Ministry Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

GREEN REVOLUTION – KRISHONNATI YOJANA

• An umbrella scheme comprises of 11 Schemes/Missions which looks to develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic manner to increase the income of farmers.

1. 1. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture aims to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector.
   2. National Food Security Mission including National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), aims to Increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops, through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Augment the availability of vegetable oils and to reduce the import of edible oils.
   3. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture aims at promoting sustainable agriculture practices best suitable to the specific agro-ecology.
   4. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension aims to strengthen the ongoing extension mechanism of State Governments, local bodies etc., achieving food and nutritional security and socio-economic empowerment of farmers
   5. Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material aims to increase production of certified / quality seed, to increase Seed Replacement Rate (SRR), to upgrade the quality of farm saved seeds, to strengthen the seed multiplication chain, to promote new technologies and methodologies in seed production, processing, testing etc., to strengthen and modernizing infrastructure for seed production, storage, certification and quality etc.
   6. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization aims to increase the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low.
   7. Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plan Quarantine aims to minimize loss to quality and yield of agricultural crops from the ravages of insect pests, diseases, weeds, nematodes, rodents, etc. and to shield agricultural bio-security from the incursions and spread of alien species, to facilitate exports of Indian agricultural commodities to global markets, and to promote good agricultural practices, particularly with respect to plant protection strategies and strategies.
   8. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics aims to undertake the agriculture census, study of the cost of cultivation of principal crops, to undertake research studies on agro-economic problems of India etc.
   9. Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation aims to provide financial assistance for improving the economic conditions of cooperatives, remove regional imbalances, and to speed up cooperative development in agricultural marketing, processing, storage, computerization and weaker section programmes
   10. Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing aims to develop agricultural marketing infrastructure and to establish a nationwide marketing information network.
   11. National e-Governance Plan on Agriculture (NeGP-A) aims to improve access of farmers to information & services throughout crop-cycle and integrate the existing ICT initiatives of Centre and States.

 

PM FASAL BIMA YOJANA (PMFBY)

• Replaces existing agriculture insurance scheme – NAIS (National Agriculture Insurance Scheme) and M- NAIS (Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme)
• Target – to cover 50% of cropped area in 3 years which is currently at 23%

Coverage

• • All Notified crops Kharif, Rabi (Cereals, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds), Commercial, Horticulture crops

Risks

• • Covering risks at various stages of crop cultivation (Yield loss+ damage)
  • Prevented sowing/planting risk- insured area is prevented from sowing/planting due to deficient rainfall or adverse seasonal condition
  • Standing Crops- against yield losses due to non preventable risks – drought, flood, pest, dry spells, Natural Fires lightening etc.
  • Post Harvest Losses-against specific perils of cyclonic and unseasonal rains
  • Localized Risks – occurrence of identified localized risks of hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms

Objective

• • To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
  • To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
  • To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
  • To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.

Intended beneficiary

• • All farmers including sharecroppers and tenant farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible.
  • Farmers-
    • 1. including sharecroppers and tenant who have insurable interest in crops
      2. Compulsory for loanee, voluntary for non loanee
      3. Maximum coverage for Women SC/ST/ women farmers

Salient features

• • It replaced all other existing insurance schemes except the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (uses weather parameters as proxy for crop yield in compensating the cultivators for deemed crop loses)
  • A uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops.
  • In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%.
  • There is no upper limit on Government subsidy so farmers will get claim against full sum insured without any reduction.
  • It is compulsory for loanee farmers availing crop loans for notified crops in notified areas and voluntary for non-loanee farmers.
  • Yield Losses: due to non-preventable risks, such as Natural Fire and Lightning, Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado. Risks due to Flood, Inundation and Landslide, Drought, Dry spells, Pests/ Diseases also will be covered.
  • Post-harvest losses are also covered.
  • Mandatory use of technology: Smart phones, drones etc., will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
  • The Scheme shall be implemented on an ‘Area Approach basis’. Defined Area (i.e., unit area of insurance) is Village or above. It can be a Geo-Fenced/Geo-mapped region having homogenous Risk Profile for the notified crop.
  • Public sector insurer (Agriculture Insurance Company of India, United India Insurance Company etc.) and private insurance companies are empanelled for implementation of the scheme.
  • Recently, states have been allowed to set up their own insurance companies for implementing the scheme.
  • Recently, Government has comprehensively revised the Operational Guidelines of the scheme.
    • 1. The farmers will be paid 12% interest by insurance companies for the delay in settlement claims beyond two months of prescribed cut-off date.
      2. State Governments will have to pay 12% interest for the delay in release of State share of subsidy beyond three months of prescribed cut-off date submission of requisition by insurance companies.
      3. Inclusion of hailstorms in post-harvest losses, besides unseasonal and cyclonic rainfalls.
      4. Separate Budget Allocation for Administrative expenses (atleast 2% of budget of scheme).
      5. Appointment of District Level Grievance Redressal Officer and creation of State and District Grievance Redressal Cells for fast redressal of grievances.

