Programmes, Schemes & New Initiatives
India is an Agrarian country where half of the population still depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Farmers also play an important role in the growth and development of country’s economy. But the sad part is that half of the farmer's population are still fighting against poverty, harsh weather challenges and water scarcity.
Considering these problems, central government had started PM Kusum scheme (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evemUtthanMahabhiyan) to eradicate water problems from farm lands across remote areas through solar pumps.
The central government has launched this scheme not only to eradicate water problems but also to increase the income of farmers. The Central Government has recently shifted PM Kusum Yojana under the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan.
How PM-KUSUM Helps Farmers?
This scheme helps farmers to put solar panels on barren land. Through solar panels, farmers can generate electricity themselves to irrigate their fields. Apart from this, they can also earn by selling additional power. In this scheme, farmers have to charge only 10% of the total cost. The remaining 90 percent subsidy will be provided by the government in the farmers' account.
Produce electricity from solar panel
Farmers use electric or diesel-powered motor pumps to irrigate fields. If farmers do not use motor pumps, their crop may get destroyed if there is not enough rain. The electricity which are available to the farmers by installing solar panels can be used to run motor pumps. Hence, this will save expenses on electricity and diesel.
How you can earn from selling electricity
Once the solar panel is installed, it works for 25 years. In this, electricity is produced through sunlight. The power from the solar panel can be used by the farmers for running their motor pumps and other needs, if more power is produced, they can also sell it to the Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOM). This can lead to significant income for the farmers.
Pradhan Mantri KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana:-
When started
PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India. It has become operational from 1.12.2018.
Highlights of the scheme
- Under this scheme, an income support of Rs.6000/- per year in three equal instalments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares
- Definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children.
- State Government and UT Administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
- The funds will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
- The revised Scheme is expected to cover around 2 crore more farmers, increasing the coverage of PM-KISAN to around 14.5 crore beneficiaries, with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 87,217.50 crores by Central Government for year 2019-20.
- There are various Exclusion Categories for the scheme.
Details required from the beneficiary
States shall prepare database of eligible beneficiary landholder farmer families in the villages capturing the Name, Age, Gender, Category(SC/ST), Aadhaar Number, Driving License, Voters’ ID Card, NREGA Job Card, or any other identification documents issued by Central/State/UT Governments , Bank Account Number and the Mobile Number of the beneficiaries.
Exclusion Categories
- All Institutional Land holders.
- Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to following categories:
- Former and present holders of constitutional posts.
- Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
- All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies (Excluding Multi-Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees).
- All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/- or more (Excluding Multi-Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of above category.
- All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.
- Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.
Pardhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana:-
Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters
When started
Started in 2017 by Government of India (GOI) and implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Highlights of the scheme
- PMKSY is implemented with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore for the period 2016-20.
- It is an umbrella scheme which incorporates all ongoing schemes of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
- It will help in providing better prices to farmers and is a big step towards doubling of farmer’s income, creating huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.
Schemes implemented under PMKSY
- Mega Food Parks
- Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure
- Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing/ Preservation Capacities (Unit Scheme)
- Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
- Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages
- Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure
- Human Resources and Institutions
Target
PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is expected to leverage investment of Rs. 31,400 crore for handling of 334 lakh MT agro-produce valued at Rs. 1,04,125 crore, benefiting 20 lakh farmers and generating 5,30,500 direct/indirect employment in the country by the year 2019-20.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):-
When started
Launched on 18 February, 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Highlights of the scheme
- Scheme is in line with One Nation – One Scheme Theme.
- Replace the existing two schemes - National Agricultural Insurance Scheme as well as the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme.
- There will be 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. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government.
Objectives
- To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
- To stabilize 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.
Farmers to be covered
- All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible.
- Compulsory coverage: The enrolment under the scheme, subject to possession of insurable interest on the cultivation of the notified crop in the notified area, shall be compulsory for following categories of farmers.
- Farmers in the notified area who possess a Crop Loan account/KCC account (called as Loanee Farmers) to whom credit limit is sanctioned/renewed for the notified crop during the crop season.
Risks covered under the scheme
- Yield Losses (standing crops, on notified area basis).
- Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover 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.
- In cases where majority of the insured farmers of a notified area, having intent to sow/plant and incurred expenditure for the purpose, are prevented from sowing/planting the insured crop due to adverse weather conditions, shall be eligible for indemnity claims upto a maximum of 25 per cent of the sum-insured.
