(a) whether the agriculture is a main source of income and livelihood for the rural people and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether majority of illiterate farmers could not succeed in low cost farming and are still using old methods of farming; and
(c) the details of the measures taken to impart training to the illiterate farmers for adopting modern techniques/inputs to obtain better yield?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): As per the “Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households” conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during its 70th round (January 2013-December 2013), agricultural households constitute about 58 per cent of the total estimated rural households in the country. Further, as per the survey results, about 41 per cent of the farmers, who were engaged in agriculture and allied activities either in principal status or subsidiary status, were estimated to be illiterate. However, the details of number of illiterate farmers who could not succeed in low cost farming and are still using old methods of farming are not estimated in the survey.
(c): With a view to propagate improved crop production technologies in the country, Government is implementing various crop development schemes and programmes, viz., National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), etc. Government has also set up 680 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and 652 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs) at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community.
In addition, farmers are provided information through Focused Publicity Campaigns, Kisan Call Centres (KCCs), Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) of entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc.
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