(a) The quantum of money spent by the Government on Food subsidy and irrigation during
the last three years;
(b) Whether the Government has any proposal to invite PPP investment in agriculture; and
(c) If so, the details thereof, State-wise? ANSWER
(a) The quantum of money spent by the Government on Food subsidy and irrigation during
the last three years;
(b) Whether the Government has any proposal to invite PPP investment in agriculture; and
(c) If so, the details thereof, State-wise? ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a): The quantum of food Subsidy released during the last three years is given as under:-
(Rs. in Crore) Year Food Subsidy Released 2003-04 25160.00 2004-05 25745.45 2005-06 23071.00
The irrigation subsidy compiled by Central Statistical Organization (CSO) for the latest three years is given as under:- (Rs. in Crore) Year imputed irrigation subsidy 2002-03 15012.00 2003-04 11142.00 2004-05 12990.00
(b)&(c): The details regarding major public private partnership investment in agriculture are given as under: Ministry of Agriculture has taken an initiative for setting up of state of art terminal market
at eight important centers in the country under the public private partnership (PPP) model. Terminal markets are to operate on a Hub-and-Spoke Format wherein the Terminal Market (the hub) would be linked to a number of collection centers (the spokes), conveniently located to allow easy access to farmers for the marketing of their produce. The commodities to be covered by the markets include fruits, vegetables, flowers, aromatics, herbs, meat and poultry. Under the PPP model, the private enterprise brings the capital and management, the State Government provides the regulatory clearance and the Central Government provide part of the equity capital in the project. The enterprise could be a consortium of entrepreneurs from agri-business, cold chain, logistics, warehousing, agri-infrastucture and related background. In the annual budget 2006-07, under the National Horticulture Mission, an amount of Rs.150.00 crore has been earmarked for setting up of Terminal Markets in the country.
Under the scheme named `Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms` which aims at making extension system farmer-driven and farmer-accountable by way of new institution arrangements for technology dissemination in the form of an agriculture technology management (ATMA) at district level, minimum 10% beneficiary oriented resources are to be utilized through the non-governmental sector which include private sector.