- In post-harvest losses, coverage will be available up to a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in “cut & spread” condition to dry in the field.
- For certain localized problems, Loss / damage resulting from occurrence of identified localized risks like hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area would also be covered.
When started
Launched in 2015 by Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
Highlights of the scheme
- A step-by-step process for leading farmers in identifying soil health indicators and developing a Soil Health Card.
- The outcomes of facilitated farmer meetings include a user-friendly, do-it-yourself tool to assess soil health as well as mutually beneficial dialog among farmers and technical specialists.
- In the form of soil card, the farmers will get a report. and this report will contain all the details about the soil of their particular farm.
- The government is planning to cover as many as all farmers under the scheme.
- The scheme will cover all the parts of the country.
- A farm will get the soil card once in every 3 years.
What is a Soil Health Card?
- SHC is a printed report that a farmer will be handed over for each of his holdings.
- 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.
How can a farmer use a SHC?
- The card will contain an advisory based on the soil nutrient status of a farmer's holding.
- It will show recommendations on dosage of different nutrients needed.
- Further, it will advise the farmer on the fertilizers and their quantities he should apply, and also the soil amendments that he should undertake, so as to realize optimal yields.
When started
Launched in February, 2014 by Government of India, being implemented by the State Cooperative Milk Federation through State Government.
Objectives
- To strengthen and create the infrastructure required for the production, procurement, marketing and processing of milk.
- To create appropriate training infrastructure and facilities for the training of dairy farmers.
- To strengthen the dairy Producer Companies/cooperative societies at the village level.
- To increase the production of milk by providing the most needed technical input services like mineral mixture and cattle feed, etc; to assist the rehabilitation potential and viable milk unions/federations.
Components
There are two components of this scheme
- National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB): This component focuses on Field Artificial Insemination.
- National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): This component focuses on developing infrastructure at the grassroots.
Pattern of Funding
The scheme provides assistance for establishment of Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs) with:
- 50% grant to the States covered under National Dairy Plan (NDP).
- 75% grant to Non- NDP States having accumulated profit of one crore or more.
- 90% grant to Non- NDP States having accumulated profit less than one crore.
- 90% grant to Non- NDP States having accumulated profit less than one crore.
- 90% grants to Hilly and North Eastern States along with 100% assistance for Automatic Milk Collection unit (AMCU)/Data Processing Milk Collection Unit (DPMCU) and also setting up / strengthening of Laboratory facilities.
Eligible Beneficiaries
- State Cooperative Dairy Federations/ District Cooperative Milk Producers Union.
When started
Approved on 29th March, 2005
Highlights of the scheme
- 237 ATMA at district level have been set up.
- 252 districts across all the States/UTs in the country were covered under the scheme during the 10th Plan.
- Creating Farmer Advisory Committee to improve feedback.
- Using NGOs to organize farmers.
- Encouraging private sector involvement in technology transfer.
- Validation and refining technologies through research units in the district.
- Bottom up planning procedure.
- Increased use of Information Technology (ARIS, WWW)
- In-service training to increase staff competence.
- Developing new Public-Private partnerships.
- Formation and strengthening of farmer's interest group.
Objectives
- To strengthen Research – Extension – Farmer linkages.
- To provide an effective mechanism for co-ordination and management of activities of different agencies involved in technology adaption / validation and dissemination at the district level and below.
- To increase the quality and type of technologies being disseminated.
- To move towards shared ownership of the agricultural technology system by key shareholders.
- To develop new partnerships with the private institutions including NGOs.
Funding
- The scheme is supported by the Central Government.
- The funding pattern is 90% by the Central Government and 10% by the State Government.
- The 10% state’s share shall consist of cash contribution of the State, beneficiary contribution or the contribution of other non-governmental organizations.
Allocation of funds
- The entire X Plan outlay (Rs.226.07 crores) for the scheme shall be utilized for activities to be implemented by States/ districts.
- The decision on use of funds will be taken at 3 levels namely – Centre, State and District.
- An amount of Rs. 167.56 crores amounting to 77.53% has been allocated for district level programmes.
- An amount of Rs. 22.15 crores amounting to 10.25% has been allocated for State level programmes.
- An amount of Rs. 26.41 crores amounting to 12.22% shall be available under the control of the Government of India.
- This amount shall be utilized for innovative activities to be approved by the Government of India.
- However, implementation of these activities will be done by States/districts.
