Agriculture Growth Rate : Rajya Sabha Question

GROWTH RATE OF AGRICULTURE

1281 Smt. Sampatiya Uikey
         Smt. Chhaya Verma
         Ch. Sukhram Singh Yadav
         Shri Vishambhar Prasad Nishad
         Shri Sanjay Singh

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken to double the farmers’ income by 2022 and the fund allocated for the same during last five years, scheme-wise and State/UT-wise;

(b) the current growth rate of agriculture sector;

(c) the percentage of growth rate of agriculture sector which has to be achieved in order to double the farmers’ income; and

(d) the steps taken by Government to achieve the said rate for agriculture sector?

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): Agriculture, being a State subject, the State Governments take appropriate measures for development of agriculture in the State. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support and various schemes/ programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers.

Growth Rate of Gross Value Added (GVA) in Agriculture and Allied sector, as per the First Revised Estimates for 2019-20 released on 29th January, 2021 by Central Statistics Office (CSO) at Constant 2011- 12 Prices during 2019-20 is 4.3%.

The Government constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to “Doubling of Farmers Income” and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018 containing the strategy for doubling of farmers’ income by the year 2022. After acceptance of the DFI Committee recommendations, the Government has constituted an ‘Empowered Body’ to review and monitor the progress.

The Government has been pursuing the target of doubling farmers’ income.

The Government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers. All these policies & programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources by way of creating Corpus Funds, and supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN. The latest major intervention includes the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat – Agriculture package’ which includes comprehensive market reforms and creation of ‘Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF)’ worth Rs. 1 lakh crore.

All these initiatives are expected to achieve the annual target and double the farmers’ income by 2022 as targeted.

The fund allocated scheme-wise and State/UT-wise during the last five years is Annexed.

 Annexure

Details of State-wise funds allocated on schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare during 2016-17 to 2020-21

Name of the Scheme: Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material

(Rs. In Crore)