The Government of India provides financial incentives, grants, concessions to farmers, including small and marginal farmers, through various schemes such as FoodSecurityMission, , RevisedMacro Management of Agriculture, Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM), Modified Agricultural Technology Management Agency Scheme, National Horticulture Mission etc. to increase production and productivity of various crops.
The actual expenditure (plan) of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation during last three years and the current year is given below:
As per results (provisional) of latest Agriculture Census 2010-11, the number of marginal and small operational holdings taken together (holdings having operated area below 2.00 hectare) constitute 84.97 per cent of total number of holdings with 44.31 per cent of total operated area in the country.
The Government has taken several measures to make small land holdings viable and assist farmers to adopt suitable technologies. This include,()promoting adoption of modern technologies and practices like multiple cropping, intercropping and integrated farming systems; (ii)disseminating knowledge through (KVKs), , exhibitions and training in different parts of the country to create awareness about improved agricultural technologies;(iii) strengthening farm credit delivery system for providing credit at affordable rate of interest to support the resource requirements of the agricultural sector;and(iv) providing adequate support services to farmers etc.
This information was given by Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the today.
:small land holdings () 12.3.2013