Lok Sabha Question No. 21 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Return to Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena, Shri Imran Masood

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 21

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## RETURN TO FARMING

## *21.    SHRI IMRAN MASOOD: SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

Will the MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the recently released Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data indicates that the persons from rural India who migrated but have returned back to farming due to lesser employment opportunities, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of various steps planned by the Government to address the pressure on natural resources such as land and water due to the growing agricultural workforce and to promote  sustainable  agricultural  practices  across  the  country  including  Sawai  Madhopur district of Rajasthan;
- (c) the details of measures being taken to support individuals particularly landless and small-scale  farmers  returning  to  agriculture  for  providing  access  to  credit,  training  and infrastructure across the country including Rajasthan;
- (d) the strategy adopted/being adopted by Government to create alternative employment opportunities in rural areas to prevent overcrowding in the agriculture sector; and
- (e) the details of the initiatives implemented to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector and to integrate agro-processing and value chain development?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (e):

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  21  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  22 ND   JULY,  2025  on  'RETURN  TO FARMING'.

- (a): As  per  the  recent  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  National Statistics  Office  (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  & Programme  Implementation (MoSPI), the percentage of labour work force engaged in agriculture and allied sector in 2023-24 was 46.07.%  which shows very marginal increase in share over the previous year 2022-23 i.e. 45.76%.  However,  the  share  of  workforce  in  agriculture  and  allied  sector  decreased  to 46.07% in 2023-24 from 48.9% in 2011-12.
- (b): Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments undertake implementation of agricultural schemes/programmes for the welfare of farmers and the Government of India also supplements these efforts through implementation of various central sector/centrally sponsored schemes/programmes. The Central Government has adopted and implemented the number of policies, reforms, developmental programmes for agriculture sector in the country for farmers including landless and small-scale farmers in terms of access to credit, training, and infrastructure such as:
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8. Namo Drone Didi
9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (Agri SURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission

Further, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its programmes and schemes has targeted to bring in production efficiency for small and marginal farmers in  the  country  including  Rajasthan.  Sustainable  farming  practices,  prototype  integrated farming  system  models  and  organic  farming  packages  cropping  systems  have  been developed to provide technological backstopping to small and fragmented land holdings. The developed models increase the income of the farmers with cost reduction for inputs related  to  fertilizers.  Further,  Agriculture  being  a  State  subject,  the  State  Government undertake implementation of agricultural schemes/programmes for the welfare of farmers including  landless  farmers  and  the  Government  of  India  also  supplements  these  efforts through implementation of various central sector/centrally sponsored schemes/programmes. The various schemes/programmes are meant to support States for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers.

Moreover,  Per  Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC)  scheme  under  National  Mission  for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promotes water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Rajasthan is one of the  best  performing  State  in  implementation  of  PDMC  in  the  Country.  So  far,  an  area of 10.58  lakh  hectare  has  been  covered  under  Micro  Irrigation  with  release  of  Central Assistance of Rs.1,604.11 crore. During the current year (2025-26) Central assistance of Rs.198.74 crore allocated to the Rajasthan State and Rs. 99.37 crore has been released as 1st installment so far.

Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme is being implemented as a component under NMSA from 2014-15 in the country. RAD focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Further, Rs.1,801.00  lakhs  of  Central  Assistance  has  been  allocated  to  the  Rajasthan  State  for implementation of RAD during the current year. The First installment of Rs.900.00 lakhs has been released to the State for the FY 2025-26.

Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)/Soil  Health  Management  (SHM)  scheme  is  operational through the State Governments under National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility. Now, this scheme has been merged as Soil Health Component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from the year 2022-23. The main objective of the scheme is to assist states  in  promoting  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM)  through  judicious  use  of chemical  fertilizers  including  secondary  and  micro  nutrients  in  conjunction  with  organic manures & bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity.

(c): The schemes which support all farmers including landless and small-scale farmers are the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) & Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme.

The government is implementing a 100% centrally funded Central Sector Scheme known as the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) across various States and UTs in pan India including Rajasthan. This scheme aims to provide concessional interest rates on short-term agricultural loans obtained by farmers through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for their working capital requirements.

Under this scheme, farmers (including landless and small scale farmers) receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate this, an up front interest subvention (IS) of 1.5% is provided to financial institutions. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum.

Further, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is organizing a number of trainings for farmers (on & off-campus) on 'Importance of Agriculture' and 'Improved Farm Practices' through on farm testing.

The  Government  is  implementing  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  scheme  in  the Country with mandate of working as Single Window Agricultural Knowledge, Resource and Capacity  Development  Centre.  As  part  of  its  activities,  the  KVKs  impart  training  to  the farmers, farm women and rural youth on different aspects of agriculture and allied sectors (Crop Production, Horticulture, Soil Health and Fertility Management, Livestock Production and Management,  Home  Science/Women  empowerment,  Agril.  Engineering, Plant Protection, Fisheries, Production of Input at site, Agro forestry) for their capacity building. The Government has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country including 47 KVKs in Rajasthan and one KVK in Sawai Madhopur

(d):     The Government has launched various schemes aiming to make agriculture & allied sector  more  viable  in  rural  areas  which  include,  many  programmes/scheme  for  overall development  in  livestock/animal  husbandry,  dairy,  fishing/aquaculture  and  agri-forestry sector. In addition to this, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in rural areas of the country like encouraging private sector of economy, fasttracking various projects involving substantial investment and increasing public expenditure on schemes. The list of the schemes is given as under:

- i. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
- ii. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
- iii. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
- iv. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI)
- v. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAYNRLM)
- vi. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
- vii. Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS)
- viii. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
- ix. Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS)
- x. National Health Mission (NHM)
- xi. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
- xii. Samagra Shiksha

Moreover,  through  industrial  Training  Institutes  (ITIs),  to  all  the  sections  of  the society across the country including rural areas.

(e): In order to increase the agricultural productivity,  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. The objective of NFSNM is to increase production of foodgrains through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Under this scheme, the incentives are provided 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  season,  etc.  Under  the  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  National  Mission  on  Edible  Oils-Oilseeds  (NMEO-OS)  an initiative  aimed  at  boosting  domestic  oilseed  production  for  implementation  all  over  the country to strive toward self-sufficiency in edible oil production.

The Government is implementing Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) to promote sustainable & organic farming. The schemes stress on end-toend  support  to  farmers  engaged  in  organic  farming  i.e.  from  production  to  processing, certification & marketing and post harvest management. Training and Capacity Building are integral part of the scheme. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is encouraged eco-friendly approach,  which  is  an  encompassing  cultural,  mechanical,  biological  and  need  based chemical control  measures. Central Integrated Pest  Management Centres located  in  28 States and 2 UTs train farmers on IPM.

The Agriculture Infrastructure  Fund (Agri Infra  Fund)  helps  to  expand  agro-based industries in villages by providing financial support and low-interest loans for developing infrastructure such as cold storage, warehouses, and processing units. The fund supports modem agricultural practices and technology adoption, boosting productivity and promoting diversification into various agro-based sectors aiming to transform rural agriculture, enhance market  access,  and  improve  the  livelihoods  of  farmers.  It  encourages  entrepreneurship among farmers, FPOs, and start-ups, creating job opportunities.

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