Lok Sabha Question No. 2821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Agricultural Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Abdul Rashid Sheikh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2821

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MARCH, 2026

## AGRICULTURAL LAND

2821. SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHEIKH:

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

- (a) the measures to preserve agricultural land in States/UTs; and;
- (b) the status of crop insurance schemes being implemented in J&K?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a): Land and agriculture are the state subjects, as per Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, land falls under the jurisdiction of State Governments, which are responsible for taking appropriate measures to increase the area under cultivation and ensure optimal use of agricultural lands. However, the Government of India supports these efforts through policy initiatives and budgetary assistance.

Department  of  Land  Resources  is  implementing  Watershed  Development  Component  of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) which primarily focuses on development rainfed/  degraded  lands.  The  activities  undertaken  in  the  scheme,  inter  alia,  include  ridge  area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising,  pasture  development,  livelihoods for  asset-less persons etc. The measures taken under WDC-PMKSY supplements the effort of the Government to increase the area under cultivation. This scheme has been approved by the Government on 15th December, 2021.

Further, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed several technological measures to increase the area under cultivation. This includes location specific bio-engineering to check soil erosion due to run-off of rainwater, sand dune stabilization and shelter belt technology to check wind erosion and reclamation technology for problem soils in the  country.  ICAR has also developed the gypsum technology package, consisting of land levelling, bunding, flushing, removal of excess water, good quality irrigation water, application of amendments, selection of crops and efficient nutrient management.

(b):  Government  has  introduced  yield  based  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)  and weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from Kharif 2016  to  provide  financial  support  to  farmers  suffering  crop  loss/damage  arising  out  of  natural calamities, adverse weather incidence and to stabilize the income of farmers etc.   Comprehensive risk insurance is provided under the scheme from pre-sowing to post-harvest losses. This scheme is  voluntary  for  State/UTs  as  well  as  farmers.  All  willing  farmers  are  eligible  to  enrol  under  the scheme. The UT of Jammu & Kashmir is implementing the scheme.

Extremely  low  premium  rate  is  charged  from  the  famers  across  the  country,  which  is maximum 2% of sum insured for Kharif crops, maximum 1.5% of sum insured for Rabi crops and maximum 5% of sum insured for commercial/horticultural crops.     Remaining  part  of  actuarial premium is shared by the Central and State Government on 50:50 basis except North Eastern States (from Kharif 2020) and Himalayan States (from Kharif 2023), including Jammu & Kashmir where it is shared in the ratio of 90:10.

Under  PMFBY,  11.6  lakh  Farmer  Applications  have  been  enrolled  and  total  claims  of Rs.166.7 Crores have been paid to 2.8 lakh Farmer Applications in Jammu & Kashmir cumulatively, since the inception of the scheme until Kharif-2025 season (as on 31.12.2025).'

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