Lok Sabha Question No. 323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Awareness amongst Students for Agricultural Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH, CHIRAG PASWAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 323

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/12/2015

## AWARENES AMONGST STUDENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

323. KUNWAR BHARATENDRA: SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  interest/awareness amongst students towards agricultural practices which may increase large scale employment opportunities in the agriculture sector;
- (b) whether the Government is considering to introduce minimum per hectare per month income to farmers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  agriculture  as  an income generating profession?

## 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) The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  under  its  XII  Plan  Scheme 'Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India' have initiated a programme  of  'student  READY.    The  programme  aims  to  provide  entrepreneurship awareness,  practical  experience  in  real-life  situations  in  rural  agriculture  and  creating awareness among undergraduate students for a better career in agriculture sector through one year  exclusively  exercise  in  terms  of  Experiential  Learning, Hands-on  training  (Skill development),  Inplant  industry  attachment  training,  Rural  Awareness  work  experience  and student projects.  In addition, Skill and Entrepreneurship development are also being provided through  Agri  Clinic,  Agri  Business  incubation  centres,  Attracting  &  Retaining  Youth  in Agriculture Schemes (ARYA) and Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.
- (b) & (c): There  is  no  such  proposal,  however,  Government  has  been  announcing Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  for  22  crops  and  Fair  and  Remunerative  Price  (FRP)  for Sugarcane to ensure that farmers get a minimum price on their produce.

(d) Government have launched a number of farmer-friendly schemes to make agriculture as income-generating profession such as National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm; National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture; National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology; Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture; Integrated  Scheme  for  Agricultural  Marketing;  Price  Stabilisation  Fund  (PSF);  Soil  Health Card Scheme; Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana; National Agriculture Market through AgriTech  Infrastructure  Fund  (ATIF);  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs),  Farmers  FIRST  and Attracting  and  Retaining  Youth  in  Agriculture  (ARYA)  under  ICAR,  National  Livestock Mission with 'Sub-Mission on Skill Development Technology Transfer & Extension' in the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F).  These schemes also have an in-built component of skill building and training of farmers in the field of agriculture and allied sectors aimed at increasing agriculture production and income generation.

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