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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2821
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2026
AGRICULTURAL LAND
2821. SHRI ABDUL RASHID SHEIKH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be
pleased to state:
(a) the measures to preserve agricultural land in States/UTs; and;
(b) the status of crop insurance schemes being implemented in J&K?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): Land and agriculture are the state subjects, as per Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, land falls under the jurisdiction of State Governments,
which are responsible for taking appropriate measures to increase the area under cultivation and
ensure optimal use of agricultural lands. However, the Government of India supports these efforts
through policy initiatives and budgetary assistance.
Department of Land Resources is implementing Watershed Development Component of
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) which primarily focuses on development
rainfed/ degraded lands. The activities undertaken in the scheme, inter alia, include ridge area
treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery
raising, pasture development, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc. The measures taken under
WDC-PMKSY supplements the effort of the Government to increase the area under cultivation. This
scheme has been approved by the Government on 15th December, 2021.
Further, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed several technological
measures to increase the area under cultivation. This includes location specific bio-engineering to
check soil erosion due to run-off of rainwater, sand dune stabilization and shelter belt technology to
check wind erosion and reclamation technology for problem soils in the country. ICAR has also
developed the gypsum technology package, consisting of land levelling, bunding, flushing, removal
of excess water, good quality irrigation water, application of amendments, selection of crops and
efficient nutrient management.
(b): Government has introduced yield based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and
weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from Kharif
2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural
calamities, adverse weather incidence and to stabilize the income of farmers etc. Comprehensive
risk insurance is provided under the scheme from pre-sowing to post-harvest losses. This scheme
is voluntary for State/UTs as well as farmers. All willing farmers are eligible to enrol under the
scheme. The UT of Jammu & Kashmir is implementing the scheme.
Extremely low premium rate is charged from the famers across the country, which is
maximum 2% of sum insured for Kharif crops, maximum 1.5% of sum insured for Rabi crops and
maximum 5% of sum insured for commercial/horticultural crops. Remaining part of actuarial
premium is shared by the Central and State Government on 50:50 basis except North Eastern States
(from Kharif 2020) and Himalayan States (from Kharif 2023), including Jammu & Kashmir where it
is shared in the ratio of 90:10.
Under PMFBY, 11.6 lakh Farmer Applications have been enrolled and total claims of
Rs.166.7 Crores have been paid to 2.8 lakh Farmer Applications in Jammu & Kashmir cumulatively,
since the inception of the scheme until Kharif-2025 season (as on 31.12.2025).”
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