Question : PROBLEMS OF FARMERS



(a) Whether the Government is aware of the problems of agricultural credit, agricultural prices and technological and marketing support to farmers; and

(b) If so, the steps taken by the Government to mitigate the hardship of the farmers?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a)&(b) : In order to mitigate the problems of agricultural credit, prices, technological and marketing support to farmers, Government has undertaken a number of steps.Recently, Government has announced several initiatives for enhancement of Farm Credit. Government is implementing Minimum Support Price Scheme to provide protection to the farmers against decline in market prices and to enable farmers to get remunerative prices for their products. Further Government is implementing Market Interventions Scheme for various Horticultural commodities so as to prevent distress sale by the farmers. National Agricultural Insurance Scheme is being implemented to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests and diseases.In order to address the problem of post harvest management and storage of agricultural products, Government is implementing schemes for construction of Cold Storages and Rural Godown.Schemes are being implemented for production of agriculture and horticulture products in which assistance is given under various components.