Question : Income of Farmers

(a) the steps taken by the Government to double the income of farmers as targeted in 2022;

(b) the details of the amount invested by the Government on increasing of farmers income during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise;

(c) whether any Committee has been set up by the Government to advise the Government on how to assist the farmers scientifically and if so, the details of the Committee which has been set up by the Government in this regard; and

(d) the numbers of farmers being trained by the Government for enhancing the technology to increase the production?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): The Government had constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to “Doubling of Farmers Income” and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee has submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018. An Empowered Body has also been set up to monitor and review the progress against the recommendations. All programmes of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are aligned to achieving these recommendations. A list of various interventions taken by the Government is at Annexure-I.

(b): Details of amount released by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare to State Governments during the last five years under various schemes is at Annexure – II.

(c): The Government had constituted a high level Committee in April, 2016 consisting of Members from various Departments, NITI Aayog and other Non-official members to recommend a comprehensive plan to double the income of farmers by devising various strategies, inter-alia, to assist the farmers scientifically and with modernization of technology.
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(d): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme on ‘Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms’ popularly known as Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation since 2005. Presently, Scheme is being implemented in 684 districts of 29 states & 3 UTs of the country. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly system in the country with an objective to support State Government’s efforts to revitalize the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers. The extension activities under ATMA include Farmers Training. Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc. During the year 2018-19, 18,59,231 farmers have been given training under the scheme.

After the Gazette Notification issued by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in July 2015, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) has been operationalising skill training courses for rural youth and farmers as per the approved 108 Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India, through the National Training Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities. During the year 2018-19, 796 skill training courses were conducted with 159,18 participants.