(a) the details of schemes being implemented by the Government to reduce the agriculture cost;
(b) the amount of budget allocated for the said schemes and the amount spent thereon during the last three years;
(c) the number of farmers benefited from the said schemes, Scheme-wise; and
(d) the details of the reduction in cost of agriculture per hectare through implementation of the schemes and the amount of increase in the income of farmers during the last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): Agriculture is a State Subject. Government of India facilitates the State Governments through many Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes to increase production, implementation of new technologies to reduce cost of cultivation like improved variety of seeds, drip irrigation, soil testing and using fertilizers most suited for crops, scientific crop production technologies, seed minikit etc., A statement showing the amount of budget allocated and amount spent thereon during the last three years is annexed at Annexure.
(c): Some indicators regarding number of farmers benefitted under various schemes is as follows:
Under Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM), launched during 2014-15, 20483 demonstrations have been conducted, 14273 number of trainers have been trained, 544509 number of agricultural machinery distributed, 5492 number of Custom Hiring Centres established, 58 Hi-Tech hubs and 2898 number of Farm Machinery Banks have been established at farm level.
Under Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), 2.0 lakh hectares of land has been converted under organic farming and 5.0 lakh farmers have benefitted with effect from 2015-16 onwards.
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Under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) from 2015-16, 45863 hectare area has been brought under Organic Farming in the North Eastern States, 82 Farmer Producer Centers (FPCs) have been registered and 2406 Farmers Interest Group (FIGs) have been formed and 44064 farmers are mobilized.
Under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), about 574 lakh farmers have been covered over an area of 571 lakh hectares during Kharif 2016 and Rabi 2016-17 seasons.
Under Seed Village Programme, the number of farmers benefitted in 2017-18 was 16.131 lakhs. Over 1.32 crore farmers have benefitted through different extension activities under Sub Mission on Agricultural Extension since 2014-15.
Data on all Schemes is not available.
(d): the details of the reduction in cost of agriculture per hectare through implementation of schemes and the amount of increase in the income of farmers is as under:
1. Soil Health Card Scheme
As per feedback received from farmers from 21 states covering 171 districts, it emerged that application of fertilizers as per the recommendation of soil health cards led to savings in nitrogen fertilizers like urea thereby resulting in reduction in cost of cultivation.
Rice – the cost of cultivation is reduced by 16-25% and savings of nitrogen are found to be around 20 Kg per hectare.
Pulses – 10-15% reduction in cost of cultivation cost and savings of 10 Kg per hectare of urea is observed. Oil Seeds – reduction in cost of cultivation is 10-15% and savings on nitrogen is 9 Kg/acre in sunflower, around 23 kg/acre in ground nut and around 30 kg/acre in castor.
Cash crops – in case of cotton, reduction in cultivation cost is 25% and savings on nitrogen fertilizer is around 35 kg/acre.
Horticulture crops: In potato, 46 kg/acre of nitrogen saving is observed.
Savings on fertilizers and increase in production also resulted in increased income to the farmers:
Paddy: Increase in income around Rs. 4500/ per acre.
Tur: Increase in income to Rs. 25000-30,000/- per acre
Sunflower: Increase in income around Rs. 25000/- per acre
Groundnut: Increase in income around Rs. 10000/- per acre
Cotton: Increase in income around Rs. 12000/- per acre
Potato: Increase in income around Rs. 3000/- per acre.
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2. Micro Irrigation
An impact evaluation study for Micro Irrigation was carried out in the year 2014 and major findings of the study are:
Irrigation cost reduced by 20% to 50% with average of 32.3%.
Electricity consumption reduced by about 31%.
Saving of fertilizers varied from 7% to 42%.
Average productivity of fruits and vegetables increased by about 42.3% and 52.8%.
Overall income enhancement of farmers in the range of 20% to 68% with average of 48.5%.
An evaluation Study on Rainfed Area Development was carried out in the year 2017 which concluded that the average annual family income of the beneficiaries witnessed increase of about 39 % due to project interventions.
The Seeds produced under Seed Village Programme is used by the farmers for next 3 years and also distributed /shared/exchanged on purchase /barter method. This reduces the seed input cost which may vary from crop to crop. Use of this improved farm saved seeds/farm produced seeds increases the farm productivity to the extent of 5-10% approximately and the amount of increase in the income of farmers vary from crop to crop.