 

UNIFIED PACKAGE INSURANCE SCHEME

Objective

• • Provide financial protection to citizen associated in agriculture sector
  • Ensuring food security and food diversification
  • Enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector.

Salient features

• • All farmers eligible for crop insurance under PMFBY/WBCIS (Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme) in the age 18 to 70 years will be entitled to join.
  • The scheme will be a one-year cover, renewable from year to year.
  • The Scheme will take care of insurance needs of farmers and will provide yield-based crop insurance to the farmers based on his ownership rights of the land and sown crop.
  • It covers both personal and work assets and also provides life insurance protection to farmer and his family.
  • It also provides protection to farmer and his/her family members in case of the Accidental Death/ Disablement, accidental insurance protection of farmer’s school/college going children and provisioning of education fee to the students in case of death of parent.

 

PRADHAN MANTRI KRISHI SINCHAYEE YOJANA (PMKSY)

 Aim

• • ensuring access to water to every farm (“Har Khet Ko Pani”)
  • improving water use efficiency (“Per Drop More Crop”)
  • Aimed at covering remaining 65% (i.e. Present Rainfed area) of Net cropped area (142 m he)

 Objective

• • To achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level,
  • To enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices.
  • To explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for periurban agriculture
  • To attract greater private investments in irrigation
  • To promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries

Salient features

• • PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes viz.
    • 1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) – Ministry of Water Resources
      2. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) – Rural Development Ministry and
      3. On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
  • Decentralized State level planning and projectised execution’ structure, in order to allow States to draw up a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and a State Irrigation Plan (SIP). Investments will happen at farm level.
  • It will be supervised and monitored by Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) under PM with Union Ministers of all concerned Ministries.
  • A National Executive Committee (NEC) is to be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation.
  • Water budgeting is done for all sectors namely, household, agriculture and industries.
  • Recently, Long Term Irrigation Fund has been instituted under PMKSY in NABARD for funding and fast tracking the implementation of incomplete major and medium irrigation projects.
  • A dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under PMKSY has been set up to provide states financial assistance on concessional rate of interest.

Function

• • With objective of enhancing water use efficiency by promoting technological interventions like drip & sprinkler technologies, efficient water application & distribution system, secondary storage etc.
  • Will provide end-to-end solutions in the irrigation supply chain i.e.
    • • the water source -identifying best possible nearby source of water using satellite imagery
      • the distribution network – interlinking of rivers at macro level, directing it to fields farm-level application
  • KVKs to be strengthened to help farmers adopt required technology for irrigation
  • Integration with MNREGA
  • Fund allocation – 75:25 (90:10 for NE)
  • States to prepare district level and state level irrigation plan to access funding

 

PARAMPARAGAT KRISHI VIKAS YOJANA

Aim

• • to promote organic farming and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers

Approach

• • Cluster based + organising farmers in groups of 50 or more, having total holdings of 50 acres to take up organic farming

Objective

• • To promote natural resource based integrated and climate resilient sustainable farming systems.
  • To reduce cost of agriculture to farmers through sustainable integrated organic farming systems thereby enhancing farmer’s net income per unit of land.
  • To protect environment from hazardous inorganic chemicals by adoption of eco-friendly low-cost traditional techniques and farmer friendly technologies.
  • To empower farmers through their own institutional development in the form of clusters and group with capacity to manage production, processing, value addition and certification management.
  • To make farmers entrepreneurs through direct market linkages with local and national markets.

Financial Assistance

• • Every farmer will be provided Rs. 20,000 per acre in three years for seed to harvesting of crops and to transport produce to the market Organic products will be linked with the market.
  • No liability on the farmers for expenditure on certification of organic manure
  • A special scheme has also been launched in North-Eastern Region for promotion of organic farming and export of organic produce

Salient features

• • “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana” is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) under National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
  • Cluster Approach: Fifty or more farmers form a cluster having 20ha or 50 acre land to take organic farming. Farmers will be eligible for an assistance of Rs 48,700 per hectare for a three-year period for adopting the traditional methods of cultivation and standard organic farming practices like zero budget natural farming and permaculture.
  • At least 30% of the budget allocations need to be earmarked for women beneficiaries/ farmers.
  • Government plans to form around 10 thousand clusters in three years (by 2017-18) and cover an area of 5 Lakh hectares under organic farming.
  • Components
    • Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification through cluster approach – mobilization of farmers, form clusters, identification of land resources and training on organic farming and PGS Certification and quality control.
    • Adoption of organic village for manure management and biological nitrogen harvesting through cluster approach – action plan for Organic Farming, Integrated Manure Management, Packing, Labelling and Branding of organic products of cluster.

Other recent developments in the scheme: Guidelines have been revised in May 2018.

