Question : Income of Farmers

(a) the details of the rise in income of the farmers in the country during each of the years from 2014 to March 2018, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has expounded a 4-point agenda/solution to double the income of the farmers by 2022 and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken various steps to create infrastructure for storage of procured crops and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is coordinating with other Ministries to develop industrial townships around the villages so that farmers and their kins may be able to get alternative jobs and market for their produces profitably and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of policies formulated/ implemented by the Government to extend the benefits to poor farmers and promote mix cropping practices amongst them along with the outcome thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): As per the ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households’ conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2013, the average monthly income per agricultural household from all sources is estimated to be Rs. 6,426. NSSO has not conducted any such survey since 2013 and as such the comparable estimates for rise in income of farmers during 2014 to 2018 are not available.

(b): Yes, Madam. Government has been focusing on four major aspects to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. These include: reducing input costs; ensuring fair price for the produce; reducing wastage; and creating alternate sources of income. An Inter-Ministerial Committee has also been constituted to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers’ income and recommend a strategy to achieve the same by the year 2022.

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(c): Yes, Madam. Government is implementing various schemes/ programmes to strengthen storage infrastructure for procured crops. Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) Scheme is being implemented as a sub scheme of Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare to improve/create scientific storage capacity for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and to reduce post harvest storage losses.

Moreover, sufficient capacity for storage of central foodgrains is available with Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Agencies. In order to augment capacities in specific areas and to modernize the storage facilities in the country, Government is implementing Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme; Central Sector Scheme for Construction of Godowns in North Eastern States along with Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Kerala; and Action Plan for Construction of Steel Silos.

(d): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is working in close coordination with other Ministries/Departments to promote non-farm employment opportunities for the farmers. In particular, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana is being implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries for creation of infrastructure for agro processing clusters. These clusters would add value to the horticultural/ agricultural produce and reduce wastage of the surplus produce and thereby resulting in increase in income of farmers and creation of employment opportunities at the local level.

(e): The major schemes for assisting the farmers, including poor farmers for promoting mixed cropping and improving farm profitability are: Crop Diversification Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY); Rainfed Area Development under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture; National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP); and Sub-Mission on Agro-Forestry. Government has also set up more than 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and 676 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs) at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community.

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