Question : Schemes for Benefit of Poor Farmers

(a): the details of schemes being run by the Government for the benefit of poor farmers to ensure the growth/development of agriculture sector in the country;

(b): whether the Government has recently made assessment to gauge the reasons for the slow growth of agriculture in the country, market-related problems being faced by the farmers and the non-availability of agricultural loans and if so, the details thereof;

(c): whether the Government proposes to bring transformative agri reforms to overcome the difficulties being faced by the farmers and if so, the details thereof; and

(d): the rate of success to make Indian agriculture competitive with other countries of the world?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Agriculture is a State subject. However, Government of India facilitates the State Governments through various Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes for the benefit of poor and marginal farmers to ensure the growth/development of the agriculture sector in the country. The list of schemes implemented/ run by Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is annexed at Annexure -I.

(b) & (c): During the lockdown the agriculture sector has been functioning smoothly. Government of India has taken necessary measures to ensure smooth sowing operations during pre-monsoon and monsoon period. As per the Provisional Estimates of National Income 2019-20 released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 31st August, 2020, the growth rate of real Gross Value Added (GVA) of Agriculture & Allied sectors is 3.4 percent in the first Quarter (April – June), 2020-21.
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As part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Government has promulgated two ordinances, viz.

? “The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020 This will allow liberal trade, provide more options to farmer for sale of their farming produce, promote barrier free inter-state and Intra State trade.

? The Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Ordinance, 2020. The main objectives of the Farming Agreement Ordinance are – risk mitigation for farmers, equity or inclusiveness, public accountability and innovation.

? Concessional credit boost to 2.5 crore farmers through Kisan Credit Card.


(d): In agriculture, India has made good strides and risen from a food deficit importing country to a state of self-sufficiency and now a major exporter of agricultural produce. Area, production and yield of most of the commodities has increased consistently from 2015-16 to 2018-19. There has been substantial increase in exports of almost all the agricultural items and is one of the largest exporters of Agriculture products.

The yield of paddy in India is 3848 Kg/ha against the global average of 4602 Kg./ha., 6209 tonnes, Kg/ha of Brazil and 6917 Kg/ha of China. Horticulture is a growing sector, with India having higher productivity in banana (35.35 MT/ha) as against the global average of 20.21 MT/ha, mango (9.07 MT/ha) against the global average rate of 8.92 MT/ha and papaya (41.82 MT/ha) against the global average of (29.54 MT/ha).