• 1. The National Advisory Committe (NAC) under Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C) constituted under NMSA will be the policy-formulating body giving overall direction and guidance to the Mission and monitor and review its progress and performance.
  2. National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF): NCOF being the secretariat for PGSIndia programme shall be the monitoring body for PGS certification programme including authorization of RCs, selection of NABL accredited labs and random surveillance through the RCOFs.
  3. JAIVIK KHETI PORTAL: A dedicated portal for organic farming acting as both a knowledge platform as well as marketing platform will be developed.
  4. Convergence with other Central Sector Schemes like MIDH, NFSM and with schemes of other ministries like MOFPI, SMES, MoRD etc. for relevant components is highly encouraged.

 

NATIONAL MISSION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (NMSA)

• • Launched in 2014-15, as a programme under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) (initiated in 2010).

Objective

• • To make agriculture more sustainable, productive, remunerative and climate resilient.
  • Conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures.
  • Adopt comprehensive soil management practices and optimize utilization of water resources.

Salient feature

• • It derives its mandate from Sustainable Agriculture Mission which is one of the eight missions outlined under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
  • NMSA will cater to key dimensions of ‘Water use efficiency’, ‘Nutrient Management’ and ‘Livelihood diversification’ through adoption of sustainable development pathway.
  • Main Components of NMSA are –
    • 1. Rain-fed Area Development – It adopts an area based approach for development and conservation of natural resources along with farming systems.
      2. Integrated Farming System (IFS) – crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture
      3. On Farm Water Management (now subsumed under the ‘Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)
      4. Soil Health Management
      5. Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modelling and Networking
      6. Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF)
      7. National Bamboo Mission (NBM)
  • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region is a sub-mission under this. It aims at development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain.
  • Activities – It aims at promoting location specific improved agronomic practices through soil health management, enhanced water use efficiency, judicious use of chemicals, crop diversification, progressive adoption of crop-livestock farming systems and integrated approaches like crop-sericulture, agro-forestry, fish farming, etc.

 

NATIONAL MISSION ON OIL SEEDS & OIL PALM

• • Started in 2014-15

Objective

• • To augment the availability of vegetable oils sourced from oilseeds, oil palm & Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs)
  • To reduce the import of edible oils.

Mission Targets

• • MM I on Oilseeds – Achieve production of 35 million tones and productivity of 1328 kg/ha of oilseed
  • MM II on Oil Palm – Bring additional 1.25 lakh hectare area under oil palm cultivation + increased productivity
  • MM Ill on TBOs – Enhance seed collection of TBOs 14 lakh tonne -+ utilisation of wastelands.

Background

• • India one of the major oilseeds grower & importer of edible oil
  • India’s vegetable oil economy is 4th largest after USA, China & Brazil.
  • India’s diverse agro-ecological conditions favourable for growing 9 annual oilseed crops –
    • • 7 edible oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed & mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, safflower and niger)
      • 2 non-edible oilseeds (castor and linseed).
  • 72% oilseed cultivation confined to rainfed farming
  • A substantial portion of India’s edible oil need met through import of palm oil from Indonesia & Malaysia.
  • Oil Palm – highest vegetable oil yielding perennial crop
  • TBOs – sal, mahua, simarouba, kokum, olive, karanja, jatropha, neem, jojoba, cheura, wild apricot, walnut, tung etc.

 

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL MARKET (NAM)

• • E-NAM is a Pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
  • A ‘Virtual Market’ With ‘Real Market’ At Back End.
  • Implemented as Central Sector Scheme through Agri Tech Infrastructure Fund

Objective

• • To promote genuine price discovery
  • Increases farmers’ options for sale and access to markets
  • Liberal licensing of traders / buyers and commission agents. One license for a trader valid across all markets in the State.
  • Harmonisation of quality standards of agricultural produce
  • Single point levy of market fees, i.e. on the first wholesale purchase from the farmer.
  • To promote stable prices and availability of quality produce to consumers.
  • Provision of Soil Testing Laboratories in/or near the selected mandi

Salient features

• • NAM is a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the existing APMCs and other market yards to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
  • Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) has been selected as the lead agency to implement it.
  • Central government will provide the software free of cost to the states and in addition, a grant of up to Rs. 30 lakhs per mandi or market or private mandis will be given for related equipment and infrastructure requirements.
  • 585 wholesale regulated markets/ APMC Markets have been so far integrated with e-NAM platform in 16 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs).
  • For the local trader in the mandi / market, NAM offers the opportunity to access a larger national market for secondary trading.
  • Bulk buyers, processors, exporters etc. benefit from being able to participate directly in trading at the local mandi / market level, thereby reducing their intermediation costs.
  • Fund Allocation – The Scheme is being funded through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (AITF).
  • Recently, the first inter-State trade on e-Nam between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has been carried out.

