Lok Sabha Question No. 820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Making Agriculture Sector more Profitable
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, Geeta Kora, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 820 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  July, 2023

## MAKING AGRICULTURE SECTOR MORE PROFITABLE

820.   SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures being taken by the Government to encourage the students and youth associated with agriculture to make the agriculture more profitable thereby making the villages more prosperous in the country particularly in States of Bihar, Gujarat and Jharkhand;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that there are many challenges in agriculture sector in current scenario;
- (c) whether the use of technology has become mandatory to solve these challenges; and
- (d) if so, the details of the efforts being made in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The  Government has made following provisions to make the agriculture more profitable with involvement of students in the country including in the States of Bihar, Gujarat and Jharkhand.
- i. 'Student  READY' Programme:  This is  an  integral  part  of  the  undergraduate degree programme in Agriculture across all Agricultural Universities (AU) since 2016-17.  It  is  a  well-structured  one  year  programme  which  includes  several components  designed  to  provide  desired  skills  to  agricultural  graduates  for establishment of their own enterprises in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.
- ii. Rural  Awareness  Works  Experience  (RAWE)  Programme:  The  undergraduate students  support  the  livelihood  improvement  of  small  and  marginal  farmers  in

terms  of  providing  information  about  facilities  extended  by  the  Government, scientific  and  technical  knowhow,  selection  of  crops  and  marketing  of  their produce.

Department  of  Agricultural  Research  and  Education  through  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR) implements following schemes/programmes for vocational training and capacity development of youth to become entrepreneurs and adopt agriculture related professions to make it more profitable:

- i. Attracting  and  Retaining  Youth  in  Agriculture  (ARYA):  There  are  100  ARYA centers in the country including 6 centers in Bihar, 6 in Gujarat and 4 in Jharkhand.
- ii. Technology  Assessment  and  Demonstration  for  its  Application  and  Capacity Development through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): The scheme is implemented in the country through 731 KVKs including 44 KVKs in Bihar, 30 in Gujarat and 24 in Jharkhand.

(b) to (d): Major  challenges  in  Agriculture  are  fragmentation  of  cultivable  land; degradation of natural resources particularly soil and water; ground water depletion; climatic  aberrations;  marketing  of  farm  produce;  etc.  which  require  technological interventions.  ICAR  Institutes  and  AUs  are  working  on  developing  technologies  to combat  these  problems  namely,  farm  machinery  for  small  and  marginal  holdings; reclamation  of  problematic  soil  as  well  as  soil  fertility  and  nutrient  management; resource conservation technologies; short duration varieties and methods  of cultivation and irrigation to tackle climatic aberrations and ground water depletion; etc. E-platforms for marketing of produce using Information and Communication Technologies  have  been  created  for  better  remuneration  to  farmers.  ICAR  has developed 2018 climate resilient varieties and 114 bio-fortified varieties. These efforts are supported through different Government schemes to get optimum results. These include  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi,  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee Yojana, Soil Health Card, National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima  Yojana,  Pradhan  Matri  Kisan  Maan-Dhan  Yojana,  National  Food  Security Mission,  Kisan  Credit  Card,  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan, Mission for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture,  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana, Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Rainfed Area Development Programme,  Scheme  for  promotion  of  10,000  Farmer  Producer  Organizations, National Bee Keeping Honey Mission, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, etc.

These efforts resulted into record production of foodgrains (330.5 million tons) and horticulture (347.2 million tons) during the year 2022-23. The sector grew at 4.6 % in the last 6 years. During 2021-22, the country exported products of agriculture sector to the tune of USD 50 billion.

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