Lok Sabha Question No. 359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Promoting the alternative Income Sources for Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 359 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  DECEMBER, 2025

## PROMOTING THE ALTERNATIVE INCOME SOURCES FOR FARMERS

359. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  Government  to  enhance  the  income  of  farmers  across  the country, State-wise;
- (b)  the manner in which the implementation of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) has contributed to farmers' income growth during the last five years;
- (c)  whether any new initiatives are under consideration to promote alternative income sources such as agri-tourism or allied activities; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी

(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) : Government of India follows the following integrated strategy to support States & UTs in enhancing farmer incomes and comprehensive growth of agriculture sector:-
- (i)   Increase crop production/ productivity
- (ii)   Reduce cost of production
- (iii)  Remunerative returns of farmers' produce to enhance their incomes.
- (iv)  Agricultural diversification
- (v)   Developing post harvest value addition
- (vi)  Adaptation  to  climate  change  for  sustainable  agriculture and mitigate against crop losses

Since Agriculture is a State subject, Government of India supports the States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes.  The Government  has  substantially  enhanced  the  budget  allocation  of  Department  of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare(DA&FW) from Rs. 21,933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,290.16 crore BE during 2025-26.

Major  schemes  of  DA&FW  to  increase  the  income  of  farmers  and  for  the development of agriculture Sector in India are as under:

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop  Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6. Formation  and  Promotion  of  10,000  new  Farmer  Producers  Organizations (FPOs)
7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8. Namo Drone Didi
9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission
28. National Bamboo Mission

(b): Government  fixes Minimum  Support Prices (MSPs)  for 22  mandated agricultural crops and Fair & Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering  the  views  of  State  Governments  and  Central  Ministries/Departments concerned. The 22 mandated crops include 14 Kharif crops viz. paddy, jowar, bajra, maize,  ragi,  tur  (arhar),  moong,  urad,  groundnut,  soyabean,  sunflower,  sesamum, nigerseed, cotton and 6 Rabi crops viz. wheat, barley, gram, masur (lentil), rapeseed & mustard, safflower and two commercial crops viz. jute and copra.

While  recommending  MSPs,  CACP  considers  important  factors  like  cost  of production, overall demand-supply conditions, domestic and international prices, intercrop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, the likely effect on the rest of the economy, besides ensuring rational utilization of land, water and other production resources and a minimum of 50 percent as the margin over cost  of  production.  The  inclusion  of  crops  under  MSP  framework  is  dependent  on several factors  which  include  relatively large shelf life,  widely  grown,  item of mass consumption, essential for food security, among others.

The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSPs at levels  of  one  and  half  times  of  the  cost  of  production.  Accordingly, Government had increased MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other Commercial crops with a minimum return of 50 percent over all India weighted average cost of production from year 2018-19 onwards. The details of MSPs (marketing Season wise) fixed by Government from 2018-19 onwards is at Annexure .

( c ) & (d) :     Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare does not have any  scheme for Agri Related Tourism Activities.  Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including rural tourism is  undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.  The Ministry of Tourism through its central  sector  schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan  (SD)',  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  and  'Assistance  to  Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure  development  in  the  country  by  extending  financial  assistance  to  the State Governments/UT Administrations. Rural Circuit has been identified as one of the thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.  Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourist-centric approach. Ministry of Tourism has also formulated national strategies for development of rural tourism and promotion of rural homestays in India.

## Minimum Support Price (Marketing Season-wise)(₹/quintal)

## Annexure

(As on 01.10.2025)

| Sr. No.   | Commodities             | KMS 2021-22   | KMS 2022-23   | KMS 2023-24   | KMS 2024-25   | KMS 2025-26   |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|           | KHARIF CROPS            |               |               |               |               |               |
|           | Paddy (Common)          | 1940          | 2040          | 2183          | 2300          | 2369          |
| 1         | Paddy (Grade 'A')       | 1960          | 2060          | 2203          | 2320          | 2389          |
| 2         | Jowar (Hybrid)          | 2738          | 2970          | 3180          | 3371          | 3699          |
| 2         | Jowar (Maldandi)        | 2758          | 2990          | 3225          | 3421          | 3749          |
| 3         | Bajra                   | 2250          | 2350          | 2500          | 2625          | 2775          |
| 4         | Ragi                    | 3377          | 3578          | 3846          | 4290          | 4886          |
| 5         | Maize                   | 1870          | 1962          | 2090          | 2225          | 2400          |
| 6         | Arhar                   | 6300          | 6600          | 7000          | 7550          | 8000          |
| 7         | Moong                   | 7275          | 7755          | 8558          | 8682          | 8768          |
| 8         | Urad                    | 6300          | 6600          | 6950          | 7400          | 7800          |
| 9         | Cotton (Medium Staple ) | 5726          | 6080          | 6620          | 7121          | 7710          |
|           | Cotton (Long Staple )   | 6025          | 6380          | 7020          | 7521          | 8110          |
| 10        | Groundnut               | 5550          | 5850          | 6377          | 6783          | 7263          |
| 11        | Sunflower Seed          | 6015          | 6400          | 6760          | 7280          | 7721          |
| 12        | Soyabean Yellow         | 3950          | 4300          | 4600          | 4892          | 5328          |
| 13        | Sesamum                 | 7307          | 7830          | 8635          | 9267          | 9846          |
| 14        | Nigerseed               | 6930          | 7287          | 7734          | 8717          | 9537          |
|           | RABI CROPS              | RMS 2022-23   | RMS 2023-24   | RMS 2024-25   | RMS 2025-26   | RMS 2026-27   |
| 15        | Wheat                   | 2015          | 2125          | 2275          | 2425          | 2585          |
| 16        | Barley                  | 1635          | 1735          | 1850          | 1980          | 2150          |
| 17        | Gram                    | 5230          | 5335          | 5440          | 5650          | 5875          |
| 18        | Masur                   | 5500          | 6000          | 6425          | 6700          | 7000          |
| 19        | Rapeseed & mustard      | 5050          | 5450          | 5650          | 5950          | 6200          |
| 20        | Safflower               | 5441          | 5650          | 5800          | 5940          | 6540          |
|           | COMMERCIAL CROPS        |               |               |               |               |               |
|           |                         | 2021-22       | 2022-23       | 2023-24       | 2024-25       | 2025-26       |
| 21        | Jute                    | 4500          | 4750          | 5050          | 5335          | 5650          |
|           |                         | 2021          | 2022          | 2023          | 2024          | 2025          |
| 22        | Copra (milling)         | 10335         | 10590         | 10860         | 11160         | 11582         |
| 22        | Copra (ball)            | 10600         | 11000         | 11750         | 12000         | 12100         |

Note: KMS: Kharif Marketing Season, RMS: Rabi Marketing Season

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