Lok Sabha Question No. 135 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Subsidy for Drought
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUSHAWAHA, AJAY NISHAD

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 135

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## SUBSIDY FOR DROUGHT

- *135.      SHRI RAVINDER KUSHAWAHA: SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has announced a relief package of Rs. 300 crore to provide  diesel  and  seed  subsidy  among  others  in  order  to  save  standing  Kharif  crops affected due to drought and deficit rainfall, if so, the details thereof along with aid given to each drought affected State; and
- (b) whether the Government has approved Rs. 100 crore for implementing the diesel subsidy scheme for irrigation/ protection of standing crops and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

- (a) &  (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 135  DUE FOR REPLY ON 8 TH  DECEMBER, 2015.

(a) &  (b): Yes, Madam.   The Union Government had announced a relief package of Rs.300  crore  to  provide  diesel  and  seed  Subsidy  among  others  in  order  to  save standing  Kharif  crops  affected  due  to  drought  and  deficit  rainfall.  The following interventions have been approved:

- i. Implementation of Diesel Subsidy Scheme for protective irrigation of crops with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore. It was proposed to provide 50% subsidy on the cost  of  diesel  to  the  affected  farmers,  limited  to  maximum  of  two  hectares  per farmer.  Assistance  so  provided  through  subsidy  shall  be  shared  between  the Government of India and the State Government/UT Administration concerned on 50:50  basis.    The  scheme  will  operate  on  reimbursement  basis.  The  State Government would claim reimbursement as special grants-in-aid for getting the Central  share  of  the  subsidy  so  paid  after  full  disbursement  of  the  subsidy amount. The Governments of Bihar and Nagaland have informed that they have implemented the Diesel Subsidy Scheme during Kharif 2015.
- ii. Enhancement of extant ceiling on seed subsidy by 50% for distribution in drought notified  districts  so  as  to  partially  recompense  the  farmer  for  the  additional expenditure  incurred  in  resowing  and/or  purchasing  appropriate  varieties  of seeds.

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- iii. Implementation of interventions on perennial horticulture crops with an additional allocation  of  Rs.  150  crore  under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture (MIDH). Horticulture farmers in drought affected/rainfall deficit districts/blocks will be provided financial assistance of Rs.6000/- per hectare as per  existing  cost  norm  for  a  maximum  area  of  two  hectare  per  beneficiary  for taking  up  appropriate  package  of  interventions.  This  will  be  shared  between Central and State Government on 50:50 basis. Proposals under MIDH have been received from the Governments of Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- iv. Implementation of Additional Fodder Development Programme (AFDP) as a subscheme of  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  with  an  allocation  of  Rs.  50 crore. Farmers  in the drought affected districts/ blocks will be provided assistance @ Rs.3200/- per hectare as per cost norms for a maximum area of two  ha  per  beneficiary  for  taking  up  additional  production  of  fodder  in  these districts/blocks. Assistance so provided through subsidy shall be shared between the Government of India and the State Government/UT Administration concerned on 50:50 basis.  Proposal under the scheme have been received from Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

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