Parliament Question: Implementation of Agricultural Schemes in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5104 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th MARCH, 2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL SCHEMES IN KERALA 5104. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: 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 details of central Agricultural Schemes currently being implemented in the Kuttanad region of Kerala, including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, RKVY, NFSM, PMKSY and other crop-specific interventions; (b) the total funds sanctioned, released and utilised for agricultural development in Kuttanad during the last five years, including this year, scheme-wise; (c) whether the Government has any special package or climate-resilient agriculture progarmme for the flood-prone and below-sea-level paddy fields of Kuttanad; (d) the steps taken to support paddy farmers in Kuttanad with respect to crop insurance, MSP procurement, mechanisation subsidy and drainage infrastructure; and (e) whether the Government proposes a region-specific sustainable agriculture mission for Kuttanad considering salinity intrusion, climate vulnerability and declining farmer income? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): Government of India is implementing a comprehensive range of Central Sector as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes and programmes for the welfare of farmers in the country, including Kuttanad region of Kerala. 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. Details of Central Sector Schemes currently implemented in Kuttanad region are as follows: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):- Till date, Rs. 2584.28 crore has been disbursed through 22 instalments in the Kuttanad region. Out of this, Rs. 104.68 Cr was disbursed to 5,23,418 beneficiaries during the 22st instalment.Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY):- 282 farmers have been enrolled in the Kuttanad region under the scheme so far. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):- As on 31.12.2025, 71,369 Farmer applications were enrolled and total claims of Rs. 67.19 Crores have been paid to 34,152 farmer’s for the paddy crop in Kuttanad under PMFBY/RWBCIS during the last five years (from 2020-21 to 2024-25). Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) - 614 projects have been approved with total project cost of Rs. 218.87 crores with a loan component of Rs 152.83 Crore as on date. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM) - Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) :- Subsidy amounting to ₹16,66,000/- and ₹14,09,500/- have been released for two project sanctioned in FY 2020-21 and FY 2023-24 respectively. Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs :- 35 FPOs have been registered in Kuttanad region. (b): Centrally sponsored schemes like RKVY, NFSM etc are implemented through the State and district – wise details of interventions are not maintained centrally. However, details of funds allocated and released on schemes being implemented by the DA&FW from 2020-21 to 2025-26 in respect of Kerala is attached as Annexure I. (c) to (e): No special package or any special mission exclusively for Kuttanad is currently under implementation or consideration. However, the region is covered under various ongoing schemes/programmes aimed at climate-resilient agriculture. These include the Rainfed Area Development, Per Drop More Crop and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- DPR. There is no ongoing Flood Management Projects in the State of Kerala under Flood Management component of FMBAP. However, total Central Assistance of Rs. 137.95 crores has been released till date from start of XI Plan for 4 projects under Flood Management Programme through Ministry of Jal Shakti. There is no proposal after 2020- 21. The Government is implementing various schemes and programmes to support paddy farmers in Kuttanad with respect to crop insurance, mechanization subsidy and drainage infrastructure. 