Lok Sabha Question No. 533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Compensation to Families of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Anto  Antony

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.533

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## COMPENSATION TO FAMILIES OF FARMERS

## 533. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

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

- a) whether the Government has any data regarding farmers' suicides reported in the country including the State of Kerala;
2. (b) if so, the details during the last twelve months, month and State-wise;
3. (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  provide  financial  assistance  or compensation to the families in distress;
4. (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government on it;
5. (e) whether the Government has any plan to waive off the agricultural loans of small and marginal farmers; and
6. (f) if so, the details and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a) to (f)    The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs  compiles  and  disseminates  information  on  suicides  in  its  publication  titled 'Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India'(ADSI). The report till 2022 is available on NCRB website (https://ncrb.gov.in).

Agriculture  being  a  State  Subject,  Government  of  India  supplements  the efforts  of  States  through  appropriate  policy  measures  and  budgetary  support  and various schemes/ programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India for the welfare to make farming more remunerative and make the farmers financially more secure are as under:

## 1. Unprecedented enhancement in budget allocation

The  Government  has  substantially  enhanced  the  budget  allocation of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare from Rs. 27,662.67 crore BE during 201314 to Rs. 1,25,035.79 crore BE during 2023-24.

## 2. Income support to farmers through PM KISAN

Launch of PM-KISAN in 2019 -an income support scheme providing Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal installments. More than Rs . 2.81 lakh crore has been released so far to more than 11 crore farmers as on 30.11.2023.

## 3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY)

Seven  year  (Provisional)  -  PMFBY  was  launched  in  2016  addressing problems  of  high  premium  rates  for  farmers  and  reduction  in  sum  insured  due  to capping.  In  past  7  Years  of  implementation  -  49.44  crore  farmer  applications enrolled and over 14.06 crore (Provisional) farmer applicants have received claims of over Rs. 1,46,664 crore.   During this period nearly Rs. 29,183 crore were paid by farmers  as  their  share  of  premium  against  which  claims  over  Rs.  1,46,664  crore (Provisional) have been paid to them.   Thus for every 100 rupees of premium paid by farmers, they have received about  Rs. 502  as claims.

DigiClaimFor transparency in calculation and payment of claims, Claim Payment Module  to  workout  claims  and  to  transfer  these  claims  directly  to  the  farmer's account is being done through National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) using PFMS platform. This initiative has been launched on 23rd March, 2023 for implementation from  Kharif    2022  season  claims  onwards.    All  the  claims  are  now  been  paid  by insurance companies directly to farmers account through Digiclaim.

## 4. Institutional credit for agriculture sector

- i. Increased from Rs. 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 21.55 lakh crore in 202223.
- ii. Benefit  of  concessional  institutional  credit  through  KCC  at  4%  interest  per annum  has  also  now  been  extended  to  Animal  Husbandry  and  Fisheries farmers for meeting their short-term working capital needs.
- iii. A  special drive  has  been  undertaken  since  February  2020  to  provide concessional institutional credit with focus on covering all  PM-KISAN beneficiaries  through  Kisan  Credit  Cards  (KCC).  As  on  05.01.2024,  465.42 lakh  new  KCC  applications  have  been  sanctioned  with  a  sanctioned  credit limit of Rs. 5,69,974 crore as part of the drive.

## 5. Fixing of Minimum Support Price (MSP) at one-and-a half times the cost of production

- i. Government has increased the MSP for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops with a return of at least 50 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production from 2018-19.
- ii. MSP for Paddy (common) has increased to Rs. 2,183 per quintal in 2023-24 from Rs. 1,310 per quintal in 2013-14.
- iii. MSP for Wheat increased from Rs. 1,400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs. 2,275 per quintal in 2023-24.

## 6. Promotion of organic farming in the country

- i. Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  was  initiated  in 2015-16  to promote  organic  farming  in  the  country.  32,384  clusters  have  been  formed and  an  area  of  6.53  lakh  hectare  has  been  covered  benefitting  16.19  lakh farmers.  In  addition,  Under  Namami  Gange  Programme  1.23  lakh  hectare area covered and under natural farming 4.09 lakh hectare area covered.
- ii. Government  also  proposes  to  promote  sustainable  natural  farming  systems through the scheme Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Padhati (BPKP). The proposed

scheme aims at cutting down cost of cultivation, enhancing farmer's income and ensuring resource conservation and, safe and healthy soils, environment and food.

- iii. Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER)  has  been  launched.  379  Farmer  Producer  Companies  have been  formed  comprising  of  189039  farmers  and  covering  1,72,966  hectare area.

## 7. Per Drop More Crop:

Per  Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC)  scheme  was  launched  in  the  year  2015-16 which aims to increase water use efficiency, reducing cost of inputs and increasing productivity  at  the  farm  level  through  Micro  Irrigation  technologies  i.e.  drip  and sprinkler irrigation systems. So far, an area of 81.87 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro irrigation through the PDMC scheme from the year 2015-16 and central assistance of Rs. 18,893.74 crore has been released.

