Question : SELF HELP GROUPS OF FARMERS

(a) whether the Government has formulated a National Policy for Farmers (NPF) to give more focus on the economic well being of the farmers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether suggestions of the National Commission on Farmers for constitution of Self Help Groups (SHGs) of farmers have been included in the NPF;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of SHGs of farmers constituted so far in the country, State-wise;

(e) whether the Government proposes to provide training to such SHGs of farmers;and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI TARIQ ANWAR)

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The main policy goal of National Policy for Farmers (NPF), 2007 is to improve economic viability of farming by substantially increasing net income of farmers. Towards this end, the major initiatives envisaged in NPF, 2007 inter alia include–(i) Asset Reforms to Empower Farmers with regard to Land, Water, Livestock, Fisheries & Bio resources; (ii) Support Services including Science & Technology, Agricultural Bio Security, Agro-Meteorology, Climate Change, Inputs & Services, Credit, Insurance Cooperatives, Extension Training & Knowledge Connectivity, Marketing & Processing; (iii) Specific Initiatives for Special Categories of Farmers such as Tribal Farmers, Plantation Farmers etc.; (iv) Institutional Support for Encouraging Organic Farming, Green Agriculture etc.; and (v) Special Attention to Areas Experiencing Agrarian Distress and Enhancement in Income of Small & Marginal Farmers through Cooperative Farming, Group Farming, Contract Farming etc.

(c) & (d) National Commission on Farmers (NCF) has not specifically suggested the constitution of self-help groups of farmers by the Government.However, the Commission has suggested promoting, encouraging and assisting self help groups, cooperatives, farmer producer companies etc. to enable farmers to avail benefits of on-going schemes/policies and improve their collective welfare. These suggestions have been incorporated suitably in the NPF, 2007.

(e) & (f) For the purpose of skill development, providing self-employment opportunities, technology transfer etc., Government is providing training to various individuals and organisations including SHGs under its various schemes like Swaranjayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) scheme, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) etc.

Training is also being provided by various institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) etc.