Steps to Make Farming Competitive and Profitable

NEW DELHI: To give new dimension to the condition and direction of agriculture in the country, Government has taken several steps. With the objective of making farming competitive and profitable and to make the country self-sufficient in providing food for a growing population, the Government has in the last one year embarked upon a number of initiatives that address the multiple concerns affecting the farming as an enterprise. The emphasis of the Government is on:

(i) production activities with a view to enhancing productivity on a sustainable basis;

(ii) on post-production activities, that takes care of marketing concerns; and

(iii) credit facilitation.

The emphasis is on sustained growth based on reduced cost of cultivation, rejuvenation of soil health, efficient use of water resources and remunerative prices on the produce of a farmer. Further, the emphasis is on risk mitigation through insurance scheme.

In consonance with the above, the Government has rolled out the following new initiatives:

(1) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

(2) Soil Health Card Scheme

(3)Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY)

(4) Neem Coated Urea (NCU)

(5) Enhanced credit facility to the farm sector

(6) National Agricultural Market

(7) Krishonnati Yojana, in addition to above includes:-

(i) National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

(ii) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

(iii) National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP)

(iv) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

(v) National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology

(vi) Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing

(vii) Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Cooperation

(viii) National Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund

(ix) Price Stabilization Fund for Cereals & Vegetables.

(8) Further, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is also implementing the following schemes & programmes that support growth of the agricultural sector :-

(i) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

(ii) National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP)

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture  Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria in Rajya Sabha today.