Question : Condition of Paddy Farmers

(a) whether the condition of paddy farmers is becoming extremely pitiable in the country;

(b) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps or proposes to take steps to bring improvement in the financial condition of paddy farmers;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government is aware that the paddy farmers in various States of the country are not getting appropriate/ remunerative prices for there produce, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Chhattisgarh Government has recently announced to increase the support price of paddy to Rs.2500 per quintal, if so, the details thereof along with the reaction thereto; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that paddy farmers get remunerative prices for their produce?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) to (f): No, Madam, for increasing the production and productivity of rice in the country, the Government has been implementing National Food Security Mission-Rice (NFSM-Rice) programme. The objectives of the programme is to increase the production of rice through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country, restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level; and enhancing farm level economy (i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence amongst the farmers. At present, the NFSM-Rice programme is being implemented in 194 identified districts of 25 States including Chhattisgarh. The 13 districts of Chhattisgarh are covered under NFSM-Rice pgrogramme.

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The Government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Paddy during 2018-19 compared to 2014-15, the percent increase in MSP of paddy is as under;

S.No. Paddy Variety 2014-15 2018-19 Percent increase (%)
1 Common 1360 1750 29
2 Grade ‘A’ 1400 1770 26

The Chhattisgarh Government has announced to procure paddy @ Rs. 2500/- per quintal for kharif 2018 season. The Chhattisgarh Government has given bonus above MSP @ Rs. 750/- per quintal on ‘Common Paddy’ and Rs. 730/- per quintal on ‘Paddy Grade A’ and procured 8.097 million tonne of paddy @ 15 quintal per hectare.

Under NFSM-Rice programme, in all the identified districts of the country including 13 districts of Chhattisgarh state, latest crop production and protection technologies are being promoted through Front Line Demonstrations/ Cluster Front Line Demonstrations/ cropping system based demonstrations at farmers field. Stress tolerant/climate resilient varieties & bio-fortified varieties of paddy are being promoted in the country. Focus is also given on newly released varieties/ hybrids, INM & IPM techniques, promotion of water saving devices for efficient utilization of water, improved farm implements/tools for cultural operations and capacity building of farmers. Under capacity building of farmers, the trainings on crop production techniques and awareness is given under NFSM-Rice programme.

In addition, the Government is also implementing “Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI)” programme to address the constraints limiting the productivity of “rice based cropping systems” in Eastern India comprising seven (7) States namely, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The goal of the BGREI program is to harness the water potential for enhancing rice production in Eastern India which was hitherto underutilized. Various interventions are being promoted to increase the production and productivity of rice in the identified states and to enhance the income of the farmers.

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