Question : Foodgrains Availability

(a) the details of production and per capita availability of foodgrains during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise and crop-wise;

(b) whether the agricultural production and productivity in the country is lagging behind China and some other developed countries and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of agricultural projects/ schemes/programmes under implementation for the increasing agricultural production in the country;

(d) the details of funds allocated and utilised thereunder for the purpose during the said period, State-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for overall growth of agriculture sector and to ensure availability of foodgrains in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a): State-wise details of production of foodgrains during the last three years and the current year i.e. 2011-12 to 2014-15 are given in Annexure-I. State-wise details of per capita availability of foodgrain crops are not maintained by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation. However, the details of per capita availability of major foodgrains in the country as a whole during 2011 to 2014 are given below:-
Contd…2/-

-2-


Year Per Capita Availability* (grams per day)
Rice Wheat Coarse Cereals Pulses Total Foodgrains
2011 181.5 163.5 65.6 43.0 453.6
2012 190.2 158.4 60.0 41.7 450.3
2013 159.2 145.8 52.7 43.3 401.4
2014(P) 199.0 183.1 62.0 47.2 491.2
(p): Provisional
* Production+imports+/-change in stocks-exports-seed/feed/wastage

(b): According to data maintained by Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) for 2013 (latest available), details of production and productivity of major foodgrain crops in India vis-à-vis China and some other developed countries of the World are given in Annexure-II. Major factors responsible for low productivity of agricultural crops in India as compared to developed countries are erratic rainfall, inadequate irrigation facilities, low consumption of farm inputs like fertilizers, quality seeds and pesticides, low use of farm machinery, low adoption of improved package of practices, adverse weather/temperature conditions etc.

(c) to (e): In order to increase production of agricultural crops, maintain overall growth of the sector and ensure availability of foodgrains in the country, the Government of India is implementing through State Governments, several Crops Development Schemes/Programmes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) etc.

Under these Schemes/Programmes, funds are provided to States for implementation of State-specific agricultural strategies including incentives to farmers for use of quality seeds, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farm mechanization, etc. The States are also provided support for creation of agricultural infrastructure for optimal use of water and other natural resources.

To achieve higher productivity of agricultural crops, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is also conducting basic and strategic research relating to crop improvement, production and protection technologies suitable to different situations including development of location-specific varieties/hybrids and technologies.

The State-wise details of funds allocated and released under major Crop Development Schemes/Programmes of Government of India are given in Annexure-III.