When started
Started on 9th August, 2019 by Government of India.
Highlights of the scheme
- It is voluntary and contributory for farmers in the entry age group of 18 to 40 years and a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- will be provided to them on attaining the age of 60 years.
- The farmers will have to make a monthly contribution of Rs.55 to Rs.200, depending on their age of entry, in the Pension Fund till they reach the retirement date i.e. the age of 60 years.
- The monthly contributions will fall due on the same day every month as enrolment date. The beneficiaries may also chose an option to pay their contributions on quarterly, 4-monthly or half-yearly basis. Such contributions will fall due on the same day of such period as the date of enrollment.
- The spouse is also eligible to get a separate pension of Rs.3000/- upon making separate contributions to the Fund.
- The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) shall be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
- In case of death of the farmer before retirement date, the spouse may continue in the scheme by paying the remaining contributions till the remaining age of the deceased farmer. If the spouse does not wish to continue, the total contribution made by the farmer along with interest will be paid to the spouse. If there is no spouse, then total contribution along with interest will be paid to the nominee.
- If the farmer dies after the retirement date, the spouse will receive 50% of the pension as Family Pension. After the death of both the farmer and the spouse, the accumulated corpus shall be credited back to the Pension Fund.
- The beneficiaries may opt voluntarily to exit the Scheme after a minimum period of 5 years of regular contributions. On exit, their entire contribution shall be returned by LIC with an interest equivalent to prevailing saving bank rates.
- The farmers, who are also beneficiaries of PM- Kisan Scheme, will have the option to allow their contribution debited from the benefit of that Scheme directly.
- In case of default in making regular contributions, the beneficiaries are allowed to regularize the contributions by paying the outstanding dues along with prescribed interest. Until 1 month from first unpaid contribution, no late fee would be charged. Three payment cycles demand would be raised for payment of contribution without any interest.
Eligibility
- Small and Marginal Farmer (SMF) - a farmer who owns cultivable land upto 2 hectare as per land records of the concerned State/UT.
- Age of 18- 40 years.
Funding
- The scheme is supported by the Central Government.
- The funding pattern is 90% by the Central Government and 10% by the State Government.
- The 10% state’s share shall consist of cash contribution of the State, beneficiary contribution or the contribution of other non-governmental organizations.
Allocation of funds
- The entire X Plan outlay (Rs.226.07 crores) for the scheme shall be utilized for activities to be implemented by States/ districts.
- The decision on use of funds will be taken at 3 levels namely – Centre, State and District.
- An amount of Rs. 167.56 crores amounting to 77.53% has been allocated for district level programmes.
- An amount of Rs. 22.15 crores amounting to 10.25% has been allocated for State level programmes.
- An amount of Rs. 26.41 crores amounting to 12.22% shall be available under the control of the Government of India.
- This amount shall be utilized for innovative activities to be approved by the Government of India.
- However, implementation of these activities will be done by States/districts.
When started
Launched on 29th May, 2007
Highlights of the scheme
- It is a State Plan scheme.
- The eligibility of a state for the RKVY is contingent upon the state maintaining or increasing the State Plan expenditure for Agricultural and Allied sectors.
- The base line expenditure is determined based on the average expenditure incurred by the State Government during the three years prior to the previous year.
- The preparation of the district and State Agriculture Plans is mandatory.
- The scheme encourages convergence with other programmes such as MGNREGA.
- The pattern of funding is 100% Central Government Grant.
- If the state lowers its investment in the subsequent years, and goes out of the RKVY basket, then the balance resources for completing the projects already commenced would have to be committed by the states.
- It is an incentive scheme, hence allocations are not automatic.
- It will integrate agriculture and allied sectors comprehensively.
- It will give high levels of flexibility to the states.
- Projects with definite time-lines are highly encouraged.
Objectives
- To incentivize the states that increase their investment in Agriculture and allied sectors.
- To provide flexibility and autonomy to the States in planning and executing programmes for agriculture.
- To ensure the preparation of Agriculture Plans for the districts and states.
- To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops.
- To maximize returns to the farmers.
- To address the agriculture and allied sectors in an integrated manner.
List of allied sectors covered under the scheme
- Crop Husbandry (including Horticulture)
- Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries
- Agricultural Research and Education
- Agricultural Marketing
- Food storage and Warehousing
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Agricultural Financial Institutions
- Other Agriculture Programmes and Cooperation
When started
The scheme is implemented in all the districts of the Country from 21.05.2014.
