Lok Sabha Question No. 1363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Issues faced by Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1363

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## ISSUES FACED BY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

1363. Shri Sachithanantham R:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government recognises the need to reduce disguised unemployment, increase crop diversification, and enhance overall efficiency in the agriculture sector;

(b) if so, the details of the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and

(c)  the  efforts  made/being  made  by  the  Government  to  strike  a  balance  between incentivizing farmers to increase production and keeping food prices within acceptable limits?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Even  though  Agriculture  is  a  State  subject,  Government  of  India formulates new schemes from time to time based on felt needs.  While doing so, to reduce disguised unemployment in Agriculture and provide impetus to promote self employment  through  farm  based  economic  activities  have  been  provided  through introduction  of  schemes  like  Agri-Accelerator  Fund,  Agriculture  Infrastructure  Fund and Farmer Producers Organisation (FPOs).

Other Schemes of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are introduced by  Government  of  India  in  order  to  reorient  the    agriculture  sector  by    enhancing productivity, reducing cost of cultivation and ensuring remunerative returns to farmers.

In this exercise, Government of India and associated Ministries are considered to be stake holders with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare leading the group. This group is categorized as Agri and Allied Sector.  Each Ministry of this group has schemes being operated to address remunerative returns to the beneficiaries, majority of whom are farmers.

While all the schemes of M/o Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are aimed at enhancing  overall  efficiency  of  Agriculture  Sector,  Crop  Diversification  Programme (CDP), a sub-scheme of Rashtriya  Krishi Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY) (since  2013-14)  is aimed to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton etc.

Diversified production of crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutria cereals, cotton & oil seeds are also promoted under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and  horticultural  crops  under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture (MIDH).

Apart  from  above,  to  boost  overall  efficiency,  the  government  focuses  on modernization and sustainable practices through post harvest management, investments  in  cold  storage,  food  processing,  better  transportation  infrastructure, research and development, export promotion of Agriculture product and promoting mechanization and modern equipment etc.

Major schemes/programmes initiated by DA&FW  to enhance overall efficiency in the agriculture sector and increase income of farmers are as under :

- 1) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
- 2) Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
- 3) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
- 4) Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS)
- 5) Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
- 6) Formation and Promotion of Farmers Producers Organizations
- 7) Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
- 8) Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
- 9) Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
- 10) Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
- 11) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
- 12) National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
- 13) Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
- 14) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
- 15) Soil Health Card (SHC)
- 16) Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
- 17) Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
- 18) National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
- 19) National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
- 20) Market Intervention Scheme and Price support Scheme (MIS-PSS)
- 21) National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
- 22) Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region

A list of major schemes/programmes run by other Ministries for employment generation and overall efficiency in agriculture and allied sector which are available on the website of concerned Ministries are as under:

- 1) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
- 2) National Skill Development Mission (NSDM)
- 3) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- 4) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
- 5) Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Programs
- 6) Rashtriya Gokul Mission
- 7) National Livestock Mission
- 8)  Blue  Revolution  with  multi-dimensional  activities  mainly  focusing  on  fisheries production, both inland and marine

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