(a) whether the government has assessed the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on agricultural households;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the average debt of agricultural households has increased in light of the covid-19 pandemic; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, state-wise?
Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (d) During the lockdown, the agriculture sector functioned smoothly. Government of India had taken all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of agriculture related activities. Farming and allied activities were exempted from the lockdown. Seed, pesticide, fertilizer etc. dealers / shops and other input related activities were allowed to open for making inputs available to the farmers. Inter and intra state movement of farm machinery specially combine harvesters was facilitated. As a result of the various steps taken by the Department, both harvesting activities of the Rabi Crop and sowing activities of Summer Crop took place in a systematic manner.
As far as requirements of farmers for agricultural credit is concerned, during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, that Government extended the date of renewal of short term agriculture loan which had become due or would have become due between 1st March, 2020 and 31st August, 2020 up to 31.08.2020 with commensurate benefit of 2% interest subvention and 3% prompt repayment incentive up to extended date. During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. in the year 2021) also, Government extended the date of renewal of the short term agriculture loan which had become due or would have become due between 1st March, 2021 and 30th June, 2021 up to 30.06.2021 with commensurate benefit of 2% interest subvention and 3% prompt repayment incentive up to extended date.
Apart from that, Government started Kisan Credit Card Saturation drive from February, 2020 to cover more and more farmers. Till 12.11.2021, a total number of 260.60 lakh KCC has been issued with sanction limit of Rs. 2.77 lakh crore.
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