Highlights of the scheme
- An animal will be insured for its current market price.
- The market price of the animal to be insured will be assessed jointly by the beneficiary and the insurance company preferably in the presence of the Veterinary officer or the BDO.
- The minimum value of animal should be assessed by taking Rs.3000 per liter per day yield of milk or as per the price prevailing in the local market (declared by Government) for cow and Rs.4000 per liter per day yield of milk or as prevailing in the local market (declared by Government) for buffalo.
- The market price of pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buff. Male) and other livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun) are to be assessed by negotiation jointly by owner of animal and by insurance company in the presence of veterinarians Doctor.
- In case of dispute the price fixation would be settled by the Gram Panchayat / BDO.
- The animal insured will have to be properly and uniquely identified at the time of insurance claim.
- The ear tagging should, therefore, be full proof as far as possible.
- The cost of fixing the identification mark will be borne by the Insurance Companies and responsibility of its maintenance will lie on the concerned beneficiaries.
- The nature and quality of tagging materials will be mutually agreed by the beneficiaries and the Insurance Company.
- The tag already available on animal may be utilized with unique identity number subject to the condition that it is mutually agreed by farmer and agency and there shall not be any dispute in settlement of claims on account of utilization of existing tag.
- While processing an insurance proposal, one photograph of the animal with the Owner and one photograph of the animal clearly with the EAR TAG visible shall be taken at the time of processing the insurance documentation.
- In case of sale of the animal or otherwise transfer of animal from one owner to other, before expiry of the Insurance Policy, the authority of beneficiary for the remaining period of policy will have to be transferred to the new owner.
- Only four documents would be required by insurance companies for settling the claims viz. intimation with the Insurance Company, Insurance Policy paper, Claim Form and Postmortem Report.
- In case of claim becoming due, the payment of insured amount should be made within 15 days positively after submission of requisite documents.
- If an Insurance company fails to settle the claim within 15 days of submission of documents, the insurance company will be liable to pay, a penalty of 12% compound interest per annum to the beneficiary.
Animals covered
The indigenous / crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo Male), and Other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.) are covered under the purview of this component.
Central assistance
- Benefit of subsidy is to be restricted to 5 animals per beneficiary per household for all animals except sheep, goat, pig and rabbit.
- In case of sheep, goat, pig and rabbit the benefit of subsidy is to be restricted based on "Cattle Unit" and one cattle unit is equal to 10 animals i.e. a total of 50 animals.
- If a beneficiary has less than 5 animals / 1 Cattle Unit, s/he can also avail the benefit of subsidy.
Amid growing cases of Coronavirus in India, the government has decided to provide health insurance cover to around 9.5 lakh farmers under Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana for FY2020-21. These farmers along with their families will be covered under the health insurance scheme that was launched by the state government of Punjab.
Punjab government had launched the scheme on the Rajiv Gandhi birth anniversary on 20th August 2019, with 45 lakh families covered in 2019-2020. It is important to mention that the scheme has been very helpful to people of Punjab during this Covid-19 crisis. The state government also capped charges for Coronavirus treatment in hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana.
Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana
Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh said that the beneficiaries can go to any of the 546 empanelled private hospitals & 208 government hospitals for treatment facility of up to Rs 5 lakh for 1,396 diseases that includes major surgical treatments like as cancer treatment, heart surgery, joint replacement & accident cases under government health insurance scheme.
In the first year of the scheme, the number of farmers covered stood at around five lakh, as these had been issued ‘J’ forms by the Mandi Board in 2015. With 8.7 lakh cultivators and 80,000 cane growers registered with the Mandi Board as ‘J’ form holders who have sold their agricultural produce on or after 1st January 2020 and in 1st Nov 2019- 31st March 2020 sugar season (SS), respectively, the farming families eligible for coverage in FY2020-21 has increased to 9.5 lakh.
As the Chief Minister has approved their inclusion in the scheme, all 9.5 lakh farmers will be covered with effect from 20th August 2020, as per an official spokesperson.