Benefits of Trading on NAM

• • Transparent Online Trading
  • Real Time Price Discovery
  • Bridging information asymmetry
  • Better Price Realization For Producers
  • Reduced Transaction Cost For Buyers
  • Stable Price and Availability to Consumers
  • Quality Certification, Warehousing, and Logistics
  • More Efficient Supply Chain
  • Payment and Delivery Guarantee
  • Error Free Reporting of Transactions
  • Enhanced Accessibility to the Market

 

MISSION FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE

• • Launched in 2014

Objective

• • Promote holistic development of Horticulture sector (including bamboo & coconut)
  • Encourage aggregation of farmers in into groups such as FPOs.
  • Enhance horticulture production, augment farmers’ income and strengthen nutritional security.
  • Improve productivity by ways of germplasm, planting material and water use efficiency through micro-irrigation.
  • Support skill development and create employment generation opportunities

Salient features

• • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which was started from 2014-15 comprising of following sub-schemes and areas of operation –
    • • National Horticulture Mission: to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector through an area based regionally differentiated strategies
      • Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States: It is a technology mission which focuses on production of quality planting material, organic farming, efficient water management etc. Promote, develop and disseminate technologies and generate employment opportunities.
      • National Horticulture Board is implementing various schemes under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in all States and UTs.
      • Coconut Development Board is implementing various schemes under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in all Coconut growing states in the country.
      • Central Institute for Horticulture, Nagaland for providing technical back stopping through capacity building and training of farmers and Field functionaries in the North Eastern Region.

 Strategy

• • Adopt end-to-end approach with backward and forward linkages.
  • Promote R&D technologies for cultivation and other activities with special focus on cold chain infrastructure.
  • Improve productivity through diversification of crops, extension of technology and increasing acreage of orchards etc.
  • Improve post-harvest management, value addition processing and marketing infrastructure.
  • Promote FPOs and their links with Market aggregators and financial institutions.

Funding

• • Central government contributes 90% in NE States and Himalayan States and 60% in all other states while remaining is contributed by state government.
  • In 2014, Project CHAMAN was launched which envisages use of satellite remote sensing data along with Geographical Information System (GIS) for generating action plans for horticultural development.

 

RASHTRIYA KRISHI VIKAS YOJANA – RAFTAAR (RKVY-RAFTAAR)

• • Centrally sponsored scheme
  • Continuation of RKVY as RKVY – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR)
  • Duration – 3 years (2017-18 to 2019-20)

 Objective

• • To make farming a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmer’s efforts, risk mitigation and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.
  • lncentivize States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
  • To empower youth through skill development, innovation and agri-entrepreneurship based business models

Sub Schemes

• • Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India
  • Crop Diversification Program – It is being implemented in the Original Green Revolution States of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh to diversify area from water guzzling crop
  • Reclamation of Problem Soil
  • Foot & Mouth Disease – Control Program (FMD-CP)
  • Saffron Mission
  • Accelerated Fodder Development Programme (AFDP).

Salient features

• • RKVY, initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors, has been recently revamped as RKVY-RAFTAAR – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation for 2017-19 and 2019-20.
  • It provided states with considerable flexibility and autonomy for planning and executing programs.
  • The decentralised planning for agriculture and allied sectors is initiated by the states through District Agriculture Plan and State Agriculture Plan based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of appropriate technology and natural priorities.
  • State Agriculture Departments act as Nodal Implementing Agency
  • It will incentivize states to increase allocations for agriculture and allied sectors and help in creation of post-harvest infrastructure and promotion of private investment in the farm sector across the country.
  • Fund Allocation – 60:40 grants between Centre and States in states and 90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States through following streams –
    • • Infrastructure & Assets and Production Growth
      • RKVY-RAFTAAR special sub-schemes of National Priorities
      • Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development
  • For UTs the grant is 100% as Central share.

 

BRINGING GREEN REVOLUTION TO EASTERN INDIA (BGREI)

Objective

• • To increase production and productivity of rice and wheat by adopting latest crop production technologies
  • To promote cultivation in rice fallow area to increase cropping intensity & income of the farmers.
  • To create water harvesting structures and efficient utilization of water potential
  • To promote post-harvest technology and marketing support

Salient features

• • The program was launched in 2010-11 to address constraints limiting the productivity of “rice based cropping system” in eastern India comprising seven states – Assam, Bihar, Chattisgrah, Jharkhand, Orissa, Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal) and West Bengal.
  • Various initiatives under the scheme are –
    • • Block or cluster development of improved production technology
      • Asset building activities for farm improvement
      • Site specific activities for farm renovation
      • Seed production and distribution
      • Marketing support and post-harvest management

 

SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME

• • Launched in 2015 (Rajasthan)
  • Centrally-sponsored nationwide scheme
  • Printed report card issued to farmers indicating the nutrient status of the soil

Purpose

• • The card carries crop-wise recommendation on appropriate dosage of fertilisers and other soil amendments to improve soil health and fertility.

