The value of Indian agricultural exports, marine and plantation products, hit a record high in 2021-22 of $50 billion. The value increased by 20 percent in FY22. Exports of wheat almost quadrupled from $568 million in 2020-21 to $2.12 billion in 2021-22.
From easy availability of fertilizers to improving irrigation facilities, from crop insurance schemes to easy access to credit, the government launched a slew of initiatives to double farmer’s income.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 3 listed these initiatives and discoursed in detail on the trajectory of our agri-growth from 2014. He praised the resilience of farmers for maintaining stable agri production, consequently stable supply and inflation even in the face of consecutive droughts from 2014-16. The Ministry of Agriculture was renamed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare reflecting a paradigm shift in the vision, which puts farmers first. Allocation for Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare has been increased substantially to Rs 35,984 crore.
Agriculture loans for farmers have also increased by two and half times in the last 7 years. Over 3 crore farmers were given Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) as part of the special drive and the facility of KCC was extended to farmers engaged in Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. Government also focused on boosting organic farming in the country, as a result of which the market for organic products has reached 11,000 crore, with exports rising to more than 7000 crore rupees from 2000 crore rupees 6 years ago.
All areas of agriculture from pre-sowing practices to marketing have been given focus in the government’s efforts to double farmers income.
Pre- sowing
The government has distributed over 23 crore soil health cards and targets to provide soil health cards to all farmers. As a consequence, balanced use of fertilisers has come about among farmers. There is reduction in fertilizer use, especially Nitrogen and increase in bio-fertilizers and other micronutrients use. Government is bearing the cost of Rs 3,500 on a 50 kg bag of Urea and Rs 2,500 on a bag of DAP. The power of a sack of Urea has been condensed into a bottle, saving the farmers from the transportation cost. With the inauguration of the Kalol plant, 1.5 lakh such bottles will be produced a day, and 8 more such plants are in the pipeline.
100% Neem coated urea is available in the country. This will improve fertilizer use efficiency by 10 to 15 percent and thereby reduce the consumption of urea fertilizer.
Government approved Rs 18,276 crore towards interest subvention of farmer loans. This will ensure that a farmer pays 4% interest for short term crop loans, 7% for post harvest loans, 7% in case of natural calamity, against the market rate of 9%.
During sowing:
In order to provide irrigation facilities, improve water conservation and its management, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is being implemented in mission mode and 28.5 lakh hectares will be brought under irrigation.
A dedicated Long Term Irrigation Fund is being created in NABARD with an initial corpus of about 20,000 crore. 5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells in rain fed areas and 10 lakh compost pits for production of organic manure will be taken up under MGNREGA.
Scientific advice in the form of sms and calls have been sent to crores of farmers.
After sowing:
PMFBY was launched in February 2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities and was made voluntary from 2020.
Farmers have to pay a maximum 2% of premium amount for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi food and oilseed crops and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops. The balance of actuarial/bidded premium is shared by the Central and State Government on 50 : 50 basis and in case of North Eastern States on 90 : 10 basis from Kharif 2020.
Over 36 crore farmer applications have been insured under PMFBY, with over INR 1,07,059 crores of claims already paid under the scheme as of 4th February, 2022.
e-NAM by creating a unified market through online trading platform ensured free flow of agri commodities from one market area to another and consequently controlled the price of agri-commodities and increased income of farmers.
Support to allied activities
Government also supported agriculture allied activities like fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy products. Dairying projects like ‘Pashudhan Sanjivani’, ‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’, ‘E-Pashudhan Haat’ and National Genomic Centre for indigenous breeds are good examples. Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched to conserve and develop indigenous cow breeds. Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana commenced during 2020-21 and the fish production has increased from 141.64 lakh tonne during 2019-20 to 147.25 lakh tonne during 2020-21 in the country.
Krishi Melas and exhibitions on natural farming under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture have also increased awareness of modern agricultural practices amongst small and marginal farmers.
