Lok Sabha Question No. 406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Income of Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 406

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/12/2015

## INCOME OF FARMERS

406. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. A. SAMPATH:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to give more autonomy to scientific research and intervention in the agriculture sector to ensure food security and thereby tackling the hunger challenges in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate a comprehensive agricultural policy to ensure  a  certain  income  to  the  farmers  for  sustaining,  managing  and  boosting  agriculture output in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj d`'kd dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam.  The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is the apex body to organize scientific research on agriculture and allied activities through its various institutes and centres' spread all over the country. The Council is an autonomous body registered under Societies Act, and is supported by the Government of India.   Most institutions under ICAR umbrella  plan  their  research  on  contemporary  agricultural  problems  under  the  guidance  of their  research  advisory  committees  appointed  by  the  Council.  The  ICAR,  through  its systematic  research  and  extension,  could  achieve  food  production  targets  by  which  the country  could  achieve  major  breakthroughs  in  the  production  of  food  grains,  horticultural produce, milk, fish, eggs, etc . and thus ensure food security as well as nutritional security of

our people. The major areas of focus of the ICAR are i) promotion of technological advances and their transfer, aimed at lowering the net production costs, raising the yields and net farm incomes,  reducing  the  use  of  pesticides  and  herbicides,  and  thereby  lowering  the  costs  of cultivation ii) the development of new replicable models of sustainable production keeping in mind  the  prevailing  climate  change  scenario  iii)  research  efforts  aimed  at  developing appropriate models for commercialization of agriculture through value chains and development  of  appropriate  market  linkages  and  iv)  capacity  building  in  the  National Agricultural Research and Education system (NARES).

(c) to (e): Yes, Appropriate policy and institutional innovations (issues such as strategic planning, priority setting, R&D management, financing, monitoring and evaluation, etc.), are being accorded special attention in the Ministry. With a view to developing a comprehensive agriculture  policy  and  towards  enhancing  productivity  and  improving  farmers'  income,  the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has launched a number of new innovative schemes and policy initiatives which include; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, Neem coating of Urea, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana for promotion of Organic Farming Practices and  Rashtriya Gokul Mission for promotion of indigenous  breeds  of  cattle.  To  facilitate  better  adoption  of  technologies  developed  by  the research system, the Krishi Vigya Kendras have also been strengthened appropriately. Efforts for the Second Green Revolution are being worked out, keeping the focus on eastern India through a special program called Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India.

In  addition  the  ongoing  initiatives  like;  National  Food  Security  Mission,  National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture,  National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm, National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology, Mission of Integrated Development of Horticulture, National Crop  Insurance Programme,  Integrated Scheme  on  Agriculture Cooperation, Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing, Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census,  Economics  &  Statistics,    Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojna,  National  Dairy  Plan  and National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture are also being strengthened to achieve the goals of food security in the country in an inclusive manner.

All  the  above  schemes  are  being  implemented  through  the  three  Departments  of  the Ministry  i.e.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Cooperation,  Department  of  Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries and Department of Agriculture Research and Education.

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