Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview

Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview

Source: PIB
GS II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

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Overview

1. Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview
2. Central Sector Schemes
3. Centrally Sponsored Schemes

Why in the News?

Based on the information given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview focused article for both prelims and mains.

Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview

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• Details of schemes being run by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for welfare/increasing incomes of farmers and the achievements made therein.
• In Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview, the scheme is divided into Central Sector Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
• The aims, target, focus and Status of the scheme are explained.

Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview – Central Sector Schemes

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Central Sector Schemes are those that are implemented by a central agency and 100% funded by the centre on subjects within the union list.

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
  • PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme
  • It launched on 24th February 2019
  • Aim: To supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers, subject to exclusions.
  • Fund: Under the scheme, the financial benefit of Rs. 6000/- per year is transferred in three equal four-monthly instalments into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
  • Status: Rs. 2.81 lakh crores have been transferred to more than 11 crores beneficiaries (Farmers) through various instalments.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
  • Launched on 12th September 2019 to provide security to the most vulnerable farmer families.
  • PM-KMY is a contributory scheme for small and marginal farmers (SMFs).
  • Aim: Under the scheme, farmers can become members of the scheme by paying a monthly subscription to the Pension Fund.
  • Similarly, the amount will be contributed by the Central Government.
  • The applicants between the age group of 18 to 40 years will have to contribute between Rs. 55 to Rs. 200 per month till they attain the age of 60.
  • PMKMY takes care of the farmers during their old age.
  • The scheme provides a Rs. 3,000 monthly pension to the enrolled farmers once they attain 60 years of age
  • Status: So far 23.38 lakh farmers have enrolled under the scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
  •  PMFBY was launched in 2016.
  • Aim: To provide a simple and affordable crop insurance product to ensure comprehensive risk cover for crops to farmers against all non-preventable natural risks
  • It is from pre-sowing to post-harvest and to provide adequate claim amounts.
  • The scheme is demand-driven and available for all farmers.
  • A total of 5549.40 lakh farmer applications were insured under the scheme since 2016-17.
  • Fund released: Rs 150589.10 crore has been paid as a claim.
• Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
  • Aim: The Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) provides concessional short-term agri-loans to farmers practising crop husbandry and other allied activities like animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.
  • ISS is available to farmers availing short-term crops.
  • Loans up to Rs.3.00 lakh at an interest rate of 7% per annum for one year.
  • An additional 3% subvention is also given to the farmers for prompt and timely repayment of loans.
  • The benefit of ISS is also available for post-harvest loans against Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs) on crop loans for a further period of six months.
  • As of 05-01-2024, 465.42 lakh new KCC applications have been sanctioned with a sanctioned credit limit of Rs. 5,69,974 crore as part of the drive.

The Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) system was launched in 2011 allowing the transfer of ownership of a commodity stored in a warehouse without having to deliver it physically. These receipts are issued in negotiable form, making them eligible as collateral.

• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
  • Agri Infra Fund was launched under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package.
  • Aim: AIF was introduced with a vision to transform the agriculture infrastructure landscape of the country.
  • Duration of fund: Fund of Rs. 1 lakh crore under the scheme will be disbursed from FY 2020-21 to FY2025-26
  • Support under the scheme will be provided for the duration of FY2020-21 to FY2032-33.
  • As on 31-12-2023, Rs.33.209 Crores have been sanctioned for 44,912 projects under AIF.
  • These sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs 56.471 Crores in agriculture sector.
• National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
  • It was launched in 2020 under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
  • Aims: Overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping & to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”.
  • Madhukranti portal has been launched for online registration of Beekeepers/ Honey Societies/ Firms/ Companies.
  • Status: To date 23 lakh bee colonies registered on Portal.
    • 160 Projects sanctioned under (Mini Mission)MM- I, II & III of Rs. 202.00 crores.
• Market Intervention Scheme and Price support Scheme (MIS-PSS)
  • Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare implements the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra.
  • Target: Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities which are perishable and are not covered under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).
  • Aim: To protect the growers of these commodities from making distress sales in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival period when the prices tend to fall below economic levels and cost of production.
• Namo Drone Didi
  • Aim: To provide drones to 15000 Women Self Help Group (SHGs) a rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides) for the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
  • It has an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores.
  • Under this Scheme, Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges upto a maximum of Rs. 8.0 Lakhs will be provided to the women SHGs for the purchase of drones.
  • Balance amount as loan under National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF)
  • Interest subvention @ 3% on the Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF) loan will be provided to the Cluster Level Federations (CLFs).
  • The scheme will also provide sustainable business and livelihood support to SHGs and they would be able to earn additional income of at least of Rs. 1.0 lakh per annum.
• Farmer Producer Organization (FPO)
  • Aim: established to form and promote 10,000 new FPOs.
  • Implementing Agencies: Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
  • Fund: FPOs being provided financial assistance up to Rs.18.00 lakh per FPO for 03 years.
    • Provision has been made for matching equity grants up to Rs.2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs.15.00 lakh per FPO.
    • A credit guarantee facility of up to Rs.2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institutions to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs.
    • Further, Rs.25 Lakhs are given to CBBOs for hand-holding each FPO over five years.
  • Status: 10,000 FPOs have been allocated to various Implementing Agencies (IAs) out of which 6319 FPOs have been registered across the country.

Schemes for Welfare of Farmers Overview – Centrally Sponsored Schemes

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Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are schemes that are implemented by state governments of India but are largely funded by the central government with a defined state government share.

