Parliament Question: Crop Productivity Strategy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2787 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH MARCH, 2026 CROP PRODUCTIVITY STRATEGY 2787. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has prepared any State-specific crop productivity strategy for Andhra Pradesh, particularly for major crops such as paddy, in light of evidence that yields remain below the national average; (b) whether yield gap assessments have been undertaken and shared with the State Government, including identification of priority interventions such as micro-irrigation, improved seed adoption, extension services and FPO integration, district-wise; and (c) the steps taken to support diversification towards high-value crops and value-chain development in Andhra Pradesh to improve farm incomes and reduce productivity gaps? 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) to (c): The Government of India is implementing National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) across 28 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs) including Andhra Pradesh with the objective of enhancing the production of various crops including Rice, Wheat, Coarse Cereals, Nutri Cereals and Commercial Crops (Cotton, Jute and Sugarcane), through area expansion and productivity improvement. States/UTs are given flexibility to identify districts with low productivity and high production potential. In addition, the Government is also implementing a comprehensive range of Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes and programmes aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and increasing farmers’ income across all States, including Andhra Pradesh. These schemes encompass entire spectrum of agriculture, including credit, insurance, income support, infrastructure, crops (including horticulture), seeds, mechanization, marketing, organic and natural farming, farmer collectives, irrigation, extension, procurement of crops from farmers at minimum support prices and digital agriculture. The list of agriculture related schemes implemented by Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) across all States, including Andhra Pradesh, is placed at Annexure-I. In order to ensure availability of quality seeds to the farmers, the DA&FW assess the requirement and availability of seeds with the States/UTs and other agencies through Zonal Seeds Meetings organised periodically prior to each cropping season (viz. Rabi and Kharif). The Department advises the States/UTs from time to time to include newly released High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), stress tolerant bio- fortified and short and medium duration varieties of various agricultural crops in their State Seed Plan to enhance agricultural productivity and production in the Country.The Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP) was implemented during 2014-15 to 2023-24 to promote production and multiplication of quality seeds of agricultural crops in the country. Now SMSP has now been subsumed under National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) during the year 2023-24. Accordingly, the interventions of erstwhile SMSP are now operational as NFSNM: Seed Components. Under the NFSNM: Seed Components, Annual Action Plan of ₹8.585 crore of Andhra Pradesh State has been approved and financial assistance of ₹2.8078 crore released so far during current year. The Government is also implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) from the year 2015-16 in the Country including Andhra Pradesh. PDMC scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems. Micro Irrigation helps in water saving as well as reduced fertilizer usage, labour expenses, other input costs and overall income enhancement of farmers. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided @ 55% of the unit cost to Small & Marginal farmers and @ 45% to other farmers for installation of Micro Irrigation systems. From 2015-16 to 28.02.2026, an area of 108 lakh ha has been covered in the Country through PDMC scheme which includes 11.49 lakh ha in Andhra Pradesh. District wise area covered under Micro-irrigation in Andhra Pradesh through PDMC is provided in Annexure-II. For crop diversification and higher farm incomes, the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM- RKVY) is also being implemented in which CDP paddy replacement component has been implemented since 2013-14 in the original Green Revolution States of Haryana and Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh to divert area from paddy cultivation to alternative crops such as pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutria-cereals, cotton etc. Under this programme, assistance is provided for alternative crop demonstrations, farm mechanization & value addition, site-specific interventions and contingency activities related to awareness generation & capacity building. The Crop Diversification Programme was extended w.e.f 2015-16 to major tobacco- growing States, including Andhra Pradesh, with the objective of encouraging tobacco growers to shift to alternative crops of cropping system. Under this extension, States may undertake suitable activities and interventions in accordance with approved cost norms. Further, the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (DDKY) has been launched on 11th October, 2025 for a period of six years, beginning with 2025-26 to cover 100 districts identified on the basis of three key indicators of low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less agricultural credit disbursement. The districts selected under PM DDKY in Andhra Pradesh state are Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Alluri Sitharama Raju, and Annamayya. The Union Cabinet has also approved a centrally sponsored scheme namely “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' on 1st October, 2025 aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency in pulses. The Mission is being implemented across the country, including Andhra Pradesh. Further, the Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEOOS) on 3rd October, 2024 to boost domestic oilseed production and to strive toward self-sufficiency in edible oils. Under the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), Andhra Pradesh has covered 94,890 Ha. till date during the Mission period (2021-22 to 2025-26). Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally SponsoredScheme is being implemented w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew and cocoa etc. MIDH offers not only a wide range of options to the farmers for crop diversification towards high-value horticulture for orchards and plantation crops, vineyards, vegetable & flower gardens, Bee Keeping, Mushroom cultivation, off season vegetables and value chain management, but also provides ample scope for sustaining large number of Agro industries. All States and UTs, including Andhra Pradesh, are covered under MIDH. Further, strengthening of extension services, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under implementation across the country, including Andhra Pradesh, since 2005 aimed at creating awareness among large number of farmers about new technologies. Additionally, a total of 716 FPOs registered under the Central Sector Scheme for formation and promotion of 10,000 FPOs in the State of Andhra Pradesh. An equity grant amounting to Rs. 20.84 crore has been disbursed to 318 FPOs. Additionally, as of date, fertilizer licenses have been issued to 384 FPOs, seed licenses to 198 FPOs and pesticide licenses to 198 FPOs. Further, 355 FPOs have been onboarded onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform as on date. The interventions under the above schemes have contributed to improvement in agricultural productivity and enhancement of farmers’ income. The crop-wise productivity levels in Andhra Pradesh is as under: (Kg./Hectare) Crop 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Rice 3434 3485 3583 Maize 4046 4007 4524 Bajra 2027 2096 2320 Ragi 1185 1261 1456 Tur 323 413 475 Groundnut 661 660 937 Castorseed 309 385 510 Cotton 372 297 476 Source: DA&FWAnnexure I The list of the schemes implemented by the Government to support States in agriculture 1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY) 3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) 4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) 5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) 6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs) 7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) 8. Namo Drone Didi 9. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) 10. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE) 11. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) 12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) 13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) 14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) 15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F) 16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD) 17. Agroforestry 18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) 19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE) 20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) 21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) 22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM) 23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) 24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm 25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds 26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region 27. Digital Agriculture Mission 28. National Bamboo Mission 29. Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana 30. Mission for Atmanirbharta in PulsesAnnexure-II Area covered under Micro irrigation in Andhra Pradesh through PDMC (2015-16 to 28.02.2026) Sr. Area covered under Micro District No. Irrigation (ha) 1 ANANTAPUR 214863 2 CHITTOOR 147674 3 Y.S.R. Kadapa 167519 4 EAST GODAVARI 34734 5 GUNTUR 28141 6 KRISHNA 27387 7 KURNOOL 102431 8 SPSR NELLORE 44706 9 PRAKASAM 106693 10 SRIKAKULAM 19633 11 VISAKHAPATANAM 16063 12 VIZIANAGARAM 17242 13 WEST GODAVARI 61987 14 PARVATHIPURAM MANYAM 3384 15 ANAKAPALLI 4011 16 ALLURI SITHARAMA RAJU 1678 17 KAKINADA 4288 18 DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA 280 19 ELURU 21367 20 NTR 7581 21 BAPATLA 4333 22 PALNADU 8248 23 TIRUPATI 7246 24 ANNAMAYYA 40111 25 SRI SATHYA SAI 41004 26 NANDYAL 17204 Total 1149808 *****