Day 29 – Q 2.Discuss various farmer centric welfare measures taken by the government. What are the core areas of focus in these schemes? Examine.

2. Discuss various farmer centric welfare measures taken by the government. What are the core areas of focus in these schemes? Examine. 

सरकार द्वारा उठाए गए विभिन्न किसान केंद्रित कल्याण उपायों पर चर्चा करें। इन योजनाओं में फोकस के मुख्य क्षेत्र क्या हैं? जांच करें।

Introduction: 

India is an agrarian county with more than 70% of its rural population dependent on agriculture. Agriculture contributes 17% to the GDP and employees around 50% populations. 

Body: 

Government has taken many steps for the welfare of farmers such as,

• PM-KISAN: To provide income support of Rs.6000/- per year to all landholding eligible farmers to supplement the financial needs of the farmers in procuring various inputs.
• Soil health card: Soil Health Cards carry crop-specific recommendations for nutrients and fertilizers to help farmers improve their productivity.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana: Micro-irrigation is in place to ensure ‘more crop per drop’ and with the motto of ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ for providing end-to-end solutions in irrigation supply chain for ensuring that every farm gets water.
• Solar Subsidies: To encourage farmers to install solar pumps for irrigation and reduce input cost.
• Interest subvention scheme: Short-term crop loans up to 3 lakh with low-interest rate made available to address the issue of farm credit and save farmers from being exploited in the hands of informal credit sources such as moneylenders.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: It is the biggest risk cover insurance and safety net provided by the government to farmers at minimal premiums rates. 
• Minimum Support Price: MSP announcement to support the farmer to get the right price for their produce. 
• National Agriculture Market scheme: Also known as e-NAM has integrated markets across states. It has cut down the middlemen in agriculture trading and facilitates online trade to give more choice of buyers to farmers and discover the better price of the produced.
• Operation Greens: To address the price volatility of perishable items like tomato, potato and onion, the government provided better logistics and cold storage supply chain.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: To conserve and develop indigenous bovine breed for higher productivity.
• Fertilizer: The government has implemented 100% Neem coating of Urea; it has resulted in improving the soil quality and also prevented the diversion of fertilizers to other purposes. The government also provides fertilizer subsidy to farmers to reduce input cost.
• Kisan service centre: To provide information related to better farming practices.
• Loan waivers: In the case of crop failure, the government provides loan waivers to farmers.

Challenges:

• Only big farmers reap the benefit of schemes and small farmers are excluded.
• Corruption and leakages don’t let the benefit reach the farmers.
• Delay in payments of MSP is an issue.
• Lack of irrigational facilities as many farmers in the country still do not have access to water.

Way Forward:

The government should provide a boost to the ailing agriculture sector and look beyond short-term measures such as loan waivers and cash transfers.

• The Government should promote exports, as a lot of wastage is reported in the sector due to lack of domestic demand.
• The government should promote agricultural start-ups in rural areas.
• Invest more in Agri-research to come up with better technology for farmers. 
• Enhance the scope of private investment in food processing and agri-based start-ups.

Conclusion:

Enabling the farmer to capture maximum value on every grain, every drop and every ounce of his produce is a must for Doubling Farmers income by 2022 as recommended by Ashok Dalwai committee.