Lok Sabha Question No. 2717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Relief to Farmers and Farm Workers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, V. SATHYABAMA, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, MANOJ RAJORIA, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, RANJANBEN BHATT, BALABHADRA MAJHI

O.I.H

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2717

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH   MAY, 2016

## RELIEF TO FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS

2717.      SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN: DR. MANOJ RAJORIA: SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA: SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI: SHRIMAT1 RANJANBEN BHATT: SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

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

- (a) whether more than 50 per cent of rural farm households in the country are  small and landless and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  shortage  of  farm  workers  during  agricultural operations and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the migration of agricultural workers from rural areas to urban areas and if so, the details thereof including the estimated number of agricultural workers migrated during each of the last three years and the current year and the main reasons identified therefor;
- (d) whether relief measures and financial disbursements to the small, marginal and landless farmers  are  often  stopped  during  general  and  assembly  elections  in  the  country  due  to imposition of Model Code of Conduct, and if so, the details thereof and the remedial steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to alleviate the sufferings of the farmers and to ensure employment of farm workers in the agriculture sector?

## 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): NSSO  conducted  a  Situation  Assessment  Survey  (SAS)  of  Agricultural  Households during NSS 70 th round (January 2013- December 2013) in the rural areas of the country with respect  to  the  agricultural  year  July  2012-  June  2013.  As  per  the  survey  results,  estimated number of agricultural households in the country was 90.2 million and about 86.50  percent of estimated  agricultural  households  were  small  (having  land  below  2.00 ha.).  Also, about 2.6

percent of agricultural households possessed less than 0.01 hectares of land (including landless agricultural households).

The per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size classes of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs as obtained from the survey results are given in Annexure .

- (b): According  to  the  Population  Census  2011,  the  number  of  Agricultural  labourers  in  the country is 144.33 million. However, specific data on shortage of farm workers during agricultural operations is not maintained.
- (c): As per the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th Annual Employment-Unemployment Surveys (EUS) conducted by  the  Labour  Bureau,  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment,  the  proportion  of  persons  per thousand engaged in agriculture and related activities has been declining during last 3 years. The details are given below.

| Per 1000 distribution of persons by industry division/section as per NIC 2008   | Per 1000 distribution of persons by industry division/section as per NIC 2008   | Per 1000 distribution of persons by industry division/section as per NIC 2008   | Per 1000 distribution of persons by industry division/section as per NIC 2008   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Divison/ Section*                                                               | Rural+Urban                                                                     | Rural+Urban                                                                     | Rural+Urban                                                                     |
| Divison/ Section*                                                               | Second EUS                                                                      | Third EUS                                                                       | Fourth EUS                                                                      |
| Divison/ Section*                                                               | (2011-12)                                                                       | (2012-13)                                                                       | (2013-14)                                                                       |
| A                                                                               | 523.04                                                                          | 497.31                                                                          | 464.00                                                                          |

Note : *Section A - Agriculture, forestry and fishing (National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008).

Based on the results of the  survey on 'Employment and Unemployment and Migration particulars'  conducted  by  National  Sample  Survey  Office  (NSSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme  Implementation,  during  2007-08,  number  and  percentage  of  migrants  from  rural areas  to  urban  areas  due  to  employment  related  reasons    during  2007-08  is  given  in  the following Table:

| Migrants from rural areas to urban areas due to employment related reasons during 2007-08 (All India)   | Migrants from rural areas to urban areas due to employment related reasons during 2007-08 (All India)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Number of migrants in urban areas from rural areas (in million)                                         | 55.65                                                                                                   |
| Percentage of migrants in urban areas from rural areas due to employment related reasons                | 25.2                                                                                                    |
| Source: NSS Report No. 533: Migration in India: 2007-08                                                 | Source: NSS Report No. 533: Migration in India: 2007-08                                                 |

However, data on estimated number of agricultural workers migrated during each of the last 3 years and the current year is not maintained.