How to apply for Health Insurance Scheme
Farmers who are interested can collect self-declaration form either from the office of Market Committee or Arhtiyas or can even download the same from the official website of Mandi Board http://www.mandiboard.nic.in.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture(NMSA):
The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), which is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) seeks to address issues associated with climate change. Adaptation and mitigation strategies need to address food security, equitable access of food resources, enhancing livelihood opportunities and contributing to economic stability of the people at the end. Mission, therefore, focuses to transform Indian agriculture into a climate resilient production system through suitable adaptation and mitigation measures mainly in the domain of crops and animal husbandry. Mission interventions are judiciously embedded in research and development activities, absorption of improved technology and best practices, creation of physical and financial infrastructure and institutional framework, facilitating access to information and capacity building. While dryland agriculture will receive focused importance by way of developing suitable drought and pest resistant crop varieties with necessary institutional support, the mission would also expand its coverage to rainfed areas for integrating farming systems in farms with local agroecology and also in management of livestock and fisheries, so that the agricultural production system continues to grow in a sustainable manner on one hand and natural resources are also conserved and utilized.
NMSA as a programmatic intervention made operational from the year 2014-15 aims at making agriculture more productive, sustainable, and remunerative and climate resilient by promoting location specific integrated/composite farming systems; soil and moisture conservation measures; comprehensive soil health management; efficient water management practices and mainstreaming rainfed technologies.
1.1 NMSA has the following major components:
Rainfed Area Development :
- Integrated Farming System (IFS) is being promoted under RAD in which activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agroforestry, value addition are to be taken up along with crops/cropping system.
- SHM is aimed at promoting location as well as crop specific sustainable soil health management including residue management, organic farming practices by way of creating and linking soil fertility maps with macro-micro nutrient management, appropriate land use based on land type.
Implementing Divisions :
- SHM component is being implemented by INM Division..
- RAD component is being implemented by RFS Division.
1.3 Rainfed Area Development(RAD) :
Rainfed Area Development (RAD) as a component of NMSA is being implemented in the country from 2014-15. The RAD focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variabilities. Under this system, crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc. to enable farmers not only in maximizing farm returns for sustaining livelihood, but also to mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events with the income opportunity from allied activities during crop damage.
For the Year 2016-17, budget provision of Rs. 225.0 crore has been made for implementation of the programme. The details of allocation, release and utilisation of Central Share reported by States under RAD during last two years and the current year is as under:
2 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry(SMAF)
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry under the framework of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) has been launched during 2016-17 with an outlay of Rs.935 crore for a period of 4 years (2016-17 to 2019-20). The aim of the Sub-Mission is to expand the tree coverage on farmland in complementary with agricultural crops. Liberal transit regulation rule for transport of timber is a precondition for availing the benefit of the Agro-forestry programme by the States. For the Year 2016-17, budget provision of Rs. 75.0 crore has been made to implement the programme.
3 National Agro Forestry Policy
National Agroforestry Policy, 2014 has been formulated with the objective to bring coordination, convergence and synergy between various elements of agroforestry scattered in various existing Missions, programmes and schemes of the Government. The policy will provide a platform to stimulate the growth of agroforestry in India. It will encourage farmers for agroforestry as an integral component of farming system which will lead to meet the ever increasing demand of timber, food, fuel, fodder, fertilizer, fiber, and other agroforestry products; conserving the natural resources and forest; protecting the environment & providing environmental security; and increasing the forest / tree cover.
A major role for agroforestry is emerging in the domain of environmental services. Agroforestry is known to have the potential to mitigate the climate change effects through microclimate moderation and natural resources conservation in the short run and through carbon sequestration in the long run. Agroforestry species are known to sequester as much carbon in below ground biomass as the primary forests, and far greater than the crop and grass systems.
4 Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana(PMKSY)
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched on 1st July, 2015 with the motto of ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ for providing end-to end solutions in irrigation supply chain, viz. water sources, distribution network and farm level applications. PMKSY not only focuses on creating sources for assured irrigation, but also creating protective irrigation by harnessing rain water at micro level through ‘Jal Sanchay’ and ‘Jal Sinchan’. Micro irrigation is to be popularised to ensure ‘Per drop-More crop’. PMKSY adopts State level planning and projectised execution that allows States to draw up their own irrigation development based on District Irrigation Plans and State Irrigation Plans.
PMKSY has the following components :
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme(AIBP): To focus on faster completion of ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation, including National Projects. This component is being implemented by Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR.
- PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani): Source augmentation, distribution, ground water development, lift irrigation, diversion of water from water plenty to water scarce.areas, supplementing rain water harvesting beyond IWMP & MGNREGA, repair, restoration, renovation of traditional water bodies. This component is being implemented by Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR.