Validity

• • SHC is issued once in 2 years so that nutrient deficiency can be regularly detected & improved.
  • The card is issued in 14 regional languages – Now in local dialects also – such as Kumaoni, Garhwali, Khasi, and Garo.

Objective

• • To issue soil health cards every 3 years, to all farmers of the country, so as to provide a basis to address nutrient deficiencies in fertilization practices.
  • To strengthen functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) through capacity building, involvement of agriculture students and effective linkage with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) / State Agricultural Universities (SAUs).
  • To build capacities of district and state level staff and of progressive farmers for promotion of nutrient management practices.

Salient features

• • It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government of India in 2015.
  • It is being implemented through the Department of Agriculture of all the State and UTs Governments.
  • Assistance is provided to the State Government to issue Soil Health Card and also develop a database to improve service delivery.
  • Soil Health Card issued to farmers carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required for the individual farms.
  • The experts will analyze the strength and weaknesses (micronutrients deficiency) of the soil collected from farms and suggest measures to deal with it.
  • It will contain the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely N,P,K (Macro-nutrients); S (Secondary- nutrient); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micro – nutrients); and pH, EC, OC (Physical parameters).
  • Based on this, the SHC will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm.

Soil Health Card App

• • • To benefit field-level workers-+ automatically capture GIS (Geographical Information Systems) coordinates and indicate the location from where the sample is collected.
    • App contains farmers’ details including name, Aadhaar card number, mobile number, gender, address and crop details.

 

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION

• • Launched in 2007-08
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme

Objective

• • Increasing production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner.
  • Restore soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level.
  • Enhancing farm level economy.

Salient features

• • Targets – Production of rice, wheat and pulses would be increased by 10, 8, 4 million tonnes respectively & Coarse cereals by 3 million tonnes
  • Commercial crops covered under NFSM – Cotton, Jute and Sugarcane
  • Funding (Centre: State) – 50:50 for food crops, 100% centre funding for cash crops.

• • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which was launched in 2007.
  • From the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, NMOOP and Seed Village Programme are now a part of NFSM and thus NFSM will have eight components viz.
    • • NFSM- Rice;
      • NFSM-Wheat;
      • NFSM-Pulses;
      • NFSM-Coarse Cereals (Maize, Barley),
      • NFSM-Sub Mission on Nutri Cereals;
      • NFSM-Commercial Crops;
      • NFSM-Oilseeds and Oilpalm; and
      • NFSM-Seed Village Programme

 

KISAN CREDIT CARD (KCC)

Objective

• • To provide adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under single window.

Implementation agency

• • Commercial Banks, RRBs and cooperatives.

Salient features

• • The loan disbursed under KCC is broad based and may be used for short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops, post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirement of farmer household etc.
  • The loans disbursed under KCC Scheme for notified crops are covered under Crop Insurance Scheme.
  • The KCC has been extended to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital needs.
  • Scheme covers risk of KCC holders against death or permanent disability resulting from accidents caused by external, violent and visible means.

 

NATIONAL MISSION ON AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND TECHNOLOGY

Objective

• • To make the extension system farmer driven and farmer-accountable by way of new institutional arrangements for technology dissemination
  • To restructure and strengthen agricultural extension to enable delivery of appropriate technology and improved agronomic practices to farmers.

Salient features

• • This Centrally Sponsored Scheme was introduced under the umbrella of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA).
  • It envisages strengthening the extension machinery through 4 sub-schemes:
    • • Sub Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE)
      • Sub Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
      • Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
      • Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP)

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM)

• • • It aims to promote agricultural mechanization among small and marginal farmers and in the areas where the level of mechanization and availability of power is very low.
    • Mission Components –
      1. 1. Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through training, testing and demonstration
         2. Demonstration, training and distribution of Post-Harvest Technology and Management (PHTM)
         3. Financial Assistance for Procurement of Agriculture Machinery and Equipment
         4. Establish Farm Machinery Bank for Custom Hiring
         5. Promotion of Farm Mechanization and Equipment in North-Eastern Region

 

STRENGTHENING & MODERNIZATION OF PEST MANAGEMENT APPROACH IN INDIA (SMPMA)

 Objective

• • Maximise crop production with minimum input costs.
  • Minimise environmental pollution in soil, water and air due to pesticides.
  • Minimise occupational health hazards due to chemical pesticides.

Salient features

• • It is a central sector scheme launched with following componentso Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – It is environment friendly broad ecological approach for managing pest problems.
    • Locust Control and Research – under this locust warning organizations have been established to monitor, forewarn and control locust in Scheduled Desert Area (of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana) and to conduct research on locust and grasshoppers.
    • Implementation of Insecticides Act, 1968 – It regulates the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings, animals and environment.
  • Implementing Agency – 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs)

 

PANDIT DEEN DAYAL UPADHYAY UNNAT KRISHI SHIKSHA YOJANA 

Objective

• • To build      skilled   Human Resource at village level relevant to national needs towards organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
  • To Provide rural India with professional support in the field of Organic Farming/ Natural Farming/ Rural Economy/ Sustainable Agriculture.

