Question : Crop-shifting

(a) the current area coverage of paddy cultivation and the quantity of paddy residue that it is expected to yield, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government intends to accelerate crop-shifting away from paddy cultivation;

(c) if so, the details thereof including targets for 2020, and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether there are currently any schemes in force to incentivise farmers to shift away from paddy cultivation;

(e) if so, the details thereof including rate of uptake and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether there are currently any schemes in force to incentivise farmers not to burn paddy residue; and

(g) if so, the details thereof including rate of uptake, and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.



STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 DUE FOR REPLY ON 9TH FEBRUARY, 2021.


(a): Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) has estimated production of paddy residue in paddy growing states during 2018-19. The area coverage for paddy is 44.156 million hectares and estimated paddy residue (dry biomass) generated from this area is 240.41 million tonnes in the year 2018-19. The state-wise details are given as Annexure.

(b) to (e): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is already implementing Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in the Original Green Revolution States viz; Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 for shifting paddy area to alternative crops like oilseeds, pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton etc. Under CDP, the target of 1.32 lakh hectare area has been approved for the States of Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh for demonstrations on alternative crops during 2020-21. CDP provides incentives to the farmers for alternate crops demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and contingency for awareness and capacity building. DAC&FW has allocated an amount of Rs.110.00 crore (central share) for implementation of CDP in the Original Green Revolution States of Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh during the 2020-21. In order to replace paddy with alternative crops, Government of Haryana has also launched a scheme “Mera Pani Meri Virasat” from kharif 2020. Under this scheme cash incentives to the farmers @ Rs. 7000 per acre besides, assistance for insurance, procurement of alternative crop and irrigation system etc for replacing paddy is provided.

Contd…2/-
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(f) & (g): To support the efforts of the Government of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ is being implemented from 2018-19. The scheme provides support to the farmers through Cooperatives, Farmers Producers Organization (FPOs), Registered Farmers Societies and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) of crop residue management machinery. Under this scheme, so far, 30961 Custom Hiring Centres have been established and more than 1.5 lakh crop residue management machines have been supplied. The scheme of ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue’ has been implemented in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ from 2018-19 to 2020-21. During the current year, Rs 548.20 crore has been released to these states/agencies. In addition, ICAR-IARI has recently developed “Pusa Decomposer” technology for in-situ paddy residue management.