Lok Sabha Question No. 375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Assistance to Kerala for increasing Food Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 375

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## ASSISTANCE TO KERALA FOR INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION

375.      SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  more  assistance  to  Kerala  for increasing food production, if so the details thereof, (b) the details regarding the food production, State-wise, (c) the details of foodgrains required for consumption, State-wise, (d) the details of comparative statement regarding the total requirements of food and total production in each State; (e) whether the Union Government analysed the crisis in Kerala to ensure the food security due to the low production; (f) if so, the details of action taken by the Government to give priority to Kerala for increasing the food production; (g) whether the Union Government initiated joint action with State Government to preserve the agricultural land in Kerala, if so, the details thereof, and

- (h) the details of the special project proposed to implement in Kerala?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (h): The Government of India is supplementing the efforts of State Governments  to  increase  the production of foodgrains in the country through implementation of various schemes and programmes. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in the identified districts of 28 states including Kerala and Union Territories (UTs)  for  increasing  the  food  production  through  area  expansion  and  productivity enhancement,  restoring  soil  fertility  and  productivity  at  individual  farm  level  and enhancing farm level economy.

Under NFSNM, the assistance is 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,  capacity  building  of  farmers through training during cropping season etc. NFSNM also provides support to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) & State Agriculture Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technology to the farmer  under  supervision  of  Subject  Matter  Specialists  /  Scientists.  The  Research Organizations are supported for undertaking research projects that can help enhancing production and productivity of crops.

In addition, Government of India also given flexibility to the states for state specific needs under Pradhan Mantri- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The states may  implement  need  based  projects  for  foodgrain  crops  under  PM-RKVY  with  the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).

There is no foodgrain crisis in the country. Due to the concerted efforts of the Central, States Governments and farmers, the production of foodgrain has increased wise foodgrain  production in India  in the  year 2023-24 is at  annexure-I.  As per data received from the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the allocation of foodgrain to states / UTs under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) / National Food from 285.01 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 332.29 million tonnes in 2023-24. The StateSecurity Act (NFSA) for the year 2024-25 is at annexure-II.

As a part of watershed development programmes taken up under Pradhan Mantri Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  several  activities  are  taken  up  for  all  round development and conservation  of  natural resources including  agricultural land  in  the state. The Kerala state Government has passed the Kerala Paddy Land & Wet Land Act in 2008 to preserve the remaining paddy lands of Kerala.

State-wise Production of Total Food Grains during the year 2023-24

| S. No.   | States/ UTs                 | Total Production (Lakh Tonnes)   | Total Production (Lakh Tonnes)   |
|----------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1        | Andaman And Nicobar Islands |                                  | 0.10                             |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh              |                                  | 104.13                           |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh           |                                  | 3.92                             |
| 4        | Assam                       |                                  | 62.59                            |
|          | Bihar                       | 5                                | 212.01                           |
| 6        | Chandigarh                  |                                  | 0.03                             |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh                |                                  | 106.19                           |
| 8        | Dadra And Nagar Haveli      |                                  | 0.38                             |
| 9        | Daman And Diu               |                                  | --                               |
| 10       | Delhi                       |                                  | 1.05                             |
| 11       | Goa                         |                                  | 0.99                             |
| 12       | Gujarat                     |                                  | 100.45                           |
| 13       | Haryana                     |                                  | 184.39                           |
| 14       | Himachal Pradesh            |                                  | 16.48                            |
| 15       | Jammu And Kashmir           |                                  | 18.41                            |
| 16       | Jharkhand                   |                                  | 33.58                            |
| 17       | Karnataka                   |                                  | 127.77                           |
| 18       | Kerala                      |                                  | 5.02                             |
| 19       | Ladakh                      |                                  | 0.25                             |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh              |                                  | 414.68                           |
| 21       | Maharashtra                 |                                  | 145.09                           |
| 22       | Manipur                     |                                  | 4.38                             |
| 23       | Meghalaya                   |                                  | 3.25                             |
| 24       | Mizoram                     |                                  | 0.55                             |
| 25       | Nagaland                    |                                  | 5.19                             |
| 26       | Odisha                      |                                  | 94.32                            |
| 27       | Puducherry                  |                                  | 0.63                             |
| 28       | Punjab                      |                                  | 325.44                           |
| 29       | Rajasthan                   |                                  | 218.72                           |
| 30       | Sikkim                      |                                  | 0.69                             |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu                  |                                  | 107.00                           |
| 32       | Telangana                   |                                  | 202.76                           |
| 33       | Tripura                     |                                  | 8.42                             |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh               |                                  | 602.86                           |
| 35       | Uttarakhand                 |                                  | 18.00                            |
| 36       | West Bengal                 |                                  | 193.24                           |
|          | All India                   |                                  | 3322.95                          |

(Source: Economics, Statistical & Evaluation Division, DA&FW)

## Annexure-II

## Allocation of foodgrains (Rice+Wheat+Coarsegrains) under TPDS/ NFSA for 2024-25

(Quantity in Lakh Tonnes)

(Source: Department of Food & Public Distribution)

| S. No.   | States/ UTs           |   Total |
|----------|-----------------------|---------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh        |   18.72 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh     |    0.89 |
| 3        | Assam                 |   16.95 |
| 4        | Bihar                 |   55.27 |
| 5        | Chhatisgarh           |   13.84 |
| 6        | Delhi                 |    4.49 |
| 7        | Goa                   |    0.59 |
| 8        | Gujarat               |   22.47 |
| 9        | Haryana               |    7.95 |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh      |    5.08 |
| 11       | Jharkhand             |   17.52 |
| 12       | Karnataka             |   26.09 |
| 13       | Kerala                |   14.25 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh        |   34.94 |
| 15       | Maharashtra           |   46.05 |
| 16       | Manipur               |    1.38 |
| 17       | Meghalaya             |    1.76 |
| 18       | Mizoram               |    0.66 |
| 19       | Nagaland              |    1.38 |
| 20       | Odisha                |   22.53 |
| 21       | Punjab                |    8.7  |
| 22       | Rajasthan             |   27.71 |
| 23       | Sikkim                |    0.44 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu            |   36.78 |
| 25       | Telengana             |   13.38 |
| 26       | Tripura               |    2.71 |
| 27       | Uttrakhand            |    5.03 |
| 28       | Uttar Pradesh         |   99.79 |
| 29       | West Bengal           |   39.71 |
| 30       | A & N Island          |    0.29 |
| 31       | Chandigarh (DBT)      |    0    |
| 32       | D&N H and Daman & Diu |    0.15 |
| 33       | Jammu & Kashmir       |    7.35 |
| 34       | Ladakh                |    0.16 |
| 35       | Lakshadweep           |    0.05 |
| 36       | Pudducherry (DBT)     |    0    |
|          | Total                 |  555.06 |

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