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. This scheme is voluntary for States as well as farmers. All willing farmers are eligible to enroll under the scheme. The Government has been extending continues support to the paddy farmers, including those in Kuttanad region through Minimum Support Price (MSP). The MSP is aimed at safeguarding farmers frommarket fluctuations and ensuring remunerative returns, particularly in ecologically fragile and high cost cultivation areas like Kuttanad. The steps taken by the Government (Department of Food & Food Distribution) to ensure timely procurement of wheat and paddy and full payment to farmers are as under: (i) FCI, the nodal central agency of Government of India, along with other State Agencies undertakes procurement of wheat and paddy under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operation. Coarse grains/millets in central pool are procured by State Government Agencies only under decentralized procurement system. (ii) FCI and various State Agencies in consultation with the State Government establish adequate number of procurement centers at various mandis and key points. The number of centers and their locations are decided by the State Governments, based on various parameters, so as to maximize the MSP operations. Such extensive & effective price support operations have resulted in sustaining the income of farmers over a period. (iii) Stocks conforming to the Government of India specifications which are offered by the farmers at purchase centers are procured by the Government Agencies at MSP. If the farmers get prices better than the support price in open market, they are free to sell their produce. Presence of Government Agencies ensures prevention of distress sale of food grains by the farmers. (iv) Procurement of foodgrains under MSP operations is mandatorily being carried out through State Procurement Portals which has brought in substantial transparency in the process. (v) “One Nation, One MSP through DBT” has been implemented across the country to ensure payment of MSP directly into farmers' account. Necessary directions have been issued by GoI to all procuring State Governments for making the payment of MSP to farmers preferably within 48 Hours from the issue of procurement receipt. Financial assistance for farm mechanization is provided under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM .(In order to make farm machinery more accessible and affordable to farmers, financial assistance @ 40-50% of the cost of machinery depending on the category of farmers is provided for purchase of agricultural machines. For women farmers, the financial assistance is @50% of the cost of machinery. With a view to make available machines and equipment's to farmers on rental basis, financial assistance for establishment of CHCs of the project cost up to Rs.250 lakhs is provided @ 40% of the project cost and financial assistance for establishments of Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs) of the project cost up to Rs. 30 Lakhs is provided @ 80% of the project cost.Annexure I Details of funds allocated & released on schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare from 2020-21 to 2025-26 in respect of Kerala (Rs. in crore) S. Name of Mission/Scheme 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 No. A Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna Alloc Rel Alloc Rel Alloc Rel Alloc Rel Alloc Rel Alloc Rel 1 Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna-DPR 63.42 30.63 63.11 50.44 55.74 27.88 30.69 14.24 30.69 17.36 74.18 37.09 Sub- Mission on Agricultural 2 11.67 49.41 11.67 75.42 50.00 85.38 34.96 12.87 52.44 30.55 30.09 30.23 Mechanization (SMAM) 3 Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) 15.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 0.00 5.45 0.32 6.00 1.68 87.38 22.69 4 Soil Health & Fertility 1.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.70 0.00 4.10 0.07 3.79 2.17 9.06 4.53 5 Rain fed Area Development (RAD) 2.00 1.00 2.00 0.50 2.00 0.50 2.62 0.05 3.00 1.54 7.92 3.96 Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna 6 29.05 21.98 12.10 0.00 17.12 17.12 10.47 0.71 7.82 3.54 11.99 11.90 (PKVY) 7 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF)* 0.15 0.00 0.60 0.42 - - 0.51 0.00 0.50 0.28 3.26 1.63 Total Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna 123.18 108.02 89.48 126.78 140.56 130.88 88.80 28.26 104.24 57.12 223.88 112.03 (RKVY) B Krishionnati Yojana National Food Security Mission 1 11.50 0.27 0.64 0.16 0.42 0.10 0.66 0.00 0.66 0.41 0.64 0.06 (NFSM) National Mission on Edible Oil - 2 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 3.29 1.65 2.52 0.63 6.80 4.24 10.88 1.08 Oilpalm ( NMEO-OP) National Mission on Edible Oil - 3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) Mission for Integrated Development 4 40.00 10.00 46.67 28.00 46.67 21.00 50.63 13.19 66.67 22.25 42.00 26.00 of Horticulture (MIDH) Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension 5 16.63 14.31 17.72 13.29 13.77 13.77 10.90 10.90 11.00 11.00 20.63 16.50 (SMAE) Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting 6 11.50 0.27 13.00 0.07 3.00 0.93 3.55 0.42 3.00 0.09 3.59 0.00 Material (SMSP) 7 National Bamboo Mission (NBM) 0.25 0.21 0.25 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.98 0.61 5.62 2.81 Total Krishionnati Yojana 79.88 25.06 78.78 41.52 67.25 37.45 68.75 25.14 89.11 38.60 83.36 46.45 * The scheme discontinued wef Ist April, 2022 & continued on 2023-24 *******