Question : Target for Foodgrains Production

(a) whether the requirement of foodgrains is on the rise in the country during the last three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has fixed any target for the production of foodgrains and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to achieve the target;

(c) whether the production and productivity of foodgrains in the country is lagging behind the world average and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to give utmost importance to raise the productivity of foodgrains per hectare in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the specific and innovative measures taken by the Government to enhance the production and productivity of foodgrain at par with international standards?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Yes, Madam. The requirement of foodgrains is on the rise as is evident from demand estimates of the Twelfth Five Year Plan Working Group for foodgrains during the last three years – 2012-13 to 2014-15, and the current year, 2015-16, given below:

12th Five Year Plan Working Group Demand Estimates (figures in million tonnes)
Year Demand Estimates
2012-13 242.49
2013-14 246.20
2014-15 249.96
2015-16 253.78

(b): Yes, Madam. The Government has fixed targets for the production of foodgrains. Production targets for the year 2015-16 is 264.10 million tonnes. The crop wise production target for year 2015-16 is at Annexure I. The Government is implementing various schemes to encourage higher food grain production to achieve target. These schemes include: National Food Security Mission (NFSM); Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY); Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI); National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA); Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) etc. the schemes encourage farmers to increase production and productivity through adoption of latest farm techniques, improving soil health and improving agricultural infrastructure including irrigation etc. Further, through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Government undertakes research programmes on crop improvement, crop production and technologies in different crops.

(c) to (e): As per information available with Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), comparative position of production and productivity of food grains in India and the world is given at Annexure II. Major reasons for low production and productivity of various crops including foodgrains in India as compared to other countries are pre-dominantly rainfed agriculture, low water- use efficiency, fragmented land holdings, shorter crop growth period due to latitudinal and seasonal differences, improper nutrients management, low use of good quality seeds and lack of adequate machinery etc.
Agriculture is a state subject. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Government through numerous crop development schemes\programmes such as NFSM, RKVY, BGREI and NMSA etc. Towards this end, the Government has taken numerous innovative measures which, inter alia include the following:

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(i) Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme for making farmers aware of major and minor nutrients available in the soil, ensuring judicious use of fertiliser and higher return.

(ii) Neem Coated Urea Scheme for protecting soil from excessive use of urea and improving nitrogen use efficiency.

(iii) Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for promoting organic farming in the country, improving soil health and its organic matter content.
(iv) The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) for bringing cultivated area under assured irrigation, reducing wastage of water, and improving water- use efficiency.