(a) whether according to a survey by an autonomous social science research institute, one in every four farmer respondents across all regions of the country said that low prices of crops was their most pressing problem and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the prices of the main agricultural crops during the years 2015, 2016 and 2017; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that the farmers get remunerative prices for their produce?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) A Survey conducted in January 2018 by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies found that one in every four farmer respondents opined that low prices of crops was the most pressing problem for farmers across all regions.
The Problems Faced by Indian Farmers
Farmers opinion (%)
Not getting right price for crops 23
Lack of irrigation facilities 16
Crop failure 11
Govt. neglect of agriculture 8
High input costs 6
Farmer suicides 4
Debt burden 4
Finding labour 3
Poor earning through agriculture 2
Low production/yield 2
Not getting loans easily 2
Other problems (<2% each) 8
No response 11
Source: Mood of the Nation (MOTN) 2018
(b): The all India average monthly wholesale prices of major agricultural commodities are given at Annexure.
(c): To facilitate remunerative price to farmers for their farm produce, the Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of principal crops and conducts procurement operations to stabilize prices. For the perishable and horticultural commodities for which MSPs are not fixed, in order to protect the growers from distress sales, Government implements the Market Intervention Scheme whereby procurement is made on the request of State Governments.