Lok Sabha Question No. 2651 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Sowing of Coarse Cereals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2651

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH   MAY, 2016

## SOWING OF COARSE CEREALS

2651.  SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the sowing of coarse cereals has declined in the last one year compared to the preceding three years, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to correct the situation;
- (c) whether the Government has announced incentives for coarse cereals cultivation;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to boost the production of coarse cereals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  MOHANBHAI  KUNDARIYA)

- (a): Yes, Madam.  The area coverage under coarse cereals during the last year, i.e. 2015-16 has been lower as compared to their area during the preceding three years, i.e., 2012-13 to 2014-15.  The decline in the area of coarse cereals during the last year has been mainly on account of moisture stress due to deficit/deficient  rainfall  in  August  and  September,  2015  in  several  parts  of  the  country  including  some important coarse grains producing States.

The details of area coverage under coarse cereals during last three years and current year i.e. 2012-13 to 2015-16 are given as under:-

| Year     |   Area (in lakh hectare) |
|----------|--------------------------|
| 2012-13  |                   247.62 |
| 2013-14  |                   252.2  |
| 2014-15  |                   251.7  |
| 2015-16* |                   236.34 |

(b) to (d): In order to promote cultivation of coarse cereals in the country, the Government of India is implementing since 2014-15, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'National Food Security Mission (NFSM)Coarse  Cereals'.    NFSM-  Coarse  Cereals  being  implemented  in  265  districts  of  28  States  including North-Eastern and Hill States aims to increase production of coarse cereals  in  the   country    by 3 million tonnes by the  end of 12 th Plan  period i.e. 2016-17.  The programme is focused on organization of cluster  demonstrations  on  improved  package  of  technologies  and  distribution  of  quality  seeds  of  new varieties/hybrids.    Under  the  programme,  assistance  is  being  provided  at  the  rate  of  Rs.5000/-  per hectare for demonstrations of improved packages of technologies, Rs.1500/- per quintal for distribution of seeds of high yielding varieties and Rs.5000/- per quintal for hybrid seeds.

The  ICAR  has  also  been  constantly  striving  through  National  Agricultural  Research  System  for developing  high  yielding,  pest/disease  resistant  maize  hybrids/varieties  which  are  suitable  for  different agro-climatic conditions in the country.

- (e): To  encourage  farmers  to  grow  coarse  cereals  by  ensuring  remunerative  prices,  the  Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of coarse cereals have also been increased over the years.

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