Question : Foodgrain Production

(a) the details of the production and acreage of major foodgrains in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State and crop-wise;

(b) whether the production and acreage of the same has declined during the said
period and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether there is a huge gap between production and productivity of crops in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to increase minimum support price of some major agricultural produce including paddy and if so, the details thereof, crop-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the production and productivity of major foodgrains and to reduce the import of the same in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

???? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)

(a) to (c): State-wise area and production of major foodgrain crops in the country have been varying on account of changes in rainfall situations, weather and temperature conditions, availability of water in reservoirs, irrigation facilities, inter-crop shift in the area on the basis of comparative profitability, etc.

Production and productivity of agricultural crops across different States differs on account of variation in the natural soil fertility, uneven distribution of rainfall,
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adoption of quality seeds and improved agronomic practices, nutrient use, incidence of pests and diseases, etc.

State-wise details of area, production and productivity of major foodgrains in the country during last three years and the current year i.e. 2011-12 to 2014-15 are given in Annexure-I.

(d): Details of Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) announced by the Government for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2015-16 along with the increase over the MSPs announced for KMS 2014-15 in respect of major Kharif crops including paddy are given in Annexure-II.

(e): In order to improve production and productivity of agricultural crops including foodgrains in the country and to reduce import dependence, the Government of India is implementing through State Governments, several Crop Development Schemes/Programmes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) etc.


Under these Schemes/Programmes, funds are provided to States for implementation of State-specific agricultural strategies including incentives to farmers for use of quality seeds, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farm mechanization, etc. The States are also provided support for creation of agricultural infrastructure for optimal use of water and other natural resources.

To achieve higher productivity of agricultural crops, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is also conducting basic and strategic research relating to crop improvement, production and protection technologies suitable to different situations including development of location-specific varieties/hybrids and technologies.