(a) whether the Government is considering to run land improvement programme for the development of farmers; and
(b) if so, the action plan formulated alongwith funds allocated/released in each State of the country particularly for Udaipur block of Southern Rajasthan?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI A. NARENDRA)
(a) & (b) Land improvement is covered by the Area Development Programmes namely Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) being implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development on watershed basis. The objectives of these programmes inter-alia include employment generation, poverty alleviation and development of human & other economic resources of the rural areas. Activities under these programmes are carried out on ridge to valley approach, which include soil-moisture conservation, afforestation, pasture development, horticulture & floriculture, pisciculture etc. Area sanctioned and funds released from 1.4.1995 to 31.3.2004 under these programmes are placed at Annexure. The treated area under these programmes does not all come under cultivation. Some of it goes towards increase in forest coverage, pasture land, non agriculture uses etc. No Area Development Programme is going on in Udaipur block of Southern Rajasthan at present.