(a) whether the Government has formulated any separate agriculture policy/ action plan or proposes to formulate any such scheme for the hill districts of Uttarakhand which are geographically different from plain districts and do not have irrigation and farming facilities unlike Tarai region and where agriculture is totally dependent on nature;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the necessary steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (c): No, Sir. However, though agriculture is a State Subject, Government of India facilitates the State Governments through various Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes for improving agriculture and thereby farmers’ welfare in the country including in Uttarakhand. Central assistance in provided in the sharing pattern between Centre and States at 90:10 for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (including Uttarakhand) and 60:40 for the rest of the States. Central assistance for various schemes administered by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare are demand driven and funds are released to the State Governments based on their Annual Action Plans and submission of utilization certificates and progress reports for previous releases. A list of schemes is annexed at Annexure.