Major highlights of the schemes, initiatives and activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare during the year 2018
Production Scenario
- Overall - The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) fixes target for the production of foodgrains in the country annually.
- It has been fixed at 290.25 million tonnes for the year 2018-19.
- The country made a record foodgrains production of an estimated 284.83 million tonnes (4th Advance Estimates) for 2017-18.
- As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall in the country was 'normal' during South-West monsoon season.
- Rabi - The total Rabi foodgrain production is around 140 million tonnes, higher by around 7.3 million tonnes than during 2016-17.
- It is also higher by around 13.5 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2012-13 to 2016-17) average production of foodgrain.
- Total Rabi Rice and Wheat Productions have increased, compared to 2016-17 production as well as the last five years’ average.
- Rabi Nutri/Coarse Cereals, Rabi Pulses, Rabi Oilseeds also registered growth in production during 2017-18, with only marginal growth for oilseeds.
- Kharif - The production of foodgrains during Kharif 2018 has been estimated at 141.59 million tonnes, higher by 0.86 million tonnes.
- Further, it is 11.94 million tonnes more than the average production of five years (2012-13 to 2016-17).
- Total production of Kharif rice was higher than the last year’s production and over the last five years' average.
- The total production of Nutri/coarse cereals has decreased as compared to 2017-18 but production of Maize is expected to be higher.
- The total production of Kharif pulses was lower by 0.12 million tonnes than the last year’s production, but was more than the five years' average.
- Kharif oilseeds and Sugarcane recorded an increase in total production than last year and the five years' average.
Doubling of Farmers’ Income
- The Government has set a target of doubling farmers’ income by the year 2022.
- An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constructed to examine the issues in this regard and recommend a strategy.
- The committee has identified seven sources of income growth which are:
- improvement in crop productivity
- improvement in livestock productivity
- resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production
- increase in the cropping intensity
- diversification towards high value crops
- improvement in real prices received by farmers
- shift from farm to non-farm occupations
- The committee is also looking into the investments in and for agriculture including increasing public investments for agriculture-rural roads, rural electricity, irrigation, etc.
- It is also looking into the need for policy support to enable investments by corporate sector in agriculture.
- Government is reorienting the agriculture sector by focusing on an income-centeredness, beyond the focus on production targets.
- The various initiatives at this end include the following:
- market reforms through State Governments by amending the agriculture marketing regime
- promulgation of Model Contract Farming Act to encourage contract farming through the State Governments
- 22,000 Gramin Haats are to be upgraded to work as centres of aggregation and for direct purchase of agricultural commodities from the farmers
- launch of eNAM initiative to provide farmers an electronic online trading platform
- distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers to optimise the use of fertilizers
- “Per drop more crop” initiative to encourage drip/sprinkler irrigation for optimal utilization of water
- “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)” to promote organic farming; North-East is being developed as organic hub
- launch of revised farmer friendly “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)”; covers various types of risks from pre-sowing to post harvest, provision for nominal premium
- “Har Medh Par Ped” to promote agro forestry for supplementing farm income; increase risk management and climate resilient agriculture
- amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927 to exclude bamboo from the definition of ‘trees’; as a corollary, the restructured National Bamboo Mission was launched
- PM-Asha scheme to ensure MSP to farmers for oilseeds, pulses and copra
- government has approved the increase in MSPs for all Kharif & Rabi crops for 2018-19 season
- Bee keeping has been promoted under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) as an additional source of income of farmers
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines, to make milk production more remunerative
- National Livestock Mission to increase productivity and genetic improvement of livestock
- a Blue Revolution with multi dimensional activities mainly focusing on fisheries production, both inland and marine, is being implemented
- a revised strategy document for 2018-2030 for the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) [0ne of the 8 Missions in PM’s National Action Plan on Climate Change]
Key Schemes, Initiatives and Activities
Higher Production through Productivity Gains
National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
- NFSM programme is being implemented across the country for increasing the production and productivity of foodgrain crops (rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals & nutri-cereals)
- It is done through -
- area expansion and productivity enhancement
- restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level
- enhancing farm level economy to restore confidence amongst the farmers
- As per the target, NFSM has achieved the bumper production of rice, wheat, pulses and nutri-cum-coarse cereals, during 2017-18.
- The total foodgrains production achieved during 2017-18 is around 284 million tonnes - 3.5% increase against the last year.
