Lok Sabha Question No. 3901 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Promoting Agriculture in Kerala
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3901

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## Promoting Agriculture in Kerala

3901. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote agriculture in Kerala taking into account of the special situation in Kerala, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated action to promote agriculture in small holdings due to division of land into small plots, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  action  to  resolve  the  hindrance  of  mechanized farming reduces agricultural productivity, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to promote the cultivation of food crops in Kerala, if so, the details of action taken thereon;
- (e) whether the Government has initiated action to protect the farmers in Kerala from the loss due to market instability and price fluctuations, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details of action taken to provide harmless pesticides so as to improve organic farming?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (Shri RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) to (f): Agriculture  is  a  state  subject  &  all  the  centrally  sponsored  schemes  are implemented through States/ UTs concerned. For the agricultural development in the States, including Kerala, arrangements are put in place by the State Governments as per their Annual Action Plan sanctioned for various schemes.

Government of India supports the States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary allocation for schemes for farmers welfare. Schemes/ programmes of Government of  India  aim  to  increase  production,  provide  remunerative  returns  and  income  support  to farmers. The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21,933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,290.16  crore  BE  during  2025-26.  The  major  schemes    of  DA&FW  for  the  country, including Kerala are as under:

1.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3.  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)/  Restructured  Weather  Based  Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4.  Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5.  Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6.  Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
7.  National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8.  Namo Drone Didi
9.  National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10.  Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11.  Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE)
12.  Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13.  Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14.  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15.  Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16.  Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17.  Agroforestry
18.  Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19.  Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20.  Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21.  National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22.  Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23.  Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24.  National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25.  National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26.  Digital Agriculture Mission
27.  National Bamboo Mission

These  schemes  are  aimed  at  promoting  agriculture  in  small  holdings,  enhancing agricultural productivity, encouraging the cultivation of food crops, protecting framers from losses due to market instability and price fluctuations, and ensuring remunerative returns and increased income for farmers.

Since  2014-15,  under  SMAM,  in  order  to  promote  mechanization  and  increased productivity Kerala received ₹313.23 crore in central funds. This  facilitated  distribution of over 1,18,105 subsidized agricultural machines, establishment of 91 Custom Hiring Centres, and 1,596 Village Level Farm Machinery Banks. Under MIDH (2014-15 to 2024-25), 51,359 hectares were brought under horticulture crops, 34 nurseries established, 4,994 hectares rejuvenated, and 510 hectares covered under protected cultivation. A seed hub for pulses was also set up at AICRP, Pattambi, and onboarded on the SAATHI portal. As of 3rd July 2025, ₹1,279 crore has been sanctioned for 3,572 AIF projects with a project cost of ₹1,984 crore. Under PMKSY-PDMC, 6,331 hectares have been covered with micro-irrigation since 2015-16, with ₹89.56 crore in central assistance.  Under Price Support Schemes, in 202324 1,118,30 metric tonnes Copra was procured for Rs.12.14 crore from 6209 farmers.

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