- (d): The Election Commission does not stop any relief measures or financial disbursements to  the  small/marginal  and  landless  farmers  during  the  period  of  operation  of  Model  Code  of Conduct.  However,  after  the  Model  Code  of  Conduct  comes  into  effect,  the  Ministries/ Department need to take prior approval of the Commission before announcing any relief/benefit.
- (e): The Government has taken several measures to assist farmers and farm workers in the country.    To  promote  agriculture  sector,  programmes  like,  Parampragat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization,  National Food Security Mission, Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India, Crop Diversification Programme, Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana,  National  Mission  on  Agricultural  Extension  and Technology  etc.,  are  implemented.  The  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  is  implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to enhance the livelihood security of  people  in  rural  areas.Besides,  support  is  provided  on  seeds,  farm  implements/  machines, irrigation  devices,  plant  protection  chemicals  and  soil  ameliorants,  Agriculture  Credit  etc.  The farmers  and  farm  workers  can  take  benefit  of  these  schemes  according  to  the  associated provisions and guidelines.

## Annexure

Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2717 due for answer on 10/05/2016.

| Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   | Per 1000 distribution of agricultural households by size class of land possessed for different States/Group of UTs   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State/Group of UTs                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      | estimated number of agricultural                                                                                     |
| State/Group of UTs                                                                                                   | < 0.01*                                                                                                              | 0.01 - 0.40                                                                                                          | 0.41 - 1.00                                                                                                          | 1.01 - 2.00                                                                                                          | 2.01 - 4.00                                                                                                          | 4.01 - 10.00                                                                                                         | 10.00 +                                                                                                              | all sizes                                                                                                            | households (00)                                                                                                      |
| (1)                                                                                                                  | (2)                                                                                                                  | (3)                                                                                                                  | (4)                                                                                                                  | (5)                                                                                                                  | (6)                                                                                                                  | (7)                                                                                                                  | (8)                                                                                                                  | (9)                                                                                                                  | (10)                                                                                                                 |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                       | 16                                                                                                                   | 131                                                                                                                  | 381                                                                                                                  | 239                                                                                                                  | 158                                                                                                                  | 65                                                                                                                   | 9                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 35968                                                                                                                |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                    | 44                                                                                                                   | 16                                                                                                                   | 303                                                                                                                  | 292                                                                                                                  | 256                                                                                                                  | 90                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 1080                                                                                                                 |
| Assam                                                                                                                | 21                                                                                                                   | 218                                                                                                                  | 451                                                                                                                  | 234                                                                                                                  | 69                                                                                                                   | 7                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 34230                                                                                                                |
| Bihar                                                                                                                | 20                                                                                                                   | 479                                                                                                                  | 354                                                                                                                  | 106                                                                                                                  | 33                                                                                                                   | 7                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 70943                                                                                                                |
| Chhatisgarh                                                                                                          | 8                                                                                                                    | 116                                                                                                                  | 404                                                                                                                  | 304                                                                                                                  | 136                                                                                                                  | 32                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 25608                                                                                                                |
| Guajrat                                                                                                              | 95                                                                                                                   | 226                                                                                                                  | 289                                                                                                                  | 192                                                                                                                  | 128                                                                                                                  | 66                                                                                                                   | 2                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 39305                                                                                                                |
| Haryana                                                                                                              | 62                                                                                                                   | 260                                                                                                                  | 231                                                                                                                  | 175                                                                                                                  | 180                                                                                                                  | 88                                                                                                                   | 5                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 15693                                                                                                                |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                     | 8                                                                                                                    | 531                                                                                                                  | 331                                                                                                                  | 95                                                                                                                   | 27                                                                                                                   | 7                                                                                                                    | 1                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 8811                                                                                                                 |
| Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                      | 4                                                                                                                    | 552                                                                                                                  | 341                                                                                                                  | 75                                                                                                                   | 23                                                                                                                   | 4                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 11283                                                                                                                |
| Jharkhand                                                                                                            | 1                                                                                                                    | 411                                                                                                                  | 448                                                                                                                  | 98                                                                                                                   | 38                                                                                                                   | 4                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 22336                                                                                                                |
| Karnataka                                                                                                            | 16                                                                                                                   | 147                                                                                                                  | 376                                                                                                                  | 244                                                                                                                  | 137                                                                                                                  | 67                                                                                                                   | 13                                                                                                                   | 1000                                                                                                                 | 42421                                                                                                                |
| Kerala                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                    | 516                                                                                                                  | 323                                                                                                                  | 116                                                                                                                  | 40                                                                                                                   | 4                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 14043                                                                                                                |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                       | 35                                                                                                                   | 106                                                                                                                  | 375                                                                                                                  | 263                                                                                                                  | 160                                                                                                                  | 52                                                                                                                   | 8                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 59950                                                                                                                |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                          | 18                                                                                                                   | 118                                                                                                                  | 304                                                                                                                  | 288                                                                                                                  | 187                                                                                                                  | 79                                                                                                                   | 4                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 70970                                                                                                                |