Salient features

• • This scheme, being implemented by ICAR, was launched in 2016.
  • It is being run under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan activities of Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare (for more details on UBA, read 24.6).
  • Under this scheme 100 training centers were proposed to be opened for agricultural education.
  • Training Centres will be selected on the basis of farmers who have already attended training course conducted under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan earlier or are having working/handling of natural farming in their own land plus must know all basics, fundamental, theory and practices of natural farming.

 

NATIONAL INNOVATIONS ON CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE (NICRA)

• • Launched in 2011 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), funded by Ministry of Agriculture

Objective

• • To enhance the resilience of India agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies
  • To demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current climate risks
  • To enhance the capacity building of scientists and other stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural research

4 Components

• The project consists of four components viz. Strategic Research, Technology Demonstration, Capacity Building and Sponsored/ Competitive Grants.

Strategic Research

• • Long term research in Natural Resource Management, Crops, Pests and disease dynamics, Livestock, Fisheries & Energy Efficiency
  • Detailed assessment on vulnerability of different agro-climatic zones of the country
  • Selection of promising crop genotypes and livestock breeds with greater tolerance to climatic stress
  • Strengthening Infrastructure at key research institutes for climatic change research
    • • Technology Demonstration – on 100 vulnerable districts for adapting to current climate risks
      • Capacity Building- of all stakeholders
      • Sponsored/competitive research – to fill critical gaps

Salient features

• • It is a network of projects of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  • It takes into account the critical assessment of different crops/zones in the country for vulnerability of rainfall.
  • It undertakes installation of state-of art equipment like flux towers for measurement of greenhouse gases in large field areas.
  • It undertakes comprehensive field evaluation of new and emerging approaches of paddy cultivation.

 

INTEREST SUBVENTION SCHEME

Objective

• To make available agricultural credit for Short Term crop loans at an affordable rate to give a boost to agricultural productivity and production in the country.

Salient features

• • It provides concession of 2% per annum for short-term crop loans to farmers, upto Rs. 3 lakh at 7% rate of interest.
  • An additional interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum is available to the “prompt payee farmers.
  • The benefit of interest subvention is extended for a period of up to six months (postharvest) to small and marginal farmers having KCC on loan against negotiable warehouse receipts with the purpose of preventing distress sale of produce.
  • Interest subvention will be available to Public Sector Bank, Private Sector Bank and to NABARD for providing concessional refinance to RRBs and Cooperative Banks.
  • The Scheme is provided for four segments namely;
    • • Interest subvention for short term crop loans.
      • Interest subvention for post-harvest loans.
      • Interest subvention under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
      • Interest subvention for relief to farmers affected by natural calamities.

 

ARYA PROJECT

Objective

• • To attract and empower the Youth in Rural Areas to take up various
  • Agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income and gainful employment in selected districts.
  • To enable the Farm Youth to establish network groups to take up resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing

Salient features

• • The GOI launched ARYA – “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” in 2015.
  • It is implemented through Krishi Vigyan Kendra in one district from each State. KVKs will involve the Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes as Technology Partners.
  • In one district, 200-300 Rural youths will be identified for their skill development in entrepreneurial activities and establishment of related micro-enterprise units.
  • At KVKs also one or two enterprise units will be established so that they serve as entrepreneurial training units for farmers.

 

KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS (KVK)

• • KVKs are district level Farm Science Centres, created by ICAR
  • They are knowledge & resource centre to provide various types of farm support to the agricultural sector including –
    • • On-farm testing to assess the location specificity of agricultural technologies
      • Frontline demonstrations to establish production potential of technologies Capacity
      • development of farmers & extension personnel on Modern Technologies
      • Provide farm advisories using ICT eg. climate resilient technologies
  • Function on 100% Central funding pattern

Objective

• • To be a frontline extension in agriculture, and to serve as a single window mechanism for addressing the technology needs of farmers
  • To demonstrate location specific technologies and build capacity of farmers.

Aid in implementation of various ICAR initiatives

• • ARYA, Mera Gaon – Mera Gaurav, Farmer FIRST Project

Salient features

• • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has created a network of 669 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country and more KVKs will be established.
  • KVKs lay strong emphasis on skill development training of rural youth, farm women and farmers
  • Provide latest technological inputs like seeds, planting materials and bio-products.
  • Advise farmers on timely crop/enterprise related recommendations, including climate resilient technologies.
  • Serve as a single window mechanism for addressing the technology needs of farmers
  • Diagnose and solve problems emerging from district agro-ecosystems and lead in adoption of innovations.
  • It is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
  • The KVK scheme is 100% financed by Govt. of India and the KVKs are sanctioned to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and NGOs working in Agriculture.

