Lok Sabha Question No. 3670 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE
Asked by: RITI PATHAK, PR. SENTHILNATHAN, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY

**O.I.H.**

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

#### 1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

**LOK SABHA**

#### 2 UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3670

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11/08/2015

**AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS**

3670.	SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE **d`f"k ea=h**

be pleased to state:

(a)	whether as per the study of Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, the majority of farming activities is being done by the machine and human power is shrinking in farming sector;

(b)	if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c)	whether ex-servicemen are engaging in the agriculture and if so, the details thereof;

(d)	whether the wage rise in the agriculture sector has not been able to arrest the distress migration of agricultural workers; and

(e)	if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the Government proposes to deal with the issue in order to ensure adequate availability of agricultural workers and also to sustain agricultural production?

**A N S W E R**

### 1 

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

**d`f”k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h**

**(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)**

(a)	The majority of farming activities are not being done by machines as around 60% of farm operations are done by human and animal power.

**…….2/-**

**-2-**

(b)	The mechanization level in India is around 40% as compared to 95% in United States of America, 80% in Russia and 75% in China.

The total farm power available in India from different sources (Agricultural Workers or Human Power, draught animals, tractors, power tillers, diesel engines & electric motors) during the year 2012-13 was 1.841 kW/ha; out of which human power was 0.093 kW/ha (5.05 % of total farm power).  The share of human power was 15.4% during the year       1971-72.

The share of tractor power in total farm power increased by 39% during the period from 1971-72 to 2012-13.

**(c) & (d):** While ex-serviceman are engaging in agriculture, the Government also recognizes the need for improving agricultural income of the farmers, so as to make farming viable and competitive.  Hence, the emphasis of the Government is on improved crop production strategy, that will reduce the cost of cultivation, while simultaneously help in realizing higher per unit yield.  In addition to this, the focus is on restructuring the marketing environment in the country, to bring efficiency and help the farmers to realize remunerative prices of his produce.

(e)	With the objective of improving productivity and farm income, the Government has taken a number of initiatives that address the multiple concerns affecting farming from production to marketing.  The emphasis is on sustained growth based on reduced cost of cultivation, rejuvenation of soil health, efficient use of scarce resources and remunerative prices on the return of farmers.  A number of new schemes have been initiated by the Government.  These include:-

1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
2. Soil Health Card Scheme
3. Neem Coated Urea
4. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
5. Enhanced credit facilities to the farm sector
6. Unified National Agricultural Markets
7. Krishonnati Yojana,

1. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
2. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
3. National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP)
4. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
5. National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology
6. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing
7. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Cooperation
8. National Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund
9. Price Stabilization Fund for Cereals & Vegetables.

Further, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is also implementing the following schemes & programmes that support growth of the agricultural sector:-

1. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), and
2. National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP)

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