- PMKSY (Watershed): Ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, water harvesting structure, livelihood support activities and other watershed works. This component is being implemented by Department of Land Resources.
- PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop) being implemented by DAC & FW. This component includes two sub-components i.e. Micro irrigation and Other interventions. Per Drop More Crop component supports Micro level storage structures, efficient water conveyance & application, precision irrigation systems, topping up of input cost beyond MGNREGA permissible limits, creation of secondary storage, water lifting devices etc. For the Year 2016-17, budget provision of Rs. 2340.0 crore has been made to implement the Per Drop More Crop component. The details of allocation, release and utilisation of Central Share reported by States under Micro irrigation and Other interventions sub components are as under:
PMKSY(Per Drop More Crop) - Other Interventions :
PMKSY(Per Drop More Crop) - Micro Irrigation :
Since January 2006, the Government of India has been implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation with the objective to enhance water use efficiency in the agriculture sector. Under the scheme, technological interventions like drip & sprinkler irrigation systems are promoted to encourage the farmers to use them for conservation and saving of water & improved yield.
In June 2010, the scheme was up-scaled to National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI), which continued till the year 2013-14. From 1st April 2014, NMMI was subsumed under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and implemented as one of the components under “On Farm Water Management” (OFWM) during 2014-15.
From 1st April 2015, the scheme has been subsumed under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and implemented as ‘Per Drop More Crop (Micro Irrigation)’ component of PMKSY.
Salient features of the micro irrigation scheme under PMKSY are as under:
- 1) The rate of assistance (subsidy) comprising of both Central Govt. share and State Govt. share ranges from 35 to 60% for small, marginal and other farmers in DPAP/DDP & non-DPAP/DDP areas. The funding pattern between Central Govt. share and State Govt. share since November 2015 has been 60:40 for all states except North Eastern & Himalayan States. For North Eastern & Himalayan States the funding pattern is 90:10.
- 2) Under Operational Guidelines of the scheme, indicative/average/ normative cost has been laid down for various crops/lateral spacing and different micro irrigation systems for the purpose of calculating financial assistance. Twenty five (25%) higher cost, over & above the normative cost for all systems has been fixed for North Eastern & Himalayan states for this purpose.
- 3) Scheme is applicable in all states and all districts in the country. Support to each farmer is restricted to 5 ha per beneficiary. Assistance on the same land can be availed again only after a period of 10 years.
- 4) Location and crop specific technologically appropriate irrigation systems are propagated under the scheme ensuring least cost burden to the farmers..
- 5) All horticultural and agricultural crops are covered under the scheme. At least 25% of the funds allocated to the State under scheme are to be used necessarily for agricultural crops..
- 6) At least 50% of the allocation to state is to be utilized for small and marginal farmers, of which, at least 30% has to be women beneficiaries/farmers. Further, 16% and 8% of the total allocation or in proportion of Scheduled Cast (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) population is to be utilized for Special Component Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) respectively..
- 7) Equipments adhering to Indian Standards (BIS Standards) are only eligible for financial assistance under the scheme. .
- 8) Information & Communication Technology (ICT) has been extensively deployed for ensuring transparency in scheme implementation process and for effective monitoring of the programme. PMKSY website has been operationalized at the Central level. In many states also similar websites have been set up by the respective state governments.
- 9) PMKSY has an end to end approach for development of irrigation chain from creation of water resources to field application of water in an integrated manner. Accordingly, all components of PMKSY are to be implemented in complementation with each other.
Adoption of micro irrigation is providing economic benefits to farmers :
Micro Irrigation which includes drip and sprinkler irrigation is a proven technology which has gained immense popularity amongst the farmers in India. Strengths of this technology include - efficient deployment of inputs such as water, electricity, fertilizers, labour etc, increase in crop productivity, better quality of produce leading to higher realization of sale price resulting in increased income of farmer and prosperity. With this technology, additional area can be irrigated with the same amount of water compared to conventional method of irrigation. In addition, water deficient, cultivable waste land and undulating land areas can easily be brought under cultivation due to ease of irrigation. With this technology, there is also a good scope for using it in closely spaced crops like rice, wheat, onion, potato etc. Benefits of this technology lead to control of ground and surface water pollution.
Micro irrigation technology has a good scope for generation of employment opportunities in rural areas besides arresting migration of farmers to cities.
