Lok Sabha Question No. 1439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Krishi Dak Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1439

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/05/2016

## KRISHI DAK SCHEME

## 1439.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) the details and the salient features of Krishi Dak Service Scheme;

(b) the names of the States where 'Krishi Dak Service' has been implemented and the number of Seed Dakpals functioning at present, State-wise;

- (c) the details of jurisdiction and the nature of functioning of seed Dakpals';
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  seed  banks  in  all  the  districts  of  the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (e) the manner in which the farmers are likely to be benefited by the Scheme?

## A N S W E R

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

## (SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA)

(a) The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) of ICAR has conceived the idea of using the vast network of post offices spread in rural area and village level post masters in dissemination of improved seeds. The basic idea of this Model is to send the seeds of improved varieties through postal services to the identified village post masters who in turn distribute the seed to the selected farmers of the villages under his area for cultivation. The village level post masters are being trained in improved farm practices and are expected to perform  the  role  of  change  agents.  The  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra  (KVK)  at  the  grassroots level  is  associated  in  the  model.  They  are  expected  to  provide  capacity  building  of  the village post masters and the farmers. The model has been named as 'Krishi Dak'.

O.I.H.

(b) 'Krishi Dak' model  is being implemented in 14 states (Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal  Pradesh,  Haryana,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Uttarakhand,  Rajasthan,  Gujarat,  Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand) covering more than 175 Branch Post Masters (BPMs) or 'Sakha Dakpals'

(c) The  Branch  Post  masters  facilitates  in  reaching  the  farmers  in  the  jurisdiction  of their  branch  post  office  (ranging  from  4-5  villages  to  12-15  villages).    The  Branch  Post Masters (BPMs) and farmers were trained in improved farm practices with the help of local Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs).  These  postmaster/farmers  laid  out  demonstrations  of improved IARI varieties and other technologies on their farms, which became the place of learning  for  other  farmers  and  the  seed  produced  from  such  demonstration  farms  were further made available to other farmers.

(d) The  establishment  &  maintenance  of  Seed  Bank  Programme  which  was  under implementation    from  the  year  1999-2000  and  onwards  which  has  been  re-structured  as National Seed Reserve for implementation during the remaining year of 12 th  plan period i.e.  from  2014-15  to  2016-17.  The  National  Seed  Reserve  (NSR)  programme  is  being implemented  by  about  22  implementing  agencies  in  the  country  namely  National  Seed Corporation (NSC), State Seeds Corporations (17), and State Agricultural Departments (4). The detailed list of NSR implementing agencies is given in Annexure.

(e) The scheme is beneficial to farmers in meeting the requirement of seeds of short and medium duration crops during natural calamities and unforeseen conditions.

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## Annexure

[Part (d) to Lok Sabha USQ No.1439 for 03-05-2016]

| S.No   | Name of Implementing Agency     | Name of Implementing Agency                              |   No. of Implementing agency |
|--------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 1      | National Seed Corporation       | National Seed Corporation                                |                            1 |
| 2      | State Department of Agriculture | Himachal Pradesh                                         |                            4 |
| 2      | State Department of Agriculture | Jammu &Kashmir                                           |                            4 |
| 2      | State Department of Agriculture | Jharkhand                                                |                            4 |
| 2      | State Department of Agriculture | Tamil Nadu                                               |                            4 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation        |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Assam seed corporation                                   |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Bihar Rajya Beej Nigam Ltd                               |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Chhattisgarh Rajya Beej Nigam                            |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Gujarat State Seed Corporation                           |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Haryana Seeds Development Corporation                    |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Karnataka State Seeds Corporation Limited                |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Kerala State Seed Development Authority                  |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Madhya Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation        |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Orissa State Seed Corporation                            |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Punjab State Seed Corporation                            |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Rajasthan State Seed Corporation                         |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Telangana state seed development corporation             |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Uttarakhand seeds and tarai development                  |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | corporation limited Uttar Pradesh State Seed Development |                           17 |
| 3      | State Seeds Corporations        | Corporation                                              |                           17 |
| Total  | Total                           | Total                                                    |                           22 |

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