Lok Sabha Question No. 4057 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Initiatives for the Enhancing Farmers Income
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4057

ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## INITIATIVES FOR THE ENHANCING FARMERS INCOME

4057.  DR. MP ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI :

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

- (a) the details of the steps the Government has taken to increase farmers' income;
- (b) the details of projects are being implemented to promote natural farming;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to reduce the price of fertilizers; and
- (d) whether there are any plans to increase youth participation in the agricultural sector?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a):  Government  of  India  has  substantially  enhanced  the  Budget  allocation  of  the Department of Agriculture and 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  various  schemes/programmes  of  the  Government  of  India  meant  for  the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers are at Annexure I.

- (b): National  Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been initiated for scientifically backed  agroecological  approaches  towards  sustainability,  climate  resilience  and  safe food. Natural farming is integrated with livestock (preferably local breed of cow), involves use  of  on-farm  inputs  like  Beejamrut,  Jeevamrut,  Neemastra,  etc.,  multi-cropping systems,  Pre-monsoon  dry  sowing,  biomass  based  mulching,  integration  of  trees  on buffer zones of farm, etc. Natural Farming practices improve soil structure, nutrition & soil organic  carbon,  enhances  moisture  retention  &  water  holding  capacity,  promotes  crop diversification and encourages natural habitats that enhance the on-farm biodiversity.

So  far,  18,825  clusters  have  been  formed  covering 9.00 lakh hectares  and registration  of  19  lakh  farmers.  Further,  33,336  Krishi  Sakhis/Community  Resource Persons (CRPs) have been trained through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities  (AUs)  and  local  natural  farming  institutions  and  6,388  Bio-Input  Resource Centres  (BRCs)  have  been  established.  Soil  samples  of  15.63  lakh  enrolled  farmers have been collected with 7.46 lakh Soil Health Cards generated.

Further,  Natural  Farming  Certification  System  (NFCS)  has  been  initiated  as  'PGSINDIA NATURAL' for certification of all produces of natural farming in accordance with the  Natural  Farming  Standards.  More  than  6.39  lakh  farmers  have  been  issued  NF certificates.

(c): Urea  is  provided  to  the  farmers  at  a  statutorily  notified  Maximum  Retail  Price (MRP) irrespective of the cost of production. The subsidized MRP of 45 kg bag of urea is Rs. 242 per bag (exclusive of charges towards neem coating and taxes applicable). The difference between the delivered cost of urea at farm gate and net market realization by the urea units is given as subsidy to the urea manufacturer/importer by the Government of India. Accordingly, all farmers are being supplied urea at the subsidized rates.

In case of Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy w.e.f. 01.04.2010. Under the policy, a fixed amount of subsidy, decided on annual/bi-annual basis, is provided to manufacturer / importer on subsidized P&K fertilizers depending on their nutrient content i.e. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Sulphur (S). Under NBS Scheme, P&K fertilizers are decontrolled and fertilizer companies are allowed to fix MRP as per market dynamics at  reasonable  level  which  is  monitored  by  the  Government.  In  order  to  keep  targeted farm gate price of DAP @ ₹1350 per 50 Kg bag, Government of India has introduced special provisions over and above NBS Subsidy, like Rs. 3500 per MT to cover 'Other Costs'.

Subsidy  on  various  fertilizer  grades  is  released  to  the  fertilizer  companies,  on actual  sales to the  beneficiaries  based on  Aadhar authentication through POS devices installed at each retail shop. Accordingly, all beneficiaries are being supplied fertilizers at the subsidized rates.

(d): Government has taken various initiatives  to promote  farming  as  a  viable  career option for youth, among which the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the rural districts of the country for dissemination of  new  technologies  of  agriculture  and  allied  sectors  through  technology  assessment, demonstration  and  capacity  development  among  the  extension  functionaries  and  the farmers of the concerned district.

Besides, 100 KVKs of the country are implementing project namely Attracting and Retaining  Youth  in  Agriculture  (ARYA)  for  retaining  younger  generations  of  farming families  into  the  sector,  These  KVKs  organize  skill  development  programmes  for  the youth of rural areas to take up various enterprises related to agriculture and allied sectors like,  mushroom  production,  fruits  and  vegetable  processing  units,  horticulture  nursery, protected  cultivation,  fish  farming,  poultry,  goat  farming,  piggery,  duck  farming,  bee keeping, vermicomposting, etc.

Further,  youths  are  encouraged  to  participate  in  agriculture  sector  with  the implementation of schemes like Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) under Sub-Mission on  Agricultural  Extension  (SMAE),  Innovation  and  Agri-Entrepreneurship  Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Agriculture Start-Up and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem (AgriSURE) and Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) by the Government of India.

## Schemes and Programmes run by DA&FW

1.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2.  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3.  Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
4.  Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
5.  Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
6.  Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
7.  Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
8.  National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
9.  Namo Drone Didi
10.  Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE)
11.  National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
12.  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Detailed Project Report (RKVY-DPR)
13.  Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
14.  Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
15.  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
16.  Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
17.  Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
18.  Agroforestry
19.  Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
20.  Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
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.  Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27.  Digital Agriculture Mission
28.  National Bamboo Mission.
29.  Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses
30.  PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

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## Annexure-I