Lok Sabha Question No. 2591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Stabilizing Agricultural Output
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sushil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2591

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 th  December, 2023

## STABILIZING AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT

2591.  SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ǒष एवं Ǒकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:(a) the details of specific measures that are being implemented by the Government to support farmers affected by the erratic monsoon and to stabilize agricultural output; (b) the  ways  by  which  Government  plans  to  address  the  potential  shortfall  in  key crops, especially considering the projected decline in kharif and rabi outputs, and the strategies to ensure food security in this context; (c) the steps being undertaken to enhance the resilience of our agricultural sector against the increasing unpredictability of monsoon patterns and the long-term measures being considered to adapt to these climatic challenges; and (d)  the details regarding the strategy and collaborations, if any, aimed at improving water resource management to mitigate the impacts of fluctuating reservoir levels on agriculture and the long-term plans to ensure sustainable agricultural practices in the

- face of climatic variabilities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ǒष एवं Ǒकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (c):    The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing various schemes namely National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National

Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) etc. for increasing Production, Productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability ensuring sustainable agricultural production. Concerted efforts by Central Government and states has resulted in record foodgrains production of 329.69 million tonnes during 2022-23 (Final Estimates of DES). The scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) also ensure providing financial protection to the farmers against crop loss due to natural disasters, encouraging them to adopt and implement modern agricultural practices. Farmers with crop loss of 33% and above due to natural calamities also avail input subsidy as per NDRF/SDRF norms.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  launched  a  flagship  network project 'National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture' (NICRA) in 2011 to enhance the resilience of agriculture sector against climate change. The project aims to develop and promote climate resilient agriculture to address vulnerable areas of the country and help the districts and regions to cope up with extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods,  frost,  heat  waves  etc.  Further  to  enhance  the  resilience  of  agricultural  sector against the increasing unpredictability of monsoon pattern, ICAR has released 2380 high yielding varieties/ hybrids of field crops for different agro-climatic conditions during 2014 to 2023 including 240 less water requiring/drought/moisture stress/water stress tolerant comprising 128 of cereals, 22 of oilseeds, 34 of pulses, 9 of fibre crops and 29 of sugar crops. Besides, a total of 72 flood/submergence/water logging tolerant field crop varieties including 46 of rice, 2 of maize, 1 of sorghum, 5 of Jute, 1 of rice bean and 17 of sugarcane have  been  developed.  In  addition  to  above,  42  heat  stress/high  temp  tolerant,  17  of cold/frost/winter chilling/low temp tolerant varieties of different field crops have also been developed. The above specific crop varieties are being promoted for cultivation in the country under different agro-climatic conditions.

Indian Council for Agricultural Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICARCRIDA) also develops the District Agriculture Contingency Plan (DACP) for 650 districts to mitigate the impact of weather related challenges and circulates to all State Agriculture Departments. The plan contains suitable technology interventions. The Department of Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  also  issues  advisory  to  the  States  for  creating awareness campaign and to implement contingency plan as per local need.

(d) Central  Water  Commission  (CWC)  monitors  live  storage  status  of  150  important reservoirs in the country and issues weekly bulletin on every Thursday. Weekly Bulletin is  shared  with  the  Water  Resource  (WR)  Departments  of  concerned  states  and  also uploaded on the CWC website. This weekly bulletin is also shared with Inter Ministerial

Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) to review the status of Reservoir Storage in the country to assess agricultural activities and to suggest remedial measures to states in case of distress situation. Whenever the percentage of departure of current storage of all reservoirs under CWC monitoring in a state falls below 80% of Normal (Average Storage of  last  Ten  years),  Advisory  is  issued  to  the  State  Government  for  judicious  use  of available water.

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