Question : RAINFED AGRICULTURE

(a) whether the Planning Commission had expressed concern during its mid- term appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan for not giving attention towards rainfed agriculture in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether any action plan has been formulated for farming in desert areas in the country including the deserts of Gujarat and Rajasthan;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase production and productivity in rainfed areas to meet the demand of food security in future in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)

(a) to (e): Planning Commission in its mid-term appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan has expressed concern on low expenditure level and large number of incomplete watershed projects. Planning Commission has emphasized on the need to enhance productivity of rainfed areas by effectively implementing watershed development programmes.

National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) in consultation with Planning Commission has issued a new set of common guidelines for watershed development projects to synergize functional partnerships and promote coordination among stake holders and implementing agencies in watershed project areas. Desert Development Programme (DDP), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) and Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) of Department of Land Resources have been integrated into a single modified programme called Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) w.e.f. 26.02.2009. About 5087 IWMP projects were sanctioned during XI plan for development of 24.2 million hectare. In the States of Gujarat and Rajasthan,430 projects (about 2.1 mha) and 604 projects (about 3.5 mha) respectively were sanctioned in the XI Plan under IWMP. Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP) was also introduced by Ministry of Agriculture as a sub scheme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) during 2010-11 with an outlay of Rs. 250 crore.

National Agricultural Research System (NARS), through Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCR&TI), Dehradun; Central Research Institute for Dry Land Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad and Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur provide technical support including research to enhance productivity of rainfed areas.