MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)
(a) & (b):Government is promoting indigenous farming practices i.e. organic farming across the country through various programmes under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and Network Project on Organic Farming under ICAR.
(i) Under Soil Health Management (SHM) component of NMSA, financial assistance upto 50% of cost, subject to a limit of Rs.5,000/- per hectare and Rs.10,000/- per beneficiary is provided for promotion of organic inputs. Also, financial assistance upto 33% of financial outlay, subject to a maximum ceiling of Rs.63 lakhs for establishment of agro / vegetable waste compost production units to individuals/ Private agencies and 100% assistance to state govt./govt. agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs.190 lakhs per unit as Capital Investment for setting up of Agro/vegetable waste compost production unit upto production capacity of 3000 Tons Per Annum (TPA) is provided. Financial assistance @ 25% of total financial outlay subject to a ceiling of Rs.40.00 lakhs to individuals/private agencies for biofertilizers production units and 100% assistance to state govt./govt. agencies upto a maximum limit of 160 lakh per unit as Capital Investment for setting up bio-fertilizer units of upto 200 TPA production capacity is provided as back-ended subsidy through NABARD.
Details of funds released for establishment of Bio-fertilizer production units under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) through NABARD is given in Annexure-I.
Financial assistance @ Rs. 20,000/ha subject to maximum of Rs. 40,000/- per beneficiary for three years term is provided for adoption of organic farming through cluster approach as well as through adoption of organic village under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification. Financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh per village is provided for organic village adoption (maximum 10 villages per annum/state).
(ii) Under MIDH, Government is providing financial assistance for adoption of organic farming @ Rs. 10,000 (maximum) for 4 ha (50% of total cost) while Rs.300 per ha upto 4 ha (limited to 50% of cost) is provided for promotion of use of liquid bio-fertilizers. For adopting organic farming for perennial and non perennial fruit crops, vegetables, aromatic plants, spices etc., additional assistance is given @ 50% of cost over and above the area expansion programme for a maximum area of 4 ha per beneficiary, spread over a period of three years. For organic cultivation of vegetables, assistance is limited to Rs. 10,000/- per ha spread over a period of three years. Financial assistance is provided for establishing vermi-compost units and HDPE Vermi- beds @ 50% of cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- per beneficiary for a unit having size of 30’ x 8’ x 2.5’. For smaller units, assistance will be on pro-rata basis. For HDPE Vermi-bed of 96 c ft size (12’x4’x2’), the cost will be Rs. 16,000/per bed and assistance will be limited to 50% of cost.
(iii) Under NFSM, assistance is provided to the farmer for bio-fertilizers @ Rs. 300 per ha.
(iv) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is a State Plan scheme giving flexibility and autonomy to the States in planning, selecting and executing projects in agriculture including organic farming, organic & Bio-fertilizers and allied sectors as per their priorities and agro-climatic situation.
(v) ICAR under Network Project on Organic Farming with lead centre at Project Directorate for Farming Systems Research, Modipuram is running at 20 co-operating centres including State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) spread over 16 States. Organic farming packages and practices for 18 crop/cropping systems have been developed. The 12th plan allocation is Rs. 1170 Lakhs.
In order to promote organic farming in the country, the ICAR in association with SAUs has developed technologies to prepare various types of organic manures such as phospho-compost, vermi compost, municipal solid waste compost, bio-enriched compost etc. from various organic wastes. Improved and efficient strains of bio-fertilizers specific to different crops and soil types are being developed under Network project on bio-fertilizers. These are being popularized among the farmers through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs), farmers trainings, publishing extension materials in local languages.
(c): As per Census 2011 conducted by the Registrar General of India, the number of cultivators have come down from 127.3 million in 2001 to 118.7 million in 2011. However, the number of agricultural labourers increased from 106.8 million in 2001 to 144.3 million in 2011. Out of 481.7 million total workers in 2011, nearly 55 per cent of the workers are still engaged in agricultural activities.
(d) & ( e): Government of India implements several schemes and provides financial assistance to States for the benefit of farmers for better planning, cultivation and marketing of their agricultural produce. Better extension support, timely agricultural and market information, best agricultural practices, etc. are provided to farmers through State Govts./Agencies. States are being encouraged to modify their APMC Act and other statutory provisions so as to make those more conducive and beneficial to farmers. Government of India also facilitates availability of institutional loans/finances to farmers with provisions for interest subvention for timely payment.
During 12th Five Year Plan period, existing fifty one (51) schemes have been stream lined and restricted to ten(10) Missions to improve quality of production and productivity of agriculture and allied sector:
i. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
ii. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
iii. National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm
iv National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) including Micro Irrigation
v. National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET)
vi. Integrated Scheme for Farmers Income Security(ISFIS)
vii. Integrated Scheme on Agri. Census & Statistics(ISACS)
viii. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing(ISAM)
ix. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Cooperation(ISAC)
x. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
Statement of funds allocated/released and expenditure for last 3 years and for the current year State-wise /Scheme-wise is enclosed at Annexure-II A, II-B & II-C.
Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centers have been established by the Government since 2002 for creating gainful self employment opportunities to unemployed agricultural graduates, agri diploma holders etc. supporting agriculture development and supplementing the efforts of public extension as well. The scope of the scheme has been expanded so as to harness the potential of rural unemployed youth to start agri enterprises in rural areas for serving farming community.
National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur under the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation offers two-year Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Agri-businees Management (PGDABM), which equip the youth with unique skills required for a career in Agri-business.
Besides, through various Central Sector/Centrally Sponsored Scheme and State Plan Scheme of the Ministry, the efforts of State Governments are supplemented to make agri sector an attractive vocation so that youth are not tempted to leave agriculture.
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