Year End Review 2018 - Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare

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:

1. improvement in crop productivity
2. improvement in livestock productivity
3. resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production
4. increase in the cropping intensity
5. diversification towards high value crops
6. improvement in real prices received by farmers
7. 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:

1. market reforms through State Governments by amending the agriculture marketing regime
2. promulgation of Model Contract Farming Act to encourage contract farming through the State Governments
3. 22,000 Gramin Haats are to be upgraded to work as centres of aggregation and for direct purchase of agricultural commodities from the farmers
4. launch of eNAM initiative to provide farmers an electronic online trading platform
5. distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers to optimise the use of  fertilizers
6. “Per drop more crop” initiative to encourage drip/sprinkler irrigation for optimal utilization of water
7. “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)” to promote organic farming; North-East is being developed as organic hub
8. 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
9. “Har Medh Par Ped” to promote agro forestry for supplementing farm income; increase risk management and climate resilient agriculture
10. amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927 to exclude bamboo from the definition of ‘trees’; as a corollary, the restructured National Bamboo Mission was launched
11. PM-Asha scheme to ensure MSP to farmers for oilseeds, pulses and copra
12. government has approved the increase in MSPs for all Kharif & Rabi crops for 2018-19 season
13. Bee keeping has been promoted under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) as an additional source of income of farmers
14. Rashtriya Gokul Mission to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines, to make milk production more remunerative
15. National Livestock Mission to increase productivity and genetic improvement of livestock
16. a Blue Revolution with multi dimensional activities mainly focusing on fisheries production, both inland and marine, is being implemented
17. 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 -

1. area expansion and productivity enhancement
2. restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level
3. 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 -

1. Breeder Seed production of pulses and nutri-cereals
2. Creation of seed hubs
3. Certified seed production
4. 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 -

1. financial assistance to groups and organisations for establishing Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery
2. financial assistance to individual farmers for Procurement of Agriculture Machinery and Equipment for in-situ crop residue management
3. 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

1. promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers
2. strengthening of soil and fertilizer testing facilities to provide soil test-based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility
3. ensuring quality control requirements of fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985
4. upgradation of skill and knowledge of soil testing laboratory staff, extension staff and farmers through training and demonstrations
5. 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 -

1. 90:10 (GoI: State Govt.) funding pattern in 8 NE states and 3 hilly states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
2. 100% central funding in Union Territory
3. 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

1. precision irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System)
2. better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources
3. 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