Question : NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION

(a) the details of the various regions in the country included under the National Food Security Mission, including in Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka, State-wise;

(b) whether certain regions have not been included in the NFSM including Maharashtra:

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has made any assessment about the productivity of the foodgrains likely to be increased after the inclusion of these districts in NFSM;

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to encourage mixed cropping patterns in the country including Vidarbha in its food production incentive programme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (c): The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is presently being implemented in 312 identified districts of 17 States of the country namely Andhra Pradesh (18 districts), Assam (13 districts), Bihar (31 districts), Chhattisgarh (12 districts), Gujarat (13 districts), Haryana (10 districts), Jharkhand (5 districts), Karnataka (18 districts), Kerala (1 district), Madhya Pradesh (34 districts), Maharashtra (24 districts), Orissa (21 districts), Punjab (11 districts), Rajasthan (24 districts), Tamil Nadu (15 districts), Uttar Pradesh (49 districts) and West Bengal (13 districts).

The districts under NFSM have been identified based on certain criteria such as for NFSM-Rice, those districts were identified which have more than 50,000 ha area under rice and productivity less than the State`s average productivity; for NFSM-Wheat the districts in which irrigation coverage under wheat is more than 50% and productivity is less than State`s average were identified. The districts for implementation of NFSM-Pulses have been selected based on existing large area under pulses, potential for area expansion through inter-cropping and utilization of rice fallows.

The component-wise identified districts are as follows:

NFSM-Rice: The NFSM-Rice is being implemented in 136 districts of 14 States, i.e., Andhra Pradesh (11 districts), Assam (13 districts), Bihar (18 districts), Chattisgarh (10 districts), Gujarat (2 districts), Jharkhand (5 districts), Karnataka (7 districts), Kerala (1 district), Madhya Pradesh (9 districts), Maharashtra (6 districts), Orissa (15 districts), Tamil Nadu (5 districts), Uttar Pradesh (26 districts) and West Bengal (8 districts).

NFSM-Wheat: The NFSM-Wheat is being implemented in 141 districts of 9 States, i.e. Bihar (25 districts), Gujarat (4 districts), Haryana (7 districts), Madhya Pradesh (30 districts), Maharashtra (8 districts), Punjab (10 districts), Rajasthan (15 districts), Uttar Pradesh (38 districts) and West Bengal (4 districts).

NFSM-Pulses: The NFSM-Pulses is being implemented in 171 identified districts in 14 States, i.e. Andhra Pradesh (14 districts), Bihar (13 districts), Chattisgarh (8 districts), Gujarat (11 districts), Haryana (5 districts), Karnataka (13 districts), Madhya Pradesh (20 districts), Maharashtra (18 districts), Orissa (10 districts), Punjab(7 districts), Rajasthan (16 districts), Tamil Nadu (12 districts), Uttar Pradesh (19 districts) and West Bengal (5 districts).

(d) & (e): As indicated above, the districts qualifying the norms have only been included under the three major components of NFSM i.e. NFSM-Rice, NFSM-Wheat and NFSM- Pulses. Integrated Cereals Development Programme (ICDP) under Macro Management Mode of Agriculture (MMA) is being implemented in other districts that are not being covered by NFSM. Besides, States can also take up more intensive crop development programme in these districts under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and State Agricultural plans.

(f): Under all the schemes mentioned above, State Governments could undertake cropping patterns suitable for different regions including Vidarbha region for increasing agricultural production and productivity.