MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted “Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households” during NSS 70th round (January 2013- December 2013) in
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the rural areas of the country with reference to the agricultural year July 2012- June 2013. The
survey estimated the average monthly income per agricultural household during the agricultural year July 2012-June 2013 at all India level as Rs.6426/-. However, the information on income of entrepreneurs/middlemen who do business in foodgrains is not available from the data collected during the above NSSO survey.
(b): Agriculture, including agricultural indebtedness, being a State subject, the State Governments take appropriate measures for development of agriculture in the State. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support.
As per information available from the States, the details of relief etc. being provided is as follows:
• State Government of Maharashtra gives Ex-gratia relief of Rs. 1.00 lakh to the heirs of the deceased farmer as per scheme of State Government. The three norms of eligibility for ex-gratia are crop failure, indebtedness and harassment due to inability to pay agriculture related loans.
• The Punjab Government had constituted committee for providing compensation to victims’ family to Rs. 3.00 lakh. The Punjab Govt. also introduced “Punjab relief of Agriculture Indebtedness bill” which will provide relief to the farmers from debt trap.
• Government of Andhra Pradesh is providing Rs. 5.00 lakh compensation to the family members of the deceased farmers. Out of which Rs. 1.50 lakh is as one time settlement to wipe off loans/ liabilities and Rs. 3.50 lakh towards rehabilitation of the family members.
• The Government of Telangana has enhanced the Ex-gratia from Rs. 1.00 lakh to Rs. 5.00 lakh to the family of the deceased farmer towards rehabilitation of the family and enhance loan settlement ceiling limit from Rs. 50 thousand to Rs. 1.00 lakh to the persons entitled as one time settlement and to wipe off all the liabilities on the part of deceased families of farmers.
• In Karnataka an amount of Rs. 1.00 lakh has been given to each of the deceased family from 2003-04 to 2014-15. From 01.04.2015 an amount of Rs. 5.00 lakh relief is provided to each of the deceased family and the children of the deceased will get free education up to post graduation including hostel facilities.
(c): The Agriculture Census in the country is conducted at an interval of five years to collect data on operational holdings. In Agriculture Census, farmers are not classified as poor and rich. However, according to the size of the holding, the operational holdings are categorized in various size groups as per the following criteria:
Size Groups Size of holding (in hectare)
Marginal Below 1.00 ha.
Small 1.00- below 2.00 ha.
Semi-Medium 2.00- below 4.00 ha.
Medium 4.00-below 10.00 ha.
Large 10.00 ha. & above
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(d): Agriculture is a State subject and the State Governments have primary responsibility for the promotion and development of agriculture. However, the approach of the Government of India for improving farmers’ welfare rests on making farming viable by way of reducing cost of cultivation, increasing production and productivity and providing remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce. To meet this objective, Government is implementing various schemes/ programmes viz., Soil Health Card, promotion of Neem Coated Urea, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Agriculture Market, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, etc.
Besides above, short term crop loan upto Rs.3.00 lakh is provided to farmers at an interest rate of 7% per annum with interest subvention of 3% for timely payment. In order to discourage distress sale by farmers and to encourage them to store their produce in warehouse against receipts, the benefit of interest subvention scheme has been extended to small and marginal farmers having Kisan Credit Card for a further period of six months post harvest on the same rate as available on crop loan. Further to ensure remunerative price to farmers, the Government has also increased Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of different crops for 2016-17.
In addition, to incentivize farmers for production of pulses and oilseeds, a bonus of Rs.425/- per quintal of Arhar, Moong and Urad, Rs.200/- per quintal for Sesamum and Gram, Rs.150/- per quintal of Masur and Rs.100/- per quintal for Groundnut, Soyabean, Sunflower, Nigerseed, Rapeseed/Mustard and Safflower has also been announced.
(e): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is currently providing mental healthcare in 339 districts in the country under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP). The components of suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges are part of the activities under DMHP. These services are available free of cost to all, including farmers.
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