Lok Sabha Question No. 2489 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Cow based Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2489

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH   AUGUST, 2024

## COW BASED NATURAL FARMING

2489. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) the  details  regarding  the  scheme  of  the  Government  to  promote  cow  based  natural farming;

(b) the efforts made by the Government to increase production and consumption of Shree Anna; and

(c) the details regarding the scheme of the Government to procure foodgrains produced by the farmers through natural farming?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a): Government of India is promoting Natural Farming since 2019-2020 through Bharatiya Prakritik  Krishi  Paddhati  programme  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  Scheme.  The Scheme mainly emphasizes on exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes onfarm  biomass  recycling  with  major  stress  on  biomass  mulching,  use  of  cow  dung-urine formulations and other plant based preparations. Under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati, natural farming is being promoted in cluster of 500 ha and Rs.12200.00 is provided per ha for three years, in which Rs. 2000 is provided as incentives to farmers through DBT.

(b): This Ministry is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM)- Nutri Cereals in 28  States  &  2  Union  Territories  (viz.  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh  of  the  country)  for increasing  production  &  productivity  of  millets.  Under  NFSM-Nutri  Cereals  assistance  is given to the farmers, through the States/UTs for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, production, and distribution of seeds of high yielding varieties (HYVs)/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient  water  application  tools,  plant  protection  measures,  nutrient  management,  soil ameliorants, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc.  The mission also provides support  to  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  &  State  Agricultural  Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras  (KVKs)  for technology back stopping and  transfer of technology to the farmer under supervision of subject matter Specialists/Scientists.

(c): There is no scheme of the Government of India (GoI) to procure food grains produced by  the  farmers  through  natural  farming.  The  Government's  policy  of  procurement  of  food grains  has broad  objectives  of  ensuring  Minimum  Support Price  (MSP) to  the farmers and availability of food grains to the weaker sections at affordable prices. Under this policy, stocks conforming to the GoI specifications which are offered by the farmers at Purchase centers are procured by the Government Agencies at MSP. However, if the farmers get prices better than MSP in open market, they are free to sell their produce.

GoI  in  consultation  with  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  and  respective  State Governments  formulates  procurement  plans  to  procure  food  grains  (wheat/paddy/coarse grains) from  the  farmers every  year  during  State  Food  Secretaries'  meeting  for Kharif  and Rabi crop. Procurement operations are regularly reviewed by GoI which inter- alia includes evaluation  of  efficiency  of  FCI  in  procurement  of  grains  and  necessary  corrective  actions, whenever required, are taken.

As  per  Guidelines  for  procurement,  allocation,  distribution  and  disposal  of  coarse grains  dated-07.12.2021/28.03.2022/09.08.2023  issued  by  Department  of  Food  and  Public Distribution, States are allowed to procure Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Barley & Ragi and six minor millets from farmers at Minimum Support Price(MSP) under central pool subject to the prior approval of GoI, in consultation with FCI. The whole quantity shall be distributed under TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)/OWS (Other welfare Schemes) in the State/UT.

For increasing the procurement and consumption of coarse grains/millets, Department of  Food  and  Public  Distribution has  revised  the  guidelines  for  allocation,  distribution  and disposal of coarse grains procured by the State Agencies/FCI and enhanced the distribution period to 6-10 months from earlier period of 3 months. Provision of inter-state transportation of surplus millets through FCI had also been incorporated. In order to further widen scope of procurement  of  coarse  grains/millets,  it  has  been  decided  to  allow  the  procurement  of following minor/pseudo millets for 3 years (from 2023) at cost based on the MSP of Ragi:

-  Minor Millet- Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo) ,little millet (Kutki)
-  Pseudo Millets-(Buck-wheat (kuttu) and Ameranthus (Chaulai).

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