 

AGRI UDAAN

Objective

• • To bring start-up revolution in agriculture which has been mostly concentrated in Services sector.

Salient feature

• • It is a food and Agriculture Accelerator announced by ICAR-NAARM and IIM-A’s incubator centres.
  • It focuses on catalyzing scale-up Food & Agribusiness start-ups through rigorous mentoring, industry networking and Investor pitching.
  • The main idea is to attract rural youth and train them to add value to agriculture and farmer’s produce.
  • It is considered as India’s 1st Food & Agribusiness accelerator.

 

MERA GAON-MERA GAURAV

Objective

• • To promote direct interface of scientists with the farmers.

Salient features

• • This scheme involves scientists of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and state agricultural universities.
  • Groups of four multidisciplinary scientists each will be constituted at these institutes and universities. Each group will “adopt” five villages within a radius of maximum 100 km.
  • Under this scheme, scientists will select villages as per their convenience and will remain in touch with the selected villages and provide information to the farmers on technical and other related aspects in a time frame.

 

INTEGRATED SCHEME FOR AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

Objective

• • To promote creation of agricultural marketing infrastructure by providing backend subsidy support to State, cooperative and private sector investments.
  • To promote Integrated Value Chains (confined up to the stage of primary processing only) to provide vertical integration of farmers with primary processors.
  • To use ICT as a vehicle of extension to sensitize and orient farmers to respond to new challenges in agricultural marketing

Salient features

• • The ISAM will have the following five components
    • • Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) [the existing schemes of Grameen Bhandaran Yojana (GBY) and Development/ Strengthening of Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardization (AMIGS) will be merged as AMI]
      • Marketing Research and Information Network (MRIN)
      • Strengthening of Agmark Grading Facilities (SAGF),
      • Agri-Business Development (ABD) through Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) and Project Development Facility (PDF)
      • Choudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agriculture Marketing (NIAM).

 

KRISHI KALYAN ABHIYAAN

Objective

• Organised from 1st June 2018 till 31st July 2018 to aid, assist and advice farmers on how to improve their farming techniques and raise their incomes.

Salient features

• • It was undertaken in 25 Villages with more than 1000 population each in Aspirational Districts identified in consultation with Ministry of Rural Development as per directions of NITI Aayog. In districts where number of villages (with more than 1000 population) is less than 25, all villages will be covered.
  • Various activities to promote best practices and enhance agriculture income were undertaken under this plan such as:
    • • Distribution of Soil Health Cards to all farmers
      • 100% coverage of bovine vaccination for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in each village
      • Distribution of Mini Kits of pulses and oilseeds to all
      • Distribution of Horticulture/Agro Forestry/Bamboo plant
      • Artificial insemination saturation
      • Demonstrations of integrated cropping practice, Micro Irrigation etc.

 

PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM-AASHA)

• • PM-AASHA is a new umbrella scheme that aims to ensure a robust procurement mechanism, in coordination with the State Governments, such that an increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP) will be translated to higher farmer’s income.

Objective

• • To plug the gaps in procurement system, address issues in MSP system and give better returns to farmers.

Salient features

• • It has three components complementing the existing schemes of the Department of Food and Public Distribution for procurement of paddy, wheat and other cereals and coarse grains where procurement takes place at MSP –
    • • Price Support Scheme (PSS): Under this, physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra will be done by Central Nodal Agencies. Besides National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), FCI will also take up procurement of crops
      • Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): This will cover all oilseeds for which MSP is notified and Centre will pay the difference between the MSP and actual selling/ model price to the farmer directly into his bank account. Farmers who sell their crops in recognized mandis within the notified period can benefit from it.
      • Pilot of Private Procurement and Stockiest Scheme (PPSS): In the case of oilseeds, the States will have the option to roll out PPSS in select districts where a private player can procure crops at MSP when market prices drop below MSP. The private player will then be compensated through a service charge up to a maximum of 15% of the MSP of the crop.
  • The AASHA scheme will be complementing the existing schemes of the Department of Food and Public Distribution for procurement of paddy, wheat and other cereals and coarse grains where procurement takes place at MSP.

 

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECT (NAHEP)

• • The National Agricultural Higher Education Project was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in partnership with the World Bank to attract talent and strengthen higher agricultural education in India.

Objective

• • To support Participating Agricultural Universities (AUs) and ICAR in providing more relevant and higher quality education to Agricultural University students.

Eligibility

• • All statutory agricultural universities, deemed to be Universities and Agricultural faculty of Central Universities are eligible to participate.
  • The project is launched for a period of 4 years with 50:50 cost sharing basis between World Bank & Gal

Salient features

• • Funding: It will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis.

