Question : SUBSIDY TO FARMERS

(a) whether the Government provides/proposes to provide subsidy/incentive/package to the farmers to mitigate the problems/hardships being faced by them in the country;

(b) if so, the details of such assistance provided to the farmers during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Odisha;

(c) whether subsidy to the farmers in the country is low in comparison to United States of America (USA), other developed and developing countries including China and Japan and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether there has been a steady decline in the subsidy to the farmers in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the corrective measures taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to increase the above assistance and to provide the same to the farmers at par with the developed and major developing countries?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Under the existing schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, which have been formulated after wide consultations with various stake- holders including State Governments, there are provisions for supply of seeds, plant protection chemicals, nutrients including secondary, micro & bio-nutrients, agriculture machinery and equipments etc. at subsidized rates to the farmers in the country. Details of the funds released under various schemes during the last three years and the current year to various States, including the State of Odisha, are given in the statements annexed.

(c) to (e): As per data notified to World Trade Organization (WTO), there has been a decline in Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) in the USA and EU. However, in case of Japan there is slight increase. The latest data in respect of India is not available for comparison.