Since implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Micro Irrigation in 2005-06, various studies have been undertaken to assess impact of this technology in various crops across different states and in the economic condition of the farmers adopting this technology. In these studies, the farmers have reported multiple benefits from adoption of micro irrigation technology. These benefits can be classified into two major categories – (i) the benefits that allow the farmer to cope up with adverse agricultural conditions (ii) benefits which bring prosperity to farmers and result in better economics as gross irrigated area increases & multi crop system enhances farmer’s income resulting in financial gains to the farmers. Across these types, the benefits claimed by farmers are - saving in irrigation water due to improved irrigation efficiency resulting in reduced consumption of water, increase in crop yield, reduction in weeds, better growth of plants, reduction in consumption of various inputs like fertilizers, power, labour etc., better soil quality, increase in income of farmer and better returns to the farmers. The irrigated area also increases with adoption of micro irrigation systems besides change/shifting in cropping pattern from traditional crops to horticulture crops which are more remunerating and one can do timely irrigation of whole field in a single schedule.
The overall benefits accrued from the use of micro irrigation systems are reflected in substantial increase in income of farmers. The benefit cost (BC) ratio of installing micro irrigation systems is greater than “1” across all crops, which signifies importance of micro irrigation in enhancing net income of the farmers. The pay back period of micro irrigation technologies ranges from 1.5 to 2 years.
The positive outcomes of micro irrigation have made food security effective due to increase in production and productivity of different crops and increased area under irrigation from the same source of water resulting in enhanced nutritional security for the country.
Crop experiments have shown that use of water soluble fertilizers through drip irrigation (fertigation) can result in reduced consumption of fertilizers resulting in cost savings. Crop-wise details of increase in yields, savings in water & fertilizers at various locations is as under:
In nutshell, following benefits have been accrued to farmers with micro irrigation :
- Saving of irrigation water from 20 to 40%
- Energy saving from 10 to 17%
- Saving of labour cost from 30 to 40%
- Saving of fertilizers from 15 to 50%
- Increase in crop production and net annual income of farmer
5 . Agriculture Contingency Plan:
Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), ICAR has prepared district level Agriculture Contingency Plans in collaboration with state agricultural universities using a standard template to tackle aberrant monsoon situations leading to drought and floods, extreme events (heat waves, cold waves, frost, hailstorms, cyclone) adversely affecting crops, livestock and fisheries (including horticulture). Total 614 district agriculture contingency plans are placed in the ‘farmer portal’ of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India (http://www.farmer.gov.in) and also in the ICAR / CRIDA website (http://www.crida.in) for downloading the full plan by stakeholders for operational use.
6. Statistical Data on Rainfed Area:
7. Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP):
Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP) was implemented from 2011-12 to 2013-14 as a sub-scheme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with the aim of improving quality of life of farmers’ especially, small and marginal farmers by offering a complete package of activities to maximize farm returns. The broad objectives of the scheme are:
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- Increasing agricultural productivity of rainfed areas in a sustainable manner by adopting appropriate farming system based approaches.
- To minimise the adverse impact of possible crop failure due to drought, flood or un-even rainfall distribution through diversified and composite farming system.
- Restoration of confidence in rainfed agriculture by creating sustained employment opportunities through improved on-farm technologies and cultivation practices
- Enhancement of farmer’s income and livelihood support for reduction of poverty in rainfed areas and
- Convergence of relevant developmental programmes in project area for optimal utilisation of resources by establishing an integrated and coordinated system involving different sectors and institutions.
- The year wise progress made under RADP is Click here for Year Wise Progress.
The scheme has been subsumed as Rainfed Area Development component of National Mission for Agriculture from the year 2014-15.
8. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA):
The scheme of National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) was launched in 1990-91 based on twin concepts of integrated watershed management and sustainable farming systems. The scheme was subsumed under the Scheme for Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) in the year 2000-2001 and was implemented as a component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA) in 28 States and 2 UTs. Funds were released to the States based on Approved Annual Work Plan. The Scheme was discontinued due to closer of MMA Scheme w.e.f 1st April, 2013. The objectives of the NWDPRA are:
- conservation, development and sustainable management of natural resources.
- enhancement of agricultural production and productivity in a sustainable manner.
- restoration of ecological balance in the degraded and fragile rainfed eco-systems by greening these areas through appropriate mix of trees, shrubs and grasses.
- reduction in regional disparity between irrigated and rainfed areas and;
- creation of sustained employment opportunities for the rural community including the landless.
* The balance works of the approved watersheds of the XII Plan Period were taken up during the year 2012-13