(a) whether it has been reported that some farmers/farmer associations have expressed their views about the worsening condition of the agriculture sector;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (c): The attention of the government is being drawn from time to time through various
reports submitted to / prepared by the government, media, representations from farmers and
farmers’ associations about the wide ranging problems being faced by agriculture sector.
For revitalization of agricultural sector, improvement in production and productivity,
stepping up the growth rate of the sector and enhancement of the incomes of the farmers, many
initiatives have been taken which inter-alia include Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY),
National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), setting up of
National Rainfed Area Authority, programmes on Micro Irrigation, Support to State Extension
Programmes for Extension Reforms, ‘Agriculture Debt Waiver & Debt Relief Scheme’, Revival
of Short-term Cooperative Credit Institutions, Technology Mission on Oilseeds & Pulses,
etc. The Government has also announced a National Policy for Farmers in 2007, incorporating
many of the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers that are aimed at the revival
of the Indian agriculture.
Further, the following initiatives have also been taken in the Union Budget 2010-11 to
give fillip to the agricultural sector:
1. Rs. 400 crore provided to extend the green revolution to the eastern region of the
country.
2. Rs. 300 crore provided to organise 60,000 “pulses and oil seed villages†in rain-fed
areas.
3. Rs. 200 crore provided for sustaining the gains already made in the green revolution
areas through conservation farming.
4. The period for repayment of the loan amount by farmers extended by six months from
December 31, 2009 to June 30, 2010 under the Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for Farmers,
in view of the recent drought in some States and the severe floods in some other parts of the
country.
5. Incentive of 2% interest subvention to farmers who repay short-term crop loans as per
schedule