Lok Sabha Question No. 232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Classification of Sectors into Strategic and Non-Strategic
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 232

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 th  FEBRUARY, 2025

## CLASSIFICATION OF SECTORS INTO STRATEGIC AND NON-STRATEGIC

## 232. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:

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

- (a) whether matters pertaining to food security and farmers' welfare are not of strategic importance to the nation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the considerations that have been taken by the Government in the classification of sectors into strategic and non-strategic; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण रा̕  य मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Food security and farmers' welfare are very important for the nation and are being  given  utmost  priority.  In  order  to  ensure  the  food  security  of  the  country,  the Government is implementing National Food  Security &  Nutrition  Mission  (NFSNM) in  28 states and 2 union territories (Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh) with the objective of increasing food grain production across the country. Under NFSNM, the incentives are 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 trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed minikits etc. The Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

The Government is also taking various steps like procurement of foodgrains for Public Distribution  System  (PDS),  operation  &  maintenance  of  buffer  stock  for  foodgrains, modernization  &  upgradation  of  storage  facilities  for  foodgrains  etc.  for  the  wellbeing  of farmers.  Further,  the  Government  is  implementing  various  schemes  like  Pradhan  Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Soil Health  Card  (SHC),  National  Agriculture  Market  (e-NAM),  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PMKMY), Kisan Credit Card

(KCC),  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan  (PM-AASHA),  Mission  for Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  Agricultural  Technology  Management Agency (ATMA), Rainfed Area Development (RAD), Programme under National Mission for Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA),  Scheme  for  promotion  of  10,000  Farmers  Producer Organizations (FPOs), National Bee Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM), Agriculture Infrastructure  Fund  (AIF)  etc.  for  the  wellbeing  of  farmers  which  provide  assistance  on production,  protection,  post-harvest  processing,  value  addition,  market  linkage  etc.  for foodgrains crops.  The country's foodgrains production increased from 297.50 million tonnes during 2019-20 to 332.29 million tonnes during 2023-24.

(c) to (d): The Government in February, 2021 notified the New Public Sector Enterprise ('PSE') Policy for Atmanirbhar Bharat under which the Public Sector commercial enterprises are being classified as Strategic and Non-Strategic sectors. The PSEs in Strategic sectors have  been  delineated  based  on  the  criteria  of  national  security,  energy  security,  critical infrastructure, provision of financial services and availability of important minerals.

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