Lok Sabha Question No. 2683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Agricultural Education
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2683

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/12/2015

## AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

2683.  DR. UDIT RAJ:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that farmers in the country are mostly poor and have very small land holdings and lack access to both technology and knowledge about advanced methods of farming, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the Government schemes for providing agricultural education to farmers;
- (c) the  number  of  farmers  which  have  been  provided  education  under  these  schemes during the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  coverage  of  farmers  under  these schemes?

## 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) According to the survey on 'Situation of Agricultural Households in India' conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSS70th round)(January-December, 2013), 69% farmers households in the country have landholdings measuring less than or equal to one hectare, and another  17%  have  landholdings  between  1-2  hectares.    According  to  the  said  survey,  the progressive farmer and mass media (including radio, TV, newspaper and internet/mobile) are the  two  main  sources  of  technical  advice  being  accessed  by  20%  and  19.6%  of  the households, respectively.  Govt. sources (extension agent, KVKs, agricultural universities and Veterinary  department)  are  accessed  by  18%  of  the  households.  Farmers  also  access information  from  more  than  one  source  and  hence  on  the  whole,  about  41%  of  the  farm households have accessed technical advice from various sources.

(b) The  National  Agricultural  Research  System  provides  information  to  farmers  (i) through frontline demonstrations and training programmes through a network of 642 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)  and  farmers' fairs organized by most of the Agricultural Universities and Research Insitutes in the country.  The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare through Deptt. of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is also implementing Plan  schemes,  viz.,  Kisan  Call  Centres  (KCC)  &  Farmers'  Portal  for  providing  improved services to the farming community through use of ICT enabled means-SMS, IVRS, USSD, Internet kiosks etc.

(c) During the last one year the KVKs imparted training to 15.27 lakh farmers, rural youth and extension personnel on improved technologies related to agriculture. The KCC launched since 21 st January 2004 has registered more than 1.85 crore calls till December, 2014.

(d) The  Govt.  has  established  KVKs  in  almost  every  district  of  the  country  to  provide technical advice to the farmers.  A dedicated Kisan Channel has also been launched w.e.f. 26 May, 2015 for the benefit of farmers in the Country.  The Govt. has also established State of the Art KCCs at 14 identified locations with strengthened ICTs to provide information to the farmers.

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