Question : Sown Area under Cultivation of Kharif Crops

(a) the details of production and acreage of kharif crops including rice in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State and crop-wise;

(b) whether the area under cultivation of kharif crops has declined in certain parts of the country during the current harvest season and if so, the details thereof, Statewise and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken any initiative to create awareness among farmers to turn crop waste into biochar and use it as fertilizers to sustain soil fertility and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to enhance the production and acreage of kharif crops in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

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(a) & (b): State-wise details of production and acreage of kharif crops in the country including rice during last three years and the current year i.e. 2011-12 to 2014-15 are given in the Annexure. Area coverage under kharif rice, coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and jute & mesta during 2014-15 has been lower than that of last year on account of delayed/deficient monsoon rainfall in certain parts of the country.

(c): The Government provides financial assistance to individuals/private agencies through NABARD as capital investment for setting up of mechanized fruit/vegetable market waste/agro-waste compost production units of production capacity of 3000 Tonnes Per Annum (TPA) to convert crop waste/agro-waste into organic manure for use as fertilizer under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY).

Further, the Government is implementing “Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms” component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme on “Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)” under the “National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET)”. Under the above component, grants-in-aid is given to State Governments to supplement their efforts in revitalization of extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies in different thematic areas through extension activities such as Farmers’ training, demonstrations, exposure visit, kisan mela, etc. Through these activities latest agricultural technologies including awareness among farmers to turn crop waste into biochar and its use as fertilizers to sustain soil fertility are disseminated to farmers.

(d): To enhance production of agricultural crops including kharif crops in the country through area increase and productivity improvement, the Government of India is implementing several Crop Development Schemes/ Programmes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), etc.

Under these Schemes/Programmes, funds are provided to States for implementation of State-specific agricultural strategies including incentives to farmers for use of quality seeds, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), farm mechanization, etc. The States are also provided support for creation of agricultural infrastructure for optimal use of water and other natural resources.