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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 346
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st JULY, 2026
IMPACT OF RECURRENT FLOODS AND RIVER EROSION ON AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTIVITY
346. Md. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of recurrent floods and river erosion
on agricultural productivity in Assam;
(b) the estimated area of cultivable land lost during the last five years;
(c) whether compensation has been provided to affected farmers; and
(d) the long-term mitigation measures proposed to safeguard agricultural livelihoods?
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) & (b): As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State
Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground
level in the wake of notified calamities. The State Governments undertake relief measures
in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster
Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and
norms. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of
disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-
Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). The financial assistance provided under SDRF and
NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation of losses suffered/ claimed.
Net sown area for Assam during Last 5 years is as under (in thousand hect.):
Agri Year Net Sown Area
2020-21 2724
2021-22 2749
2022-23 2744
2023-24 2756
2024-25 2759
The net sown area in Assam had shown rising trend during last 05 years.
(c): The State of Assam was allocated Rs.3793.60 crore from SDRF during the last five
years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Rs.3414.40 crore was released as central share.
Rs.1001.377 crore was released to Assam from NDRF during the last five years from
2021-22 to 2025-26.(d): As informed by Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation, Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and
implemented by the concerned State Governments as per their priorities. The Union
Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance as well
as promotional financial assistance for the management of floods in critical areas. The
Union Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, the Flood
Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), to provide central assistance to
States for works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development, etc. during
the period 2021-26.
As per the report of the Central Water Commission (CWC) on “Assessment of Area
Affected Due to Floods in India”, based on satellite imageries data from 1986 to 2022, the
total flood-affected areas in India has been assessed as 21.213 million hectares (Mha),
and area protected through various flood management measures taken by the Central
and the State Governments is 20.538 Mha. The total flood-affected areas in the state of
Assam is 2.477 Mha.
Assam Govt has undertaken several long-term measures to enhance the resilience of
agriculture against floods, which include:
Distribution of flood-submergence-tolerant crop varieties under various
Government schemes to improve climate resilience.
Promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices through District Contingency
Plans, timely advisories and appropriate crop management practices.
Implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) interventions, including
construction of water harvesting structures and other water conservation
measures to improve water availability during dry spells.
Promotion of efficient water management practices, including micro-irrigation
systems, to ensure judicious use of available water resources during Rabi Season.
Promotion of crop diversification by encouraging farmers to cultivate Rabi crops
such as pulses, oilseeds and vegetables, supported by modern farm
mechanization and improved production technologies.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project implemented
by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed and promoted
climate resilient technologies in agriculture for vulnerable areas of the country. Location-
specific climate resilient technologies are demonstrated under NICRA. climate resilient
agricultural technologies that enhances the crop yields in the face of climate change is
promoted in Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri and Nalbari districts of Assam.
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