Question : LATEST FARMING KNOWLEDGE TO FARMERS

(a) whether any attempts have been made to deliver the latest farming knowledge to farmers;

(b) if so, the details of the public agencies associated with the above and the grant allocated and spent by the above agencies during the last three years, yearwise, category-wise and State-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to take steps to control the dealers of agricultural inputs who have a vested interest in promoting excessive chemical pesticides,transgenic seeds etc.; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): Yes Sir.

(b): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme `Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms` launched in May, 2005 aims at supporting State Governments efforts to revitalize their extension system by promoting a new institutional arrangement for technology dissemination in the form of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at the district level. Farming knowledge is being disseminated through ATMAs/ ATMA like bodies at the district level.

Besides, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established a network of 562 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country aiming at technology assessment, refinement and demonstration of technology/ products. The KVKs are sanctioned under Agricultural Universities (AU), ICAR Institutes, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), State Govern-ments, Public Sector Undertakings, Deemed Universities/ Central Universities/ Other Educational Institutions.

The Kisan Call Centres have been functioning under the Kisan Call Centre scheme of the DAC since January, 2004 for providing information to farmers on agriculture and allied subject through dialing of a nation wise Toll Free No. 1551, The Public agencies associated with Kisan Call Centre Scheme include Telecommunications Consultants India Limited and Bharat SancharNigam Limited.

A statement containing the state-wise and year-wise funds released and expenditure under ATMA scheme is at Appendix-I; the state-wise and year-wise fund release to KVKs is at Appendix-II and year wise fund released under KCC Scheme is at Appendix-HI.

(c) & (d): Dealers for pesticides are licensed by the State Governments as per provisions of Insecticides Act. The quality control under the Insecticides Act, 1968 provides for adequate measures for inspection by taking samples of pesticides. Governments have adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the cardinal principle and main plank of plant protection strategy in the overall crop production programmes in the country.

Under the ambit of IPM programme,the Govt. of India has established 31 Central IPM Centres in 28 States and one U.T. The mandate of these Centres is pest/ disease monitoring, production and release of biocontrol agents/biopesticides,conservation of biocontrol agents and Human Resource Development in IPM by imparting training.