(a) whether the Government has taken any step to promote agriculture in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has given training to farmers on scientific methods of agriculture and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the farmers were given information about such training and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments undertakes development of perspective plans and ensure effective implementation of the programmes/ schemes. Also, Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments through various Schemes/ Programmes. The Government has been reorienting the agriculture sector by focusing on an income-centric approach as against the earlier production centric policy. This focuses on achieving high productivity, reduced cost of cultivation and remunerative price on the produce, with a view to earning higher profits for the farmers. A list of various interventions taken by the Government is annexed.
(c) & (d): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme on ‘Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms’ popularly known as Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation since 2005. It is being implemented in 684 districts of 29 states & 3 UTs of the country. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly system in the country with an objective to support State Government’s efforts to revitalize the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers. The extension activities under ATMA include Farmers Training. Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc. During the year 2018-19, 18,59,231 farmers have been given training under the scheme.
After the Gazette Notification issued by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in July 2015, the DAC & FW has been operationalising skill training courses for rural youth and farmers as per the approved 108 Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India, through the National Training Institutes, State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities. During the year 2018-19, 796 skill training courses were conducted with 15,918 participants.