Question : Subsidy to Farmers

(a) the estimated numbers of medium, marginal and small farmers in each State/ UT;

(b) the subsidy given to these categories of farmers in the current year;

(c) whether the quantum of subsidy being given to the farmers is on the increase during each of the last three years and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether substantial amount of subsidy is cornered by rich and big farmers depriving small farmers and thereby putting them at the mercy of local money lenders and if so, the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that small and marginal farmers are able to avail maximum benefits of the subsidy scheme of the Union Government?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.





STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 130 DUE FOR REPLY ON 8TH DECEMBER, 2015.

(a): As per the latest Agriculture Census 2010-11, estimated numbers of Marginal (below 1.00 ha.), Small (1.00-2.00 ha.) and Medium including Semi-medium (2.00-10.00 ha.) farmers/operational holdings is given at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): The details of subsidies given to medium, marginal and small farmers are not maintained separately. However, as per the latest information available with the Government on subsidies being provided to farmers in agriculture and related sectors is as under:

(in Rs. Crores)
Item 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Subsidies to Agriculture and
allied sector 90130 106923 111758
Source: National Accounts Division, Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

It is observed that the quantum of subsidy being given to the farmers has been increasing during the years 2011-12 to 2013-14.

(d) & (e): No, Madam. Government is taking several measures to ensure that certain allocation of funds is to be made for Small and Marginal farmers. The Government has designed its programmes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Soil Health Card Scheme (SHCS), National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) etc. for taking care of Small and Marginal farmers. As per guidelines, in NFSM, at least 33% allocation of fund is made for Small & Marginal farmers. For Soil Health Card Scheme, Soil testing in irrigated areas in the case of Marginal and Small holdings is done more intensively in Smaller grid. Similarly,
Contd…2/-


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under Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP) under NMAET, the financial assistance for distribution of certified seeds at 50% cost of the seeds for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for production of quality seeds is now available for one acre (0.4 hectare) per farmer. Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Per drop more crop- Small and Marginal farmers are eligible for higher subsidy of 60 % in drought prone and North East areas and 45 % in other areas.