## 8. Micro Irrigation Fund:

A Micro Irrigation Fund of initial corpus Rs 5,000 crore has been created with NABARD.  In the Budget Announcement for 2021-22, the corpus of the fund is to be increased to Rs.10,000 crores. Projects worth Rs 4,710.96 crore have been approved so far.

## 9. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

- i. A new Central Sector Scheme for Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 29th February, 2020 with budget outlay of Rs 6,865 Crore till 2027-28.
- ii. As  on  31.12.2023, 7,774  no.  of  FPOs  have  been  registered  under  new  FPO scheme.
- iii. Equity Grant of Rs. 129.5 Crore has been released to 2,933 FPOs.
- iv. Credit Guarantee Cover worth Rs. 226.7 Cr. issued to 994 FPOs

10. The  National  Beekeeping  and  Honey  Mission  (NBHM )  was  launched  in 2020 as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with an outlay of Rs. 500.00 crore for  the  period  of  3  years,  i.e.,  2020-21  to  2022-23,  and  the  scheme  has  been extended for next three years, i.e., 2023-24 to 2025-26, with the remaining available budget of  Rs.  370.00  crore  from  the  allocated  budget  of  Rs.  500.00  crore  for  the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping and to achieve the goal of "Sweet Revolution".

## 11. Agricultural Mechanization :

Agricultural  mechanization  is  extremely  vital  to  modernize  agriculture  and reduce  drudgery  of  farming  operations.  During  the  period  from  2014-15  to  March, 2023 an amount of Rs.6405.55 crore have been allocated for agricultural mechanization. 15,23,650numbers of machines and equipments have been provided to  farmers  on  subsidy.     23,018  custom  hiring  centers,  475  high-tech  hubs  and 20,461 farm machinery banks have been established to make available agricultural machines and equipments to the farmers on rental basis. During 2023-24, Rs.252.39 Crore  have  been  released  to  States  for  distribution  of  37937  nos.  of  agricultural machinery  ,for  establishment  of  1916  custom  Hiring  Centres,  41  Hi-Tech  Centres and 82 nos. of Farm Machinery Banks.

'

## 12. Namo Drone Didi:

The  Government  has  also  recently  approved  Central  Sector  Scheme  for providing drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores.  The  scheme  aims  to  provide  drones  to  15000  selected  Women  SHGs for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides). Of the total 15,000 drones, first 500 drones will be procured by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in 2023-24, using their internal resources for distribution to selected SHGs. Remaining  14500 drones will be provided under this scheme and Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs. 8.0 lakhs will be provided to the women SHGs  for purchase of drones. The Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) of SHGs may raise the balance amount (total cost  of  procurement  minus subsidy) as  loan  under National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF).  Interest subvention @ 3% on the AIF loan will be provided to the CLFs. The scheme will help in infusing advance technology in agriculture  for  improved  efficiency,  enhanced  crop  yield  and  reduced  cost  of operation  for  the  benefit  of  farmers.  The  scheme  will  also  provide  sustainable business and livelihood support to SHGs and they would be able to earn additional income of at least Rs. 1.0 lakh per annum.

## 13. Providing Soil Health Cards to farmers :

Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  was  introduced  in  the  year  2014-15  to  optimize usage of nutrients. The following numbers of cards have been issued to farmers:

- i. Cycle-I (2015 to 2017) - 10.74 crore
- ii. Cycle-II (2017 to 2019)- 12.19 crore
- iii. Model Village Programme (2019-20)- 23.71 lakh
- iv. In the year 2020-21- 11.52 lakh

## 14. Setting up of National Agriculture Market ( e-NAM) extension Platform

- i. 1389 Mandis of 23 States and 04 UTs have been integrated to e-NAM platform. (28 additional mandis have been integrated with e NAM which included J&K (6) Madhya Pradesh (3) Maharashtra (15) Uttrakhand  (4).
- ii. As on 31 st   Dec  2023,   1.76 crore   Farmers  &   2.50  Lakh  traders  have been  registered  on  e-NAM  portal.  Total  volume  of  8.96  Crore  MT  & 30.99  Crore  numbers  (bamboo,  betel  leaves,  coconut,  lemon  &  sweet corn)  collectively  worth  approximately  Rs.  3.19  lakh  crore  of  trade  has been recorded on e-NAM platform.

