Question : DBT in Agriculture

(a) the number of farmers who have benefitted from the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Agriculture and the quantum of funds released in the State of West Bengal particularly in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong during each of the last three years;
(b) the details of projects taken and quantum of funds released under the ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ in the State of West Bengal particularly in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong during the last three years;
(c) the details of farmers who have benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana along with the quantum of funds provided to them in the State of West Bengal particularly in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong during the last three years; and
(d) the status of the Plant Quarantine Clearance Centre for North Bengal; and
(e) the details of schemes in vogue/formulated for the benefit of horticulture farmers in mountain regions?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) The Pradhan MantriKisanSammanNidhiYojana (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Scheme. The Scheme aims at providing financial assistance to landholding farmer families across the country, subject to certain exclusion criteria, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs. 6000/- per year is transferred in three 4-monthly installments of Rs.2000/- directly into the bank accounts of the farmers through DBT Mode.The State of West Bengal has joined the PM-KISAN Scheme from April-2021. The details of funds released in the State of West Bengal including in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong during FY 2021-22 is at Annexure-1.

(b) Under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund in West Bengal, 209 projects have been sanctioned for a loan amount of Rs. Rs. 109 Cr. In district of Darjeeling and kalimpong, 03 and 02 projects have been sanctioned for Rs. 98 Lakhs and 51 lakhs respectively.

(c) Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana(PMKSY) is operational from 2015-16 in the Country. The PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System).

Year wise Released to the States under PMKSY- Per Drop More Crop

Year Released
(Rs. In Crore) Achievement (Coverage of Micro Irrigation) (Lakh Ha)
2015-16 1556.73 5.72
2016-17 1991.24 8.39
2017-18 2819.49 10.48
2018-19 2918.38 11.58
2019-20 2700.01 11.72
2020-21 2562.18 9.38
Total 14548.03 57.31
BE 4000 cr. allocated for the programme during 2021-22

(d) The Plant Quarantine clearance centres in North Bengal are as follows:

a. PQS Panitanki
b. PQS Jaigaon
c. PQS Bagdogra Airport
d. PQS Kalimpong

Plant Quarantine Stations (PQS) at Changrabandha and Mehadipur, in West Bengal are notified as point of entry, however the clearance is routed through PQS Panitanki and RPQS Kolkata respectively.

(e) Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) a sub-scheme of Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew and cocoa. All States/UTs including North Eastern States and Himalayan States are covered under MIDH scheme.

The Mission envisages production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops including fruits through various interventions. Activities such as production of planting material, vegetable seed production, coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources, adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), organic farming, including in-situ generation of organic inputs are taken up for development of fruits and vegetables. Capacity buildings of farmers and technitions are also provided for adopting improved technologies. Scheme also envisages creation of infrastructure for post-harvest management (PHM) and marketing for better price realization of produce.

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