(a) whether the Government proposes to invest Rs. 25 lakh crore in farm sector in the coming years to boost the agricultural productivity; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action plan prepared by the Government in this regard, especially for the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 234 DUE FOR REPLY ON 9TH JULY, 2019.
(a) & (b): In order to enhance agricultural productivity, an investment of Rs.25 lakh crore is targeted to be made in the country in the coming years. Investment will be both in the public and private sectors. The Government is fully committed to investing in the farm sector to boost agricultural productivity in the country including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is evident from the enhanced Budget allocation for DAC&FW –
Year BE (Rs. In crore)
2015-16 17004.35
2016-17 35983.69
2017-18 41855.00
2018-19 46700.00
2019-20 130485.21
The Government has been working proactively through various policy and programmatic interventions to create the environment to facilitate these investments including-
Model Agricultural Produce & Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017
With the objective of ensuring better prices to farmers by promoting transparency, barrier free agriculture market as well as multiple alternative competitive marketing channels, the Government has released Model Act “The Agricultural Produce & Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017” for its adoption by States/UTs. The provisions therein provides for alternative marketing channels such as setting up of private markets, direct marketing, farmer - consumer markets to facilitate farmers in marketing their produce at competitive & remunerative prices.
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Model Agricultural Produce & Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018
The Government has formulated and released a progressive and facilitative Model Act “The Agricultural Produce & Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018” in May, 2018 for its adoption by the States/Union Territories (UTs). The aforesaid Model Contract Farming Act covers the entire value and supply chain from pre-production to post harvest marketing including services contract for the agricultural produce and livestock.
National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)
National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme was launched on 14th April, 2016 with an objective of facilitating better and real time price discovery for the farmers for their produce through competitive online transparent auction process. This also aims at providing with pricing commensurate with quality of produce of farmers. So far, 585 wholesale regulated markets across the country have been integrated with e-NAM platform by 31st March, 2018.
The 5th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog was held on 15th June 2019 in which “Transforming Agriculture: Need for Structural Reforms” formed part of the agenda. The need for undertaking structural reforms in agriculture including encouraging corporate investment was emphasized.
Thereafter a High Powered Committee on structural reforms in agriculture has been constituted on 1.7.2019 for “Transformation of Indian Agriculture”. Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis is the Convener of the Committee which has Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya
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Pradesh and Union Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as Members. Member (Agri) NITI Aayog is the Member Secretary.
Given that agriculture is a subject in the state list, a conference of State Agriculture Ministers’ is being organised on 8th July, 2019 to discuss Agri Exports, Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act (APLMC) / Contract Farming, Organic Farming, PM-KISSAN, PM-Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana, Kisan Credit Card(KCC), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana (PMFBY) which would be the mainstays for improving agriculture, investments and remuneration to farmers.
A statement indicating the schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is annexed.