Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses concerns regarding agricultural land use, synthetic pesticide use, and water conservation. The government promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sustainable farming practices through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). The Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme promotes efficient irrigation techniques. Training programs have been conducted during 2024-25, reaching 19701 farmers.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Integrated Pest Management (IPM):**
* Promotes cultural, mechanical, and biological methods to minimize synthetic pesticide use.
* Judicious use of chemical pesticides is suggested only as a last resort.
* Training programs via CIPMCs, KVKs, and State Agriculture Departments educate farmers on alternatives like biopesticides, biostimulants, and organic farming.
* 472 training programs, including Farmers Field School, HRD (2-day and 5-day), and Season Long Training Program, trained 19701 farmers in 2024-25.
* **Organic Farming Promotion:**
* PKVY promotes organic farming in all States/UTs (except North Eastern States).
* MOVCDNER focuses on the North Eastern States.
* Both schemes provide end-to-end support, from production to marketing, emphasizing organic clusters of small/marginal farmers.
* PKVY provides Rs. 31,500 per ha in 3 years, including direct benefit transfer (Rs. 15,000 per ha) for organic inputs, marketing assistance (Rs. 4,500 per ha), certification and residue analysis (Rs. 3,000 per ha), and training (Rs. 9,000 per ha).
* MOVCDNER provides Rs. 46,500 per ha in 3 years for FPO creation and organic inputs, including DBT (Rs. 15,000 per ha) and ICS management (Rs 10,000 per ha), and value chain marketing (Rs 4000 per ha).
* **Efficient Irrigation:**
* PDMC enhances water use efficiency through drip and sprinkler irrigation since 2015-16.
* Financial assistance for micro-irrigation systems is provided to farmers at 55% of the unit cost for small/marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers.
Impact Analysis:
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Reduced reliance on synthetic pesticides, increased adoption of sustainable farming practices, access to financial assistance for organic farming and efficient irrigation, enhanced skills through training programs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, adopt IPM practices, explore organic farming opportunities through PKVY or MOVCDNER, and consider micro-irrigation systems under PDMC.
* **State Agriculture Departments:**
* *Impact:* Implementing agencies for PKVY, MOVCDNER, and IPM training programs.
* *Action Required:* Effectively implement and monitor the schemes, conduct training programs, and disseminate information to farmers.
* **Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for conducting training programs and promoting IPM practices.
* *Action Required:* Organize and conduct effective training programs for farmers on IPM and sustainable agriculture.
Key Entities Referenced
PROF. SOUGATA RAY: Member of Parliament who asked the question related to agriculture land.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer.
Integrated Pest Management IPM: A pest management approach that uses a combination of methods to prevent pest problems or reduce pest damage.
Central Integrated Pest Management Centers CIPMCs: Centers under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that conduct training programs on pest management.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras KVKs: Agricultural extension centers that conduct various training programs to create awareness among farmers.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: A scheme promoting organic farming in all States/UTs except North Eastern States.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region MOVCDNER: A scheme promoting organic farming specifically in the North Eastern States of India.
Per Drop More Crop PDMC: A scheme implemented by the DAFW to enhance water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3842
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2025
AGRICULTURE LAND
3842. PROF. SOUGATA RAY :
Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken so far to minimize the use of synthetic pesticides by integrating
biological control methods and other sustainable pest management strategies;
(b) whether the Government has any project to implement sustainable farming
practices, enacting and enforcing regulations that protect farmland from
conversion to other uses, and promoting awareness about the importance of land
conservation;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of steps taken so far to preserve the "virginity" of agricultural land in
the country; and
(e) the projects to promote efficient irrigation techniques, like drip irrigation and
micro-sprinklers, to conserve water resources and reduce waterlogging in
agriculture sector of the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (e): The Government of India promotes the strategy of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) which envisages integrated pest management techniques
through cultural, mechanical and biological methods to prevent the excessive use
and improper handling practices of chemical pesticides and only need based
judicious use of chemical pesticides is suggested as last resort. Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its Central Integrated Pest Management
Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture
Departments conduct various training programs to create awareness among
farmers about use of alternate methods like Bio-pesticide, Bio-stimulants, Organic
farming, Mix farming in place of use of harmful pesticides to increase their
production. So far, 472 various training programs has been conducted like
Farmers Field School, 2 days HRD, 5days HRD and Season Long Training
Program in which 19701 number of farm trained during 2024-25.Further, Department of Agriculture & Farmers welfare is promoting organic
farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs
except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for
North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States to promote
sustainable farming and preserve the virginity of agricultural land. Both schemes
stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from
production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of the
schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal
farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through
States /UT Governments.
Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for
promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is
provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm /off–farm organic
inputs including organic compost. Financial assistance of Rs. 4,500/ha in 3 years
is provided for marketing, packaging, branding, value addition etc. Rs. 3,000/ha
for 3 years is provided for certification and residue analysis. Assistance is also
provided at the rate Rs. 9,000/ha in 3 years for training, awareness & capacity
building.
Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per ha in 3 years is provided
for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic
inputs etc. Out of this, assistance at the rate Rs. 32500 per ha is provided to
farmers for off -farm /on–farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs.
15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. Financial assistance of Rs 10000
per ha in 3 years is provided for activities of Internal Control System (ICS)
management, training and certification [National Programme for Organic
Production (NPOP)]. Financial assistance of Rs 4000 per ha in 3 years is provided
for value chain marketing at state level.
For promotion of effective irrigation techniques, “Per Drop More Crop”
(PDMC) is being implemented by the DA&FW in the Country from the year 2015-
16 with an aim to enhance water use efficiency at farm level through Micro
Irrigation, namely, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems. Under the Scheme,
financial assistance is provided to farmers for installation of micro irrigation
systems at the rate 55% and 45% of the unit cost to small & marginal farmers and
other farmers respectively.
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