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
  • Aim: promote organic farming by combining traditional wisdom and modern science in a value-chain approach.
  • Ensure sustainability, enhance long-term soil fertility, conserve resources, and produce safe and healthy food.
  • Focus: PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in improvement of soil health.
• Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
  • Aim: The scheme focuses on the creation of pre & post-harvest infrastructure in agriculture and allied sectors that help in the supply of quality inputs, market facilities, etc to farmers.
  • It provides flexibility and autonomy to states to implement projects as per the local farmers’ needs and priorities from a bouquet of activities in agriculture and allied sectors.
  • Under RKVY Agri-startup Programme, since 2019-20, 1524 Startups have been selected and Rs. 106.25 crore released as grants-in-aid for funding the Start-ups.
• Soil Health Card (SHC)
  • Soil health card provides information to farmers on the nutrient status of their soil.
  • It also recommends an appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied to improve soil health and fertility.
  • The indicators are typically based on the farmer’s practical experience and knowledge of local natural resources.
  • To develop the soil fertility map, the Government of India has decided to conduct 5 Crore Soil Samples across the country during years 2023-24 to 2025-26.
• Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
  • RAD is being implemented since 2014-15.
  • RAD adopts an area-based approach in cluster mode for promoting an Integrated Farming System (IFS)
  • It focuses on multi-cropping, rotational cropping, inter-cropping, and mixed cropping practices with allied activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, apiculture etc.
  • This helps farmers not only in maximizing the farm returns for sustaining livelihood but also to mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events.
  • An amount of Rs. 1673.58 crores has been released and an area of 7.13 lakh hectare has been covered under the RAD programme from the year 2014-15 to till date.
• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
  • Aim: To increase water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme was launched during 2015-16.
  • The Micro Irrigation helps in water saving as well as reduced fertilizer usage through fertigation, labour expenses, other input costs and overall income enhancement of farmers.
  • It also supports micro level water harvesting, storage, management etc. activities as Other Interventions (OI) to supplement source creation for Micro Irrigation.
  • OI activities allowed on need basis up to 40% of the total allocation for North East States, Himalayan States, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and up to 20% for other States.
  • An area of 78 lakh hectare has been covered under Micro irrigation through the PDMC scheme from 2015-16 to 2022-23.
• Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF)
  • A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with an initial corpus of Rs 5000 crore has been created with NABARD.
  • Aim: The objective to facilitate the States in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation.
  • Under the funding arrangement, NABARD lends to the States/UTs at a 3% lower interest rate than the corresponding cost of fund mobilized by NABARD from the market.
  • The interest subvention on the loan under MIF is borne by Centre under PDMC.
  • Status: Projects with loans under MIF worth Rs 4710.96 crore have been approved so far.
    • Loans amounting Rs.2812.24 crore has been disbursed to States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
  • The Ministry provides interest subvention on the loan availed by the States which is met from PDMC Scheme.
  • As per the Budget 2021-22, the corpus of the fund is to be doubled to Rs.10000 crores.
  • MIF is now merged with PDMC.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
  • Aim: To increase soil fertility and thereby help in the production of healthy food through organic practices without the use of agrochemicals.
  • The scheme is implemented in a cluster mode with a unit cluster size of 20 hectares.
  • A group shall comprise a minimum of 20 farmers (maybe more if individual holdings are less).
  • Farmers in a group can avail of the benefit of a maximum of 2 ha as per the provision of PKVY.
  • Status: 25 such clusters are converted into one large cluster of about 500 ha area to facilitate marketing of organic produce.
  • The scheme assists Rs. 31,500 per ha to states, out of which i.e., Rs. 15,000 is given as incentives to a farmer directly through DBT.
• Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
  • Implemented w.e.f April, 2014.
  • Aim: Objectives of Increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers.
  • Creating hubs for hi-tech& high-value farm equipment, creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity-building activities and Ensuring performance testing and certification at designated testing centres located all over the country.
  • Status: Till date Rs. 6748.78 Crore have been released to State Governments.
    • Distributed more than 15,75,719 agricultural machinery & equipment’s including Tractors, Power Tillers, Self-Propelled Machineries and Plant Protection Equipment.
    • Established 23472 nos of Custom Hiring Centres, 504 nos of Hi-Tech Hubs and 20597 nos. of Farm Machinery Banks.
•  Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
  • It was launched during 2014-15.
  • Aim: Holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and Bamboo.
  • Major components: include plantation infrastructure development, the establishment of new orchards and gardens for fruits, vegetables, spices and flowers, rejuvenation of unproductive, old, and senile orchards, protected cultivation, promotion of organic farming, pollination support through beekeeping, horticulture mechanization, post-harvest management (phm) and marketing infrastructure etc.
  • Status:
    • Under MIDH since 2014-15 to 2023-24 (as on 31.10.2023) an additional area of 12.95 lakh ha. of identified horticulture crops has been covered
    • 872 nurseries established for the production of quality planting material, 1.41 lakh ha. of old and senile orchards has been rejuvenated
    • 52069 ha. been covered under organic practices
    • 3.07 lakh ha. has been covered under Protected Cultivation
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):
  • The scheme was launched by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture in January, 2006.
  • Aim: To provide all agricultural farms in the country with access to some form of protected irrigation, allowing them to produce more crops per drop.
  • Promoting appropriate technological interventions like drip & sprinkler irrigation technologies and encourage the farmers to use water-saving and conservation technologies.
  • Based on a comprehensive planning process at the district/state level, PMKSY is strategized by focusing on end-to-end solutions in the irrigation supply chain, such as water sources, distribution networks, efficient farm-level applications, extension services on new technologies and information, and so on.
  • Components and Amount released till 2o23
    • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme with pari passu implementation of Command Area Development & Water Management Rs. 18,727.78 crore.
    • Har Khet Ko Pani – Surface Minor Irrigation and Repair, Renovation and Restoration of water bodies Rs. 4,010.32 crore.
    • Har Khet Ko Pani – Ground Water Development Rs. 764.89 crore.
    • Per Drop More Crop Rs. 16688.71 crore.
    • Watershed Development Rs. 9,559.07 crore.
  • Beneficiaries: The number of targeted beneficiaries under different components of PMKSY is estimated to be about 2.68 crore.
  • So far no project involving the reuse of treated water is being provided financial assistance by this Ministry under PMKSY.

 

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