The Gist of Kurukshetra : Prime Minister’s 7 Point Action Plan: Doubling Farmers’ Income - August - 2017

The Gist of Kurukshetra : Prime Minister’s 7 Point Action Plan: Doubling Farmers’ Income - August - 2017

• Enhanced focus on irrigation with large scale investments, with the aim of 'per drop, more crop'.
• Availability of Quality Seeds and Nutrients.
• Large scale investments in Warehousing, cold chains and storage facilities.
• Value- addition through food processing.
• Risk Management through introduction of crop insurance schemes.
• Setting up a National Farm Market and;
• Promoting ancillary activities like poultry, fisheries etc.

Initiatives for Farmers' Welfare

Record production: (2016-17 Estimates)

• Record Production of Foodgrains: Estimated at 271.98 MT
• Record production of Rice Estimated at 108.86 MT
• Record Production of Wheat Estimated at 96.64 MT
• Record Production of Coarse Cereals Estimated at 44.34 MT
• Record Production of Pulses Estimated at 22.14 MT
• Record Production of Oilseeds Estimated at 33.60 MT

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

• To provide insurance at lowest premium rate to farmers with added benefits.
• Highest financial support till date by the Central Government in crop insurance.
• Plan to increase crop insurance coverage from 20 per cent to 50 per cent by 2018-19.
• During Kharif 2016, 3.90 crore farmers insured over t.he sum insured of Rs.1,41,883.30 crores.
• During Rabi 2016-17, 1.67 crore farmers insured over the sum insured of Rs. 71,728.59 crores.

Relief to Farmers In Distress:

• If 33 per cent or more crop damaged, a farmer would get relief. Earlier relief was given only when crop damage was 50 per cent or more.
• Amount of relief under various heads increased by 1.5 times.
• For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid.
• Families of the deceased persons to be given an assistance of Rs.4 lakhs, up from Rs.2.5 lakhs.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):
• Water to Every Field / Har Khet Ko Paani'.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is targeting speedy completion of irrigation projects which are pending for long-time.
• PMKSY to cover 28.5 Lakh hectare area under irrigation.
• Rs. 50,000 crores to be investedin five years to achieve 'Water to Every Field / Har Khet Ko Paani',
• Budget of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna increased to Rs.737? crore.
• Long Term Irrigation Fund Augmented by 100 per cent to Rs 40,000 Crore (Budget 2017-18).
• Dedicated Micro Irrigation fund with a sum of Rs. 5000 crores to be set up forthe achievement of the goal of More crop per drop.
• Under 'Per Drop More Crop' for micro irrigation 15.86 lakh hectares brought under micro irrigation from 2014-17.

Soil health Cards

• Soil Health Cards carry crop wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required for individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs.
• Scheme launched to reduce fertilizers usage and expenses.
• Soil Health Cards to be issued to all farmers by 2018
• 6.04 crore soil Health Cards distributed.
• 2.78 crore soil samples collected till 15.4.2017.

Credit facility for Farming and Agriculture

• Has been raised to RS.I0 lakh crore.

National Agriculture Market (e-Nam)

• This is an initiative where all agricultural mandis are linked electronically.
• Farmers will be able to get better price of their crop through e-Nam.
• 415 Mandis across 13 states are live on e-NAM.
• More than 39.75 lakh farmers and 88,474 traders are registered on this platform .
• Agriculture produce worth Rs. 15,009 crores has been transacted on e-NAM platform (As on 23.03.2017).
• Rs 7S'lakhs allotted for every mandi to set up e-NAM infrastructure.

Neem Coated Urea -  Now no queues for Urea

• Government makes Neem coating of Urea mandatory.
• 100 per cent of Neem Coating of Indigenous and Imported Urea achieved.
• New Urea Policy 2015-Assured availability of Urea.
• Diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes reduced to negligible.
• 5 to 17 per cent increase in crop yield seen in various crops.
• Earlier, subsidised urea used to be diverted to non-agricultural use. This diversion also created shortage of urea. The launch of Neem Coated Urea has made non-agricultural use impossible and hence, urea is available tofarmers in adequat quantity.

Abolition of Levy System

In a major pro-farmer move, the government has abolished procurement of paddy under the levy system thereby enabling the farmers to sell their paddy directly to the centres opened by the Government agencies at a more beneficial price.

Direct Subsidy to Sugarcane Farmers

Direct subsidy to sugarcane farmers- Amount released directly to farmers' Account.

Payment of Sugarcane Arrears

• For years, sugarcane farmers in north India have been suffering under sugarcane arrears.
• So, the Government extended financial assistance.
• Cane farmers' due payments cleared upto 99.33 per cent (2014-15 sugar season) and 98.21 per cent(2015-16 sugar season).

Stabilization of prices of Pulses

• For the first time, a buffer stock of up to 20 lakh MT of pulses is being created to manage price volatility of pulses.
• Buffer of around 17.141akh tonnes of pulses already built.
• Big hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of kharif pulses for 2016-17 viz. Arhar increased from Rs. 4,625 to Rs. 5,050 per quintal, Urad increased from Rs. 4,625 to Rs. 5,000 per quintal and Moong increased from Rs 4,850 to Rs. 5,250 per quintal.
• Substantial increase in MSP of Rabi Pulses, price of gram increased from Rs. 3500 to Rs. 4000 per quintal and the price of lentil (Masoor) increased from Rs. 3400 to Rs. 3950 per quintal.

Agro-Meteorological Services for Farmers

• Farmers are directly benefitted by the Agro-Meteorological Services provided through SMS and other modes for their day to day farming operations.
• About 7 million farmers were receiving information in Indian languages in 2014. About 21 million farmers are currently receiving AAS in vernacular languages.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana

• Promoting organic farming.
• 10,000 clusters covering 2 lakhs hectare area under Organic Farming being covered during 2015-18.
• Organic value chain for North Eastern States.

'Blue Revolution': A Revolution in the Fisheries Sector:

• Merged all the ongoing fisheries schemes under the umbrella of Blue Revolution.
• Fish production increased from 186.12 lakh tonnes during 2012-14 to 209.59 tonnes during 2014-16.
• Insurance cover increased to Rs. 2 lakh from Rs. 1 lakh for accidental death and permanent disability.
• Average 4.90 lakh fishermen benefited annually under Saving-cum-Relief.
• Average Rs. 48.65 lakh fishermen insured annually.
 

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Courtesy : Kurukshetra