Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Cultivation of Kharif Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUDHEER GUPTA, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 356

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   JULY, 2016

## CULTIVATION OF KHARIF CROPS

356.   SHRI T.RADHAKRISHNAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  total  estimated  area  under  cultivation  of  Kharif  Crops  in  2016-17  as compared to that of 2015-16, crop-wise;
- (b) whether sown area of most of Kharif Crops witnessed a decline during the current year as compared  to  that  of  the  previous  year  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the  Government has taken any initiative to  create awareness  among farmers to turn  crop  waste  into  biochar  and use  it  as fertilizers  to  sustain  soil  fertility  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken to enhance the production and acreage of Kharif Crops in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) & (b): As  per  latest  reports  from  State  Governments,  a  comparative  position  of  area coverage under kharif crops during the current year i.e. 2016-17(as on 15.07.2016) vis-a-vis the corresponding period of last year i.e. 2015-16 is as under:-

|                | Area Sown                 | Area Sown                 | (in Lakh ha.) Increase( + )/decrease( -) in area over the last year   |
|----------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                | 2016-17 (as on 15.7.2016) | 2015-16 (as on 15.7.2015) | (in Lakh ha.) Increase( + )/decrease( -) in area over the last year   |
| Rice           | 123.93                    | 122.99                    | 0.94                                                                  |
| Coarse Cereals | 105.98                    | 101.45                    | 4.53                                                                  |
| Pulses         | 71.07                     | 51.12                     | 19.95                                                                 |
| Foodgrains     | 300.98                    | 275.56                    | 25.42                                                                 |
| Oilseeds       | 130.12                    | 127.13                    | 2.99                                                                  |
| Sugarcane      | 45.78                     | 44.80                     | 0.98                                                                  |
| Cotton         | 75.41                     | 93.22                     | -17.81                                                                |
| Jute & Mesta   | 7.47                      | 7.67                      | -0.20                                                                 |
| All-Crops      | 559.76                    | 548.38                    | 11.38                                                                 |

Note: Area coverage figures are as per eye assessment of State Agriculture Departments

Continue……2/-

It is observed that area coverage under most of kharif crops during the current year (as on 15.7.2016) is higher than the area covered during the corresponding period of last year.

(c): Application of biochar is reported to be as soil amendment (not as fertilizer) which may be a potential option to sequester atmospheric carbon into soil besides improving soil quality in terms of improving  its  physical  properties  and  nutrient  availability.  Presently,  there  is  no  programme  to educate  farmers  regarding  production  of  biochar  from  crop  waste  and  its  use  in  agriculture. However, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is engaged in research on biochar for its agricultural use.

(d): In order to  increase acreage  and  production  of  agricultural  crops in the country, Government  of  India  is  implementing  through  State  Governments,  several  Crop  Development Schemes/Programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana  (RKVY),  Bringing  Green  Revolution  to  Eastern  India  (BGREI),  National  Mission  on Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP),  National  Mission  on  Agriculture  Extension  &  Technology (NMAET),  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA),  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai Yojana etc.

Under  these  Schemes/Programmes,  funds  are  provided  to  States  for  implementation  of State-specific  agricultural  strategies  including  incentives  to  farmers  for  use  of  quality  seeds, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farm mechanization, etc. The States are also provided support for creation of agricultural infrastructure for optimal use of water and other natural resources.

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