Question : Socio-Economic Condition of Farmers

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to ascertain the social and economic condition of farmers and categorised them into various groups on the basis of operational holdings including those below poverty line and landless;

(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether several low cost agricultural technologies which are suitable for small land holdings have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other agricultural research institutions;

(d) if so, the details thereof including the steps taken by the Government to encourage the farmers for opting such sustainable technologies; and

(e) the measures taken by the Government for the welfare and benefit of farming community in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

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(a) & (b): The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households (during January–December 2013) in the rural area of the country. In this survey, agricultural households were not categorized as below poverty line or landless. However, results have been presented by different size classes of land possessed.
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Based on this survey, a statement on estimated, average monthly income and average monthly consumption expenditure per household for the agricultural year July, 2012-June 2013 is given at Annexure-I and Annexure-II, respectively.


(c) & (d): The Research Institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have developed several low cost tools, implements and machines appropriate for small land holdings. These technologies are demonstrated to farmers through awareness cum demonstration programmes, on-farm trials, exhibitions etc. To encourage farmers to adopt technically advanced agricultural equipments, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization has been launched w.e.f. 2014-15 as a component of the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology. Under this Sub-Mission, farmers are provided grants, incentives and financial assistance.


(e): Government has taken several steps for the welfare and benefit of farming community in the country. The focus of the Government is primarily on expansion of farm income, creation of non-farm income opportunities, improvement in productivity of rainfed agriculture, increasing coverage of farming areas under protective irrigation etc. The measures taken by the Government to assist farmers include enhancement in minimum support prices of agricultural commodities, adoption of modern technologies and farm practices, interest subvention on crop loans, support on irrigation devices, plant protection chemicals, distribution of farm implements etc.