- Various initiatives were taken for increasing production and productivity of Pulses, Nutri-Cereals, etc. including -
- Breeder Seed production of pulses and nutri-cereals
- Creation of seed hubs
- Certified seed production
- Creating buffer stock to control price fluctuation
Krishi Unnati Mela, 2018
- A National level 3rd Krishi Unnati Mela was organized by DAC&FW.
- The objective was to create widespread awareness about the latest agricultural technological developments and receive feedback from the agricultural community.
- Ways to enhance farmer’s income through theme pavilions like micro irrigation, neem-coated urea, effectiveness of crop insurance scheme, etc were showcased in the mela.
Mahila Kisan Diwas
- Mahila Kisan Diwas was organised on October 14-15, 2018 with participation of various stakeholders.
- It included Women farmers, NGOs, Women Entrepreneurs, Academia, Researchers/Scientists, Farmer Organisations, Banking Sector Representatives, Industry, etc.
- The focus was to learn and address issues related to women farmers in agriculture and allied sectors, access to institutional credit and micro-financing, etc.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
- Additional areas were covered under the mission for identified horticulture crops and organic farming.
- Besides, Integrated Pests/Nutrient Management, Horticulture Mechanization, Beekeeping initiatives, Market and Management Infrastructures facilitation, and training of farmers were taken up.
Information Technology
- Number of farmers registered on M-kisan portal of DAC&FW for receiving agro-advisories has increased.
- Downloads of Kisan Suvidha app has also increased; 4 new services were added to the app, raising the services available to 10.
RKVY-RAFTAAR
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is aimed at strengthening infrastructure in agriculture and allied areas.
- A new component under the revamped scheme RKVY-RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation) has been launched in 2018-19.
- This is to promote agri-entrepreneurship and agribusiness by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem (RKVY — RAFTAR Agribusiness Incubators (RABIs)).
Reduction in cost of cultivation
Agricultural Mechanization-Crop Residue Management Scheme
- A new Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue' has been introduced.
- This is for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi for the period from 2018-19 to 2019-20.
- The Scheme's components (100% Central Share) include -
- financial assistance to groups and organisations for establishing Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery
- financial assistance to individual farmers for Procurement of Agriculture Machinery and Equipment for in-situ crop residue management
- financial assistance to institutions for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for awareness on in-situ crop residue management
Soil Health Management
- Soil Health Management (SHM) is one of the components under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
- SHM aims at
- promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers
- strengthening of soil and fertilizer testing facilities to provide soil test-based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility
- ensuring quality control requirements of fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985
- upgradation of skill and knowledge of soil testing laboratory staff, extension staff and farmers through training and demonstrations
- promoting organic farming practices, etc
- Funds are released to States for setting up Static, Mobile and Village Soil Testing Laboratories and Fertilizer Quality Control Labs.
Soil Health Card Scheme
- Soil Health Card Scheme is under implementation since 2015 to provide Soil Health Card to all farmers in the country.
- It provides information to farmers on soil nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrient to be applied.
- Soil Health card will be issued every 2 years for all land holdings in the country.
Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
- PKVY, to promote organic farming, is the first comprehensive scheme launched as a Centrally Sponsored Programme (CSP) from 2015-17, which now has been revised for next 3 years.
- Funds are given as incentives to farmers for organic conversion, organic inputs, on-farm inputs, production infrastructure, etc.
- The scheme is implemented with -
- 90:10 (GoI: State Govt.) funding pattern in 8 NE states and 3 hilly states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
- 100% central funding in Union Territory
- 60:40 funding pattern in remaining states of the country
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
- MOVCDNER (2015-16 to 2017-18) is a Central Sector Scheme that seeks to capitalise on the organic farming potential of North-East India.
- It covers the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
- The scheme aims at development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers.
- It supports the development of entire value chain, covering Value Chain Production, Processing, Marketing and Support Agencies.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) –Per Drop More Crop
- Per Drop More Crop component of PMKSY is operational from 2015-16, and mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation.
- It promotes
- precision irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System)
- better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources
- micro level water storage or water conservation/management activities as Other Interventions(OI) to supplement source creation
Micro Irrigation Fund
- A dedicated fund in NABARD titled “Micro Irrigation Fund” (MIF) with initial corpus of Rs.5000 crores was announced in Union Budget 2017-18.
- The main objective is to facilitate the States in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation by taking up special and innovative projects.
Rainfed Area Development (RAD) Programme
- RAD programme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS).
- It aims at enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability.
- Crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc.
Source: PIB
