(a) whether it is a fact that NABARD has stopped sanction of subsidy for projects under Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
(c) the alternative steps being taken by the Government for overall benefit of the agriculture sector in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) & (b): The Government is implementing the Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Scheme, as a sub scheme under the Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (lSAM) during the 12th plan. Due to shortage of funds, the provision of subsidy under the scheme for general category beneficiaries was stopped since 05.08.2014. The scheme, however, continues to be applicable for beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and North East Region as there are sufficient funds for them under the scheme.
(c): The Government is taking a number of steps for the overall benefit of the agriculture sector in the country. These inter alia include appropriate policy measures and budgetary support namely, Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme to promote balanced use of fertiliser which will also enhance productivity and ensure higher returns to the farmers; Promotion of Neem Coated Urea; Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to promote organic farming in the country; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) to expand cultivated area with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency;. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from Kharif 2016 season to provide insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specific instances at lowest ever premium rates by farmers; Setting up of National Agriculture Market as an e-marketing platform in 585 regulated wholesale markets across the States/Union Territories (UTs), to provide enhanced market access to farmers and promote overall efficiency of agri-marketing sector; Procurement of wheat and paddy under its Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations; Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities not covered under the Minimum Price Support Scheme, on the request of State/UT Government, in order to protect the growers in times of glut, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana which inter alia provides for development of agri marketing infrastructure, etc.
********