Components

• • Institutional Development Plans (IDPs): NAHEP would provide Institutional Development Grants to selected participating AUs, which seek to improve learning outcomes and future employment for AU students and faculty teaching performance and research effectiveness.
  • Centre of Advanced Agricultural science & Technology (CAAST): CAAST Grants will be provided to selected participating AUs to establish multidisciplinary centres for teaching, research and extension on critical and emerging agricultural topics.
  • Innovation Grants to selected participating AUs to make AUs reform ready (i.e., attain accreditation); and promote mentoring of non-accredited AUs by existing reform-ready AUs and other interstate and international academic partnerships.
  • Results Monitoring and Evaluation: The Education Division/ ICAR would establish a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Cell to oversee the progress of activities across all NAHEP components.

 

PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI (PM-KISAN)

• • Announced in Budget 2019-20, launched in Feb, 2019, but retrospectively applicable from December, 2018.

Objective

• • To provide income support to all Small and Marginal landholding farmer families having cultivable land.
  • To supplement the financial needs of the farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm

Salient features

• • Under the scheme, financial benefit as given below will be provided to all Small and Marginal landholder farmer families across the country
  • Landholder Farmer families with total cultivable holding upto 2 hectares shall be provided a benefit of Rs.6000 per annum per family payable in three equal instalments, every four months.
  • Multiple land parcels (even if each is less than 2 hectares) held by a single family will be pooled together to determine eligibility.
  • Even landholdings, bigger than 10 hectares, will be eligible for benefits under the scheme, if owned by multiple families (e.g. If five brothers jointly own a single 10 hectare holding, each of them will be eligible for the scheme).
  • Responsibility of identifying the landholder farmer family eligible for benefit under the scheme shall be of the State/UT Government.
  • The lists of eligible beneficiaries would be published at the village level to ensure transparency.
  • Exclusions: Certain categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status such as institutional land holders, former and present holder of constitutional posts, persons who paid income tax in last assessment year etc. shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme.
  • For the purpose of exclusion State/UT Government can certify the eligibility of the beneficiary based on self-declaration by the beneficiaries.
  • A dedicated PM Kisan Portal will be launched for implementation of the scheme.
  • This is a Central Sector Scheme and will be funded fully by the Government of India.

 

NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION (NBM)

• • NBM Launched in – 2006-07, Restructured Mission -Approved in 2018-19 (upto 2020)

Objective

• • To promote holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting area-based, regionally differentiated strategy.
  • To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income, increase availability of quality raw material requirement of industries, and contribute towards resilience to climate change.
  • To improve post-harvest management by establishing innovative primary processing units (near the source of production), preservation technologies and market infrastructure.
  • To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.
  • To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand.
  • To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India and realign efforts so as to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products

Target

• • Coverage of 1,05,000 ha area under bamboo over a period of two years (2018-2020)

Implementation strategy

• • Targeted Approach – NBM focuses on development of bamboo in limited states where it has social, commercial and economical advantage.
  • Coverage – 17 states including NE States, MP, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, AP, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Complete value chain approach – It is based on a cluster based approach to provide end to end solution in bamboo sector, starting from bamboo growers to consumers.
  • Market linkages – Setting up and strengthening of bamboo mandi/bazaars/rural haats, including promoting online trade (e-trading)
  • Capacity building of the officials, field functionaries, entrepreneurs and farmers and focus on R&D to increase the production and productivity.
  • Monitoring – Executive Committee (EC) headed by Secretary (DAC&FW) will oversee the implementation & monitoring of the Mission at national level.

 

EASE OF DOING AGRI-BUSINESS INDEX

• • Ministry of Agriculture recently circulated a concept note on Ease of Doing Agri-Business Index, that would aim to assess the performance of states in implementation agricultural reforms.

Need for Ease of Doing Agri-Business Index

• • Agriculture is a State subject, thus, success of policies and programmes of Gol, aiming at doubling farmers’ income, depends on how effectively they are adopted and implemented by the states.
  • The index will help develop competitive spirit among states to speedily implement reforms, by introduction of performance based ranking.

Key Outcomes Expected

• • Competitive spirit among the states to develop their performance to the highest level.
  • Help government to plug the gaps in schemes and programmes, as highlighted by this exercise.
  • Provide platform for rewarding high performing states, by linking their performance with allocation of funds.

Key parameters of Proposed Index

• • Marketing Reforms
  • Reducing cost of inputs
  • Governance and Land reforms
  • Risk Mitigation
  • Increasing production/productivity
  • Investment in and for agriculture

 

Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF)

• • LITF was created in 2016-17 with an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore for funding and fast tracking the implementation of incomplete major and medium irrigation projects
  • It has been formed in NABARD, for funding identified ongoing projects under PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana).
  • To make the loan from NABARD attractive for states, it was decided that the rate of interest may be kept around 6% by providing requisite cost free funds to NABARD, every year during 2016-17 to 2019-20, on which interest cost would be borne by Govt. of India.

 

For Notes on Government Schemes and Programs related to White Revolution and Green Revolution, Click Here.

For Government Schemes and Programs by other Ministries, Click Here.