Question : Resolving the Agrarian Crisis

(a) whether a number of farmers have given up farming over the years as agricultural profession has become unremunerative to them in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether the industrial approach of the Government to boost additional yields has stripped small farmers of their self-sufficiency and thrown them into distress and despair in the country and if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has constituted an Expert Committee to review the National Policy for Farmers (NPF) and suggest ways and means to address the rising agrarian crisis and growing distress in the agriculture sector across the country, if so, the details thereof along with the suggestions/recommendations made by the said Committee in this regard and the follow-up
action taken by the Government thereon, so far;

(d) whether the Government extends/ proposes to extend the financial assistance to the farmers for marketing of their produce/products and if so, the details thereof during the last three years along with the break-up of subsidy given to the farmers on various components during the said period, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh; and

Contd...2/-


-2-


(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to support and protect the interest of the farmers/peasants and solve the agrarian crisis and rejuvenate the agriculture sector?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a): No Madam, as per Census 2011, the total number of agricultural workers in the country, comprising of cultivators and agricultural labourers, have increased from 234.1 million (127.3 million cultivators and 106.8 million agricultural labourers) in 2001 to 263.1 million (118.8 million cultivators and 144.3 million agricultural labourers) in 2011. State/UT-wise number of agricultural workers is given in Annexure-I.

(b): The agricultural production in the country has been increasing over the years, except in the years of adverse weather, rainfall, temperature conditions, etc., and there is no evidence to suggest that the Government’s efforts to enhance crop yields have led to stripping of small farmers of their self-sufficiency.

(c): No, Madam.

(d): Subsidies are being provided by the Government under various schemes for improving marketing facilities and promotional services. Under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), a sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM), capital investment subsidy is being provided @ 25% of the capital cost to general category and @ 33.33% for special category beneficiary for construction/ creation of scientific godowns and other marketing infrastructure in the country for the benefit of farmers. Currently, the scheme is temporarily stopped w.e.f. 05.08.2014 for general category promoters as the allocated funds have already been utilized. However, the scheme is open for SC/ST promoters and for promoters in North-Eastern Region. State-wise subsidies given to beneficiaries including farmers under the scheme (storage infrastructure component and other than storage infrastructure component) during the last three years, is given in Annexure- II & III.

Government is also implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of Horticulture in the country which includes assistance for integrated post harvest management and marketing infrastructure. These components are demand and entrepreneur driven for which credit linked back ended subsidy is available through respective State Horticulture Missions.

The component of market infrastructure includes rural primary markets, wholesale markets and terminal market complexes.

For rural primary markets credit linked back ended subsidy @ 40% in general areas and @ 55% in hilly and tribal areas of the maximum project cost of Rs. 25.00 lakh is available.

For wholesale markets credit linked back ended subsidy @ 25% in general areas and @ 33.33% in hilly and tribal areas of the maximum project cost of Rs. 100.00 crore/ project is available.
Contd…2/-



-2-

For terminal market complex, under PPP mode, assistance @ 25% to 40% (limited to Rs. 50.00 crore) of project cost of Rs. 150.00 crore/ project, which includes 25% as floor subsidy plus 15% as subsidy on bidding is available.

The State wise details of market infrastructure sanctioned under National Horticulture Mission (NHM) including Andhra Pradesh during 2012-13 to 2014-15 is Annexure-IV.

(e): Government of India has taken numerous steps to rejuvenate the agriculture sector and improve condition of farming community on sustainable basis by increasing investment, improving farm practices, rural infrastructure, delivery of credit, extension, marketing, and other inputs.

Some of the important new initiatives taken by the government to improve the conditions of farmers are as under:

(i) Implementation of Schemes like, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Soil Health Card (SHC) and Neem Coated Urea to rationalize input management.

(ii) Implementation of a new crop insurance scheme from kharif 2016 season namely, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to provide a comprehensive insurance coverage at a highly subsidized premium rate.

(iii) National Agriculture Market (eNAM) has been approved as a Market Intervention Scheme with a budget allocation of Rs. 200 crore to be implemented during 2015-16 to 2017-18.

(iv) Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for various agricultural commodities have been progressively increased by the government to incentivize farmers to bring more area under cultivation of crops and to invest on increasing the productivity. For the kharif 2016 marketing season, a bonus over and above MSP of pulses and oilseeds has also been announced to incentivize farmers for increasing production of such crops.