| Manipur                                                                                                              | 22                                                                                                                   | 221                                                                                                                  | 416                                                                                                                  | 270                                                                                                                  | 66                                                                                                                   | 5                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 1762                                                                                                                 |
| Meghalaya                                                                                                            | 0                                                                                                                    | 108                                                                                                                  | 465                                                                                                                  | 317                                                                                                                  | 100                                                                                                                  | 9                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 3544                                                                                                                 |
| Mizoram                                                                                                              | 11                                                                                                                   | 25                                                                                                                   | 561                                                                                                                  | 292                                                                                                                  | 111                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 758                                                                                                                  |
| Nagaland                                                                                                             | 21                                                                                                                   | 225                                                                                                                  | 318                                                                                                                  | 273                                                                                                                  | 147                                                                                                                  | 16                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 2621                                                                                                                 |
| Odisha                                                                                                               | 11                                                                                                                   | 292                                                                                                                  | 510                                                                                                                  | 138                                                                                                                  | 37                                                                                                                   | 12                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 44935                                                                                                                |
| Punjab                                                                                                               | 48                                                                                                                   | 399                                                                                                                  | 175                                                                                                                  | 117                                                                                                                  | 132                                                                                                                  | 116                                                                                                                  | 14                                                                                                                   | 1000                                                                                                                 | 14083                                                                                                                |
| Rajasthan                                                                                                            | 24                                                                                                                   | 194                                                                                                                  | 337                                                                                                                  | 180                                                                                                                  | 150                                                                                                                  | 98                                                                                                                   | 17                                                                                                                   | 1000                                                                                                                 | 64835                                                                                                                |
| Sikkim                                                                                                               | 0                                                                                                                    | 168                                                                                                                  | 694                                                                                                                  | 104                                                                                                                  | 31                                                                                                                   | 1                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 674                                                                                                                  |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                           | 40                                                                                                                   | 271                                                                                                                  | 421                                                                                                                  | 156                                                                                                                  | 85                                                                                                                   | 26                                                                                                                   | 1                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 32443                                                                                                                |
| Telangana                                                                                                            | 9                                                                                                                    | 86                                                                                                                   | 405                                                                                                                  | 251                                                                                                                  | 189                                                                                                                  | 51                                                                                                                   | 8                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 25389                                                                                                                |
| Tripura                                                                                                              | 4                                                                                                                    | 241                                                                                                                  | 562                                                                                                                  | 146                                                                                                                  | 45                                                                                                                   | 2                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 2445                                                                                                                 |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                          | 11                                                                                                                   | 659                                                                                                                  | 225                                                                                                                  | 67                                                                                                                   | 30                                                                                                                   | 6                                                                                                                    | 3                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 10608                                                                                                                |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                        | 39                                                                                                                   | 485                                                                                                                  | 299                                                                                                                  | 116                                                                                                                  | 47                                                                                                                   | 13                                                                                                                   | 1                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 180486                                                                                                               |
| West Bengal                                                                                                          | 7                                                                                                                    | 594                                                                                                                  | 314                                                                                                                  | 66                                                                                                                   | 16                                                                                                                   | 2                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 63624                                                                                                                |
| Group of UTs                                                                                                         | 33                                                                                                                   | 340                                                                                                                  | 406                                                                                                                  | 123                                                                                                                  | 78                                                                                                                   | 18                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 717                                                                                                                  |
| all India #                                                                                                          | 26                                                                                                                   | 319                                                                                                                  | 349                                                                                                                  | 171                                                                                                                  | 94                                                                                                                   | 37                                                                                                                   | 4                                                                                                                    | 1000                                                                                                                 | 902011                                                                                                               |

*includes landless agricultural households. # all India figures include all States and UTs. Source: NSS report No. 569: Some Characteristics of Agricultural Households in India, 2012-13, by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

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