Question : Financial Condition of Farmers

(a) whether the financial condition of farmers is poor in comparison to that of entrepreneurs/middlemen who do business in foodgrains in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government to ameliorate the condition of farmers;

(c) whether the Government provides financial assistance/relief to the families of farmers who commit suicide;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to initiate any process to segregate the farmers into poor, small, marginal and medium on the basis of land holdings;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government for development of agriculture sector?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): As per the ‘Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households’ conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during its 70th round (January 2013- December 2013), the average monthly income per agricultural household is estimated to be Rs. 6426/-, including both farm and non-farm income. However, comparable income estimates for entrepreneurs/middlemen who do business in foodgrains are not available.

Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments are primarily responsible for the growth and development of agriculture sector. Government of India, however, supplements their efforts through budgetary support and implementation of various Schemes/ Programmes. These
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include, inter alia, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Soil Health Card, Neem Coated Urea, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), National Agriculture Market scheme (e-NAM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Bamboo Mission, Blue Revolution, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, etc.

(c) & (d): State Governments provide relief to families of farmers who commit suicide. As per the available information, some of the states provide relief to the families of farmers who committed suicide through measures like provision of ex-gratia relief to the heirs of the deceased farmer, one time settlement to wipe off loans/liabilities towards rehabilitation of the family members, relief provided to the children of the deceased through free education, etc.

(e) & (f): The Agriculture Census conducted quinquennially by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare uses the following criteria for classifying different size-group of operational holdings.

Size Groups Criteria
Marginal Below 1.00 hectare
Small 1.00-2.00 hectare
Semi-Medium 2.00-4.00 hectare
Medium 4.00-10.00 hectare
Large Above 10.00 hectare








Moreover, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under its ‘Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households’ provides estimates of agricultural households for different size-class of land holdings.

(g): Government is focusing on reorienting the agriculture sector by shifting towards an income-centric approach which goes beyond merely achieving targeted production. An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to examine issues relating to doubling of farmers’ income and recommend a strategy to achieve the same by 2022. The Committee, alongside a comprehensive strategy, has suggested various interventions for consideration of the Government which are being implemented


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