On: 01 AUG 2023 – Details of five major schemes launched by the Government during the last four years are given in the Annexure. The efforts of Government for positive implementation of the schemes are yielding good result and the income of the farmers is improving. As a part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a book, which contains compilation of success stories of 75,000 farmers out of innumerable successful farmers whose incomes have increased more than two times.
A comprehensive range of central sector and centrally sponsored schemes has been implemented by the Government to address various aspects of agriculture and benefit farmers including small and marginal farmers. However, there are currently no plans to implement a distinct policy for smaller farmers.
Annexure
Brief of five major schemes introduced by the Government during the last four years for farmers’ welfare
| Sl No. | Scheme | Brief description |
| 1. | The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) | The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme is being implemented with a view to provide income support to all landholding Farmers’ families across the country to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs. The Scheme, effective from 1.12.2018, aims to provide a payment of Rs.6000/- per year for the farmers’ families with cultivable land holding, subject to certain exclusions. The financial benefit of Rs.6000/- is being released by the Central Government in three 4-monthly installments of Rs.2000/- over the year directly into the bank accounts of the eligible farmers under Direct Benefit Transfer mode. |
| 2. | Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) | The Government of India has launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” in the year 2020. Formation & promotion of FPOs are to be done through Implementing Agencies (IAs), which further engage Cluster Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to form & provide professional handholding support to FPOs for a period of 05 years including preparation and execution of business plan for the concerned FPOs for ensuring better marketing opportunities & market linkages on sustainable basis. |
| 3. | Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) | In order to address the existing infrastructure gaps and mobilize investment in agriculture infrastructure, Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infra Fund was launched under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee support. |
| 4. | National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) | A new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has been launched by Government of India to promote oil palm cultivation for making the country Aatamnirbhar in edible oils with special focus on North-Eastern States and A&N Islands. The Mission will bring additional area of 6.5 lakh ha under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28 lakh ha in north-eastern states and 3.22 in Rest of India in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. |
| 5. | National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) | Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping, a new Central Sector Scheme entitled National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) was launched in 2020 under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for its implementation in the field for overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping & to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”. |
Government Schemes for Welfare of Farmers is mentioned in below image by scheme name including PM-KISAN.
Satellite Coverage of Agriculture Activities
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched Resourcesat -2A, Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT) – 1A (Earth Observation Satellite-04) in polar orbits and Indian National Satellite (INSAT) 3D, INSAT-3DR in geostationary orbits to provide data for enabling support for various agricultural activities viz., assess total area under cultivation, assess damages from natural calamities and disease attacks and Agro-met services across the country.
ISRO has proposed the launch of following satellites:
- Resourcesat-3 & 3A medium resolution satellite with combined repitivity of 2 days,
- Resourcesat-3S & 3SA high resolution satellite with 4 days revisit capability,
- RISAT-1B can image day and night and all-weather conditions. RISAT-1B along with RISAT- 1A will cover same area by around 12 days,
- INSAT – 3DS in geostationary orbit with coarse resolution and daily multiple imaging capability.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
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