Lok Sabha Question No. 1685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1685

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   MARCH, 2016

## AGRICULTURE MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEME

1685.  SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA: SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  NABARD  has  stopped  sanction  of  subsidy  for  projects  under Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the alternative steps being taken by the Government for overall benefit of the agriculture sector in the country?

## ANSWER

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

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b): The Government is implementing the Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme,  as  a  sub  scheme  under  the  Integrated  Scheme  for  Agriculture  Marketing  (lSAM) during the 12 th plan. Due to shortage of funds, the provision of subsidy under the scheme for general category beneficiaries was stopped since 05.08.2014. The scheme, however, continues to  be  applicable  for  beneficiaries  of  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes  and  North  East Region as there are sufficient funds for them under the scheme.
- (c): The  Government  is  taking  a  number  of  steps  for  the  overall  benefit  of  the  agriculture sector  in  the  country.  These  inter  alia  include  appropriate  policy  measures  and  budgetary support namely, Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme to promote balanced use of fertiliser which will also enhance productivity and ensure higher returns to the farmers; Promotion of Neem Coated Urea;  Parampragat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  to  promote  organic  farming  in  the  country; Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY)  to  expand  cultivated  area  with  assured irrigation,  reduce  wastage  of  water  and  improve  water  use  efficiency;.  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Kharif 2016 season to provide insurance cover for all stages of the crop  cycle  including  post-harvest  risks  in  specific  instances  at  lowest  ever  premium  rates  by farmers; Setting up of National Agriculture Market as an e-marketing platform in 585 regulated wholesale  markets  across  the  States/Union  Territories  (UTs),  to  provide  enhanced  market access  to  farmers  and  promote  overall  efficiency  of  agri-marketing  sector;  Procurement  of wheat  and  paddy  under  its  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  operations;  Market  Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities not covered under the  Minimum  Price  Support  Scheme,  on  the  request  of  State/UT  Government,  in  order  to protect the growers in times of glut, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana which inter alia provides for development of agri marketing infrastructure, etc.

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