## 15. Launch of the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm

A new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has been launched during August, 2021 with the aim to  enhance  the  edible  oils  availability  in  the  country  by  harnessing  Oil  Palm  area expansion, increasing CPO production and to reduce the import burden on edible oil. The Mission will bring additional area of 6.5 lakh ha under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28  lakh  ha  in  north-eastern  states  and  3.22  lakh  ha  in  Rest  of  India  with  a  total outlay of Rs. 11,040 crore in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

## 16. KISAN Credit Card (KCC):

Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers'  Welfare  is  implementing  Modified Interest  Subvention  Scheme  (MISS),  a  Central  Sector  Scheme,  with  a  view  to provide  short  term  Agri-loans  availed  by  farmers  through  KCC  for  their  working capital requirements at concessional rate of interest. Under this scheme, farmers are given  KCC  loan  at  subvented  interest  rate  of  7%.  For  this,  at  present,  interest subvention of  @1.5% is being  given to  financial institutions.  Therefore,  short  term loans  for  Agriculture  and  other  allied  activities  including  animal  husbandry,  dairy, fisheries etc. upto Rs. 3.00 lakh is available to farmers at an interest rate of 7% per annum. Additional 3% prompt repayment incentive (PRI) is also given to the farmers for prompt and timely repayment of loans; thus reducing the effective rate of interest to 4% per annum. In case of short term loan availed for allied activities only (other than crop husbandry), the loan amount upto Rs. 2.00 lakh is available at the rate of 7%. Additional 3% PRI is also available on it.

To bring  the  maximum number of farmers  under KCC so  that they can  get loan at a cheaper rate from institutional banking system, the Government has been running a campaign for Saturation of KCC to farmers since February, 2020 to cover all left over farmers with special focus on PM KISAN beneficiaries.

Under Atma Nirbar Bharat package, a target to cover 2.5 crore farmers with credit  flow  of  about  Rs.2.00  lakh  crores  was  set.  Special  drive  was  undertaken  to provide Kisan Credit Cards to eligible and willing farmers with special focus on PM KISAN beneficiaries. This enabled such farmers to gain access to institutional credit at  concessional  interest  rate.  Target  to  cover  2.5  crore  farmers  was  achieved  on 15.10.2021  and  as  on  05.01.2024,  465.42  lakh  new  KCC  applications  have  been sanctioned with a sanctioned credit limit of Rs. 5,69,974 crore as part of the drive. Budget estimate for MISS under  which KCC scheme operates has been allocated Rs. 23000 crores for the year 2023-24.

A  revised  KCC  Saturation  drive  i.e.  'Ghar  Ghar  KCC  Abhiyan'  has  been launched with special focus to saturate PM KISAN beneficiaries. The main objective of this drive is to mobilise the potential farmers through a special drive under Block Level Bankers Committee to saturate PM KISAN beneficiaries with KCC and to enrol maximum  number  of  farmers/PM  KISAN  beneficiaries  under  all  types  of  KCC schemes (for Crop cultivation, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries etc.).

## 17. Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) :

A one Lakh Crore,Agriculture Infrastructure Fund  (AIF)  scheme  was launched with an objective to mobilize a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment  in viable projects  for  post-harvest  management  Infrastructure  and community  farming  assets  through  incentives  and  financial  support  in  order  to improve  agriculture  infrastructure  in  the  country.  Interest  Subvention  and  Credit Guarantee supports are being provided under Agri Infra Fund.

## 18. Improvement in farm produce logistics, Introduction of Kisan Rail.

Kisan Rail has been launched by Ministry of Railways to exclusively cater to movement of perishable agri-horti commodities. First Kisan Rail was started in July 2020. Till 28 th  February, 2023, 2359 services on 167 routes have been operated.

## 19. MIDH - Cluster Development Programme:

Details  of  physical  progress  under  the  major  components  of  NHM/HMNEH scheme of MIDH from 2014-15 to 2023-24 (as on 30.12.2023) is as under:

-  Area  Expansion:  -  An  additional  area  of  13.24  lakh  ha.  of  identified horticulture  crops  has  been  covered.  Nurseries:  -  882  nurseries  have been established for production of quality planting material.
-  Rejuvenation: - An area of 1.44 lakh ha. of old and senile orchards has

been rejuvenated.

-  Organic Farming:  - An  area  of  52108  ha.  been  covered  under  organic practices.
-  Protected Cultivation: - An area of 3.13 lakh ha. has been covered under Protected Cultivation.
-  Water Resources: -51476  water-harvesting structures have been created.
-  Beekeeping: - 15.94 lakh bee colonies with hives have been distributed.
-  Horticulture Mechanization: -2.65 lakh horticulture mechanization equipment have been distributed.
-  Post-Harvest Management Infrastructures: - 1.17 lakh post-harvest units have been established.
-  Market Infrastructures: - 15522 market infrastructures have been set up.
-  Training of Farmers: - Under HRD, 9.31 lakh farmers have been trained under various horticulture activities.

## 20. Creation of a Start-up Eco system in agriculture and allied sector

So far, 1259 Start-ups  during FY 2019-20 to 2023-24 have been selected by different  Knowledge Partners (KPs) and Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) working in agriculture & allied sector.   Rs. 83.67 crore as grants-in-aid has been released in installments  to  the  respective KPs &  R-ABIs for funding  to  these  Start-ups   under RKVY Agri-startup Programme of Department of Agriculture & FW.

## 21. Achievement in Export of Agri and Allied Agri- Commodities

The  country  has  witnessed  emphatic  growth  in  export  of  agri  and  allied commodities. As compared to previous year 2021-22, the Agri and allied export has increased from 50.24 billion USD in 2021-22 to 53.15 billion USD in 2022-23 i.e. an increase of 5.79%.

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