Question : Dryland Development Mission

(a) whether the Government is implementing the Dryland Development Missions and lakhs of rainfed farmers will benefit from such projects funded by Union and State Governments including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana;

(b) whether the use of new drought resistant varieties and rainwater harvesting techniques will create a secure environment for rainfed cultivation, as many small and marginal farmers in all States are engaged in dry farming in lakhs of hectares on cluster basis;

(c) whether rainwater harvesting systems such as farm ponds and contour funding will be created, agricultural inputs like bio-fertilizers, quality seeds of nutri-cereals, oilseeds and pulses, farm machinery will be distributed at subsidized rates and financial assistance for planting high value tree saplings will be given to villages which come forward under these schemes; and

(d) if so, the details and present status thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a): Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing Rainfed Area Development Programme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture which focuses on Integrated Farming System to benefit farmers of rainfed areas across the Country including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

(b): The new drought resistant varieties and rainwater harvesting techniques helps in coping with drought. Rainwater harvesting and recycling at critical stages minimise the yield losses, to the farmers including small and marginal farmers, significantly in rainfed crops. The drought/moisture stress tolerant/water stress/water limited/low rainfall varieties developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are given at Annexure-I.
(c) & (d): Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for development of rainfed/ degraded lands, under which ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting , farm ponds etc. are undertaken across the country. So far, about 6.50 lakh water harvesting structures were created/ rejuvenated under Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). In addition, water harvesting structures are constructed under Other Intervention Programme of Per Drop More Crop of PMKSY and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare provide various agricultural inputs to the farmers in their schemes/programmes across the country through State Governments. The details of schemes/ programmes providing inputs like bio fertilizers, quality seeds, farm machinery and tree saplings etc. are as under:

(i) Bio-fertilizer is being provided under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development of North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER);

(ii) Quality Seeds of Nutricereals, Oilseeds and Pulses are provided under different schemes of Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), Seed Village Programme of Sub Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP);

(iii) Various Farm Machineries is being provided under Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) through promotion of Custom Hiring Centres and creating hubs for high tech and high value farm equipments, besides, distribution of various agricultural equipments to the farmers and creating awareness among Stakeholders through demonstrations and capacity building.

(iv) Planting Materials and Tree Saplings are being provided under Sub Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

Apart from the above, this Department is implementing an umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in which States are empowered to undertake various programmes/activities including providing above inputs for crop cultivation in the country including dryland areas.