Question : TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO FARMERS

(a) whether the Government is conducting training programmes for farmers in the field of judicious use of fertilizers under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and agricultural technology and handling of modern and sophisticated machinery in various States;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the number of farmers who are trained under these programmes in various States including Karnataka during the last three years and current year;

(d) the details of funds earmarked by the Government and spent for the purpose in various States including Karnataka during the said period; and

(e) the extent to which such training programmes are likely to benefit the farmers for increasing agricultural production in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Government is providing financial assistance under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for training on balanced and judicious use of fertilizers.

Similarly training programmes on farm mechanization including selection, operation, safety and maintenance of farm machinery are conducted by Farm Machinery Testing and Training Institutes and State Governments under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) for the farmers.

(c) & (d): The State-wise number of farmers trained and funds released under NMSA during the last three years and current year is given at Annexure-I.

The number of farmers trained State-wise at Farm Machinery Testing and Training Institutes and by various State Governments including Karnataka and fund utilized are given at Annexure-II.

(e): Training on balanced use of fertilizers will help farmers to adopt better management practices for soil health and fertilizer use efficiency.

Training on Farm Mechanization helps farmers to create awareness on the various agricultural machinery and its use for different agricultural operations. Use of Farm machinery help to farmers for timely land preparation, sowing, plant protection, inter cultivation and harvesting of crops and also helps in judicious use of all agricultural inputs which ultimately helps the farmers for enhancement of agricultural production.