Question : SUBSIDY TO FARMERS

(a) the acreage of land possessed by average farmer in India;

(b) the average size of land holding in America and Europe; and

(c) the subsidy provided by the Government to its farmers and also the subsidy given to farmers in America and Europe?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)

(a) The average size of operational holdings in India during 1995-96 is as follows:

(In Hectares.)
Sl. No.	Size Group	Average Size of Operational holdings
1	Marginal (below 1.0 hectare)	0.40
2	Small (1.0 to 2.0 hectare)	1.42
3	Semi-Medium (2.0 to 4.0 hectare)	2.73
4	Medium (4.0 to 10.0 hectare)	5.84
5	Large (10 hectare & above)	17.21	All size groups	1.41

(b): The average size of land possessed by average farmer in USA and European Union Countries is 176.6 hectares and 18.4 hectares respectively.

(c): Total subsidies provided to Agriculture Sector in India through inputs during 1999-2000 to 2001-02 is given in Annexure.

As per the World Trade Organization`s document No.G/AG/NG/S/12/Rev.I dated 12.3.2001, the total domestic support given by America and European countries was 58,295.7 US$ million and 100,698.2 US$ million in 1997 respectively.

Annexure
Subsidies to Agriculture Sector
(Rs. Crore)
S.No.	Item	1999-00 (Actuals)	2000-01 (Actuals)	2001-02	(+)

1.	Fertilizer (Total)	13244	13800	12595

1.1	Indeginous fertilizer	8670	9480	8044

1.2	Imported Fertilizer	74	1	47

1.3	Sale of decontrolled fertilizer	4500	4319	4504	With concession to farmers
2.	Electricity ++	4276	6449	NA

3.	Irrigation ##	11487	13681	11645
State Governments	11361	13544	11498
Local Bodies	126	137	147 

4.	Other subsidies given to marginal	farmers and farmers` Cooperative	Societies in the form of seeds,	development of oil seeds, pulses etc.	1811	1019	NA
Source: 1. Fertilizer: Expenditure Budget 2002-03, Vol. I of Central Government

2. Electricity & Irrigation: Central Statistical Organization
NA : Not available

++ : Includes all subsidies to Electricity Boards and Corporation, Separate estimates of Electricity subsidy accountable exclusively to agricultural sector are not available.

## : The rates for supply of water to farmers are kept low a matter of policy, resulting in losses to the Government irrigation system. The excess of operating costs over the gross revenue is treated as impusted irrigation subsidy.

+ : Quick estimates.

Question : SUBSIDY TO FARMERS

Answer given by the minister

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