriculture Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3842

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## AGRICULTURE LAND

3842.  PROF. SOUGATA RAY :

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ͪष  एवं  ͩकसान  कãयाण  मंğी be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken so far to minimize the use of synthetic pesticides by integrating biological control methods and other sustainable pest management strategies; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  project  to  implement  sustainable  farming practices, enacting and enforcing regulations that protect farmland from conversion to other uses, and promoting awareness about the importance of land conservation; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of steps taken so far to preserve the "virginity" of agricultural land in the country; and (e)  the  projects  to  promote  efficient  irrigation  techniques,  like  drip  irrigation  and micro-sprinklers, to conserve water resources and reduce waterlogging in agriculture sector of the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  to  (e):  The  Government  of  India  promotes  the  strategy  of  Integrated  Pest Management  (IPM)  which  envisages  integrated  pest  management  techniques through cultural, mechanical and biological methods to prevent the excessive use and  improper  handling  practices  of  chemical  pesticides  and  only  need  based judicious  use  of  chemical  pesticides  is  suggested  as  last  resort.  Ministry  of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments  conduct  various  training  programs  to  create  awareness  among farmers about use of alternate methods like Bio-pesticide, Bio-stimulants, Organic farming,  Mix  farming  in  place  of  use  of  harmful  pesticides  to  increase  their production.  So  far,  472  various  training  programs  has  been  conducted  like Farmers  Field  School,  2  days  HRD,  5days  HRD  and  Season  Long  Training Program in which 19701 number of farm trained during 2024-25.

Further,  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  welfare  is  promoting  organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER)  for  the  North  Eastern  States  to  promote sustainable farming and preserve the virginity of agricultural land. Both schemes stress  on  end-to-end  support  to  farmers  engaged  in  organic  farming  i.e.  from production  to processing,  certification  and  marketing.  Primary  focus  of  the schemes  is  to  form  organic  clusters,  with  preference  to  small  and  marginal farmers,  to  create  a  supply  chain.  Both  the  schemes  are  implemented  through States /UT Governments. Under  PKVY,  assistance  of  Rs.  31,500  per  ha  in  3  years  is  provided  for promotion  of  organic  farming.  Out  of  this,  assistance  of  Rs.  15,000  per  ha  is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm /off -farm organic inputs including organic compost. Financial assistance of Rs. 4,500/ha in 3 years is  provided  for  marketing,  packaging,  branding,  value  addition  etc.  Rs.  3,000/ha for  3  years  is  provided  for  certification  and  residue  analysis.  Assistance  is  also provided  at  the  rate  Rs.  9,000/ha  in  3  years  for  training,  awareness  &  capacity building. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for  creation  of  Farmers  Producer  Organization,  support  to  farmers  for  organic inputs  etc.  Out  of  this,  assistance  at  the  rate  Rs.  32500  per  ha  is  provided  to farmers  for  off  -farm  /on -farm  organic  inputs  under  the  scheme  including  Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. Financial assistance of Rs 10000 per  ha  in  3  years  is  provided  for  activities  of  Internal  Control  System  (ICS) management, training and certification [National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)]. Financial assistance of Rs 4000 per ha in 3 years is provided for value chain marketing at state level. For  promotion  of  effective  irrigation  techniques, ' Per  Drop  More  Crop ' (PDMC) is being implemented by the DA&FW in the Country from the year 2015-

16  with  an  aim  to  enhance  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  Micro Irrigation,  namely,  Drip  and  Sprinkler  Irrigation  systems.  Under  the  Scheme, financial  assistance  is  provided  to  farmers  for  installation  of  micro  irrigation systems at the rate 55% and 45% of the unit cost to small & marginal farmers and other farmers respectively.

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