Question : Desert Development Programme

(a) Whether the Government has considered to increase the minimum limit of eligibility of being identified as small and marginal farmers of Desert Development Programme district from the State of Rajasthan, including Pali, from 2 hectares to 5 hectares;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the progress made so far along with the time by which the limits can be extended;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of the factors considered in categorising the farmers as small, marginal, large etc.;
(e) Whether the Government intends to increase the maximum limit for Agriculture Input Subsidy from 2 hectare to 5 hectare in the context of Rajasthan; and
(f) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (c): Three programmes previously implemented on watershed basis viz. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) were integrated and consolidated into a single modified programme called the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) with effect from 26.02.2009 which was later amalgamated as one of the component of PMKSY in 2015-16 i.e Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY).The activities undertaken inter alia include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, livelihoods for assetless persons, etc.

820 watersheds projects are implemented in Rajasthan with the central assistance under WDC-PMKSY, out of which 601 projects have been completed and 219 projects are ongoing as on date. An amount of Rs.2984.596 crore has been released to Rajasthan as Central share.
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(d): In Agriculture Census, operational holdings are classified into five major size groups viz., Marginal (<1.0 ha), Small (1.0 to <2.0 ha.), Semi-Medium(2.0 to <4.0 ha.), Medium(4.0 to <10.0 ha.) and Large (10.0 ha. and above).


(e) & (f): No such proposal is under consideration as of now. Under most schemes of the DAC&FW, assistance is not linked to area of land holding.

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