Parliament Question: Initiatives for the Enhancing Farmers Income

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4057 ANSWERED ON 17TH MARCH, 2026 INITIATIVES FOR THE ENHANCING FARMERS INCOME 4057. DR. MP ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI : Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष और िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state : (a) the details of the steps the Government has taken to increase farmers’ income; (b) the details of projects are being implemented to promote natural farming; (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to reduce the price of fertilizers; and (d) whether there are any plans to increase youth participation in the agricultural sector? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष और िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a): Government of India has substantially enhanced the Budget allocation of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21,933.50 crore (BE) during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,290.16 crore (BE) during 2025-26. The various schemes/programmes of the Government of India meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers are at Annexure I. (b): National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been initiated for scientifically backed agroecological approaches towards sustainability, climate resilience and safe food. Natural farming is integrated with livestock (preferably local breed of cow), involves use of on-farm inputs like Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, Neemastra, etc., multi-cropping systems, Pre-monsoon dry sowing, biomass based mulching, integration of trees on buffer zones of farm, etc. Natural Farming practices improve soil structure, nutrition & soil organic carbon, enhances moisture retention & water holding capacity, promotes crop diversification and encourages natural habitats that enhance the on-farm biodiversity.So far, 18,825 clusters have been formed covering 9.00 lakh hectares and registration of 19 lakh farmers. Further, 33,336 Krishi Sakhis/Community Resource Persons (CRPs) have been trained through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and local natural farming institutions and 6,388 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) have been established. Soil samples of 15.63 lakh enrolled farmers have been collected with 7.46 lakh Soil Health Cards generated. Further, Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) has been initiated as “PGS- INDIA NATURAL” for certification of all produces of natural farming in accordance with the Natural Farming Standards. More than 6.39 lakh farmers have been issued NF certificates. (c): Urea is provided to the farmers at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP) irrespective of the cost of production. The subsidized MRP of 45 kg bag of urea is Rs. 242 per bag (exclusive of charges towards neem coating and taxes applicable). The difference between the delivered cost of urea at farm gate and net market realization by the urea units is given as subsidy to the urea manufacturer/importer by the Government of India. Accordingly, all farmers are being supplied urea at the subsidized rates. In case of Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy w.e.f. 01.04.2010. Under the policy, a fixed amount of subsidy, decided on annual/bi-annual basis, is provided to manufacturer / importer on subsidized P&K fertilizers depending on their nutrient content i.e. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Sulphur (S). Under NBS Scheme, P&K fertilizers are decontrolled and fertilizer companies are allowed to fix MRP as per market dynamics at reasonable level which is monitored by the Government. In order to keep targeted farm gate price of DAP @ ₹1350 per 50 Kg bag, Government of India has introduced special provisions over and above NBS Subsidy, like Rs. 3500 per MT to cover ‘Other Costs’. Subsidy on various fertilizer grades is released to the fertilizer companies, on actual sales to the beneficiaries based on Aadhar authentication through POS devices installed at each retail shop. Accordingly, all beneficiaries are being supplied fertilizers at the subsidized rates. (d): Government has taken various initiatives to promote farming as a viable career option for youth, among which the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the rural districts of the country for dissemination of new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development among the extension functionaries and the farmers of the concerned district.Besides, 100 KVKs of the country are implementing project namely Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) for retaining younger generations of farming families into the sector, These KVKs organize skill development programmes for the youth of rural areas to take up various enterprises related to agriculture and allied sectors like, mushroom production, fruits and vegetable processing units, horticulture nursery, protected cultivation, fish farming, poultry, goat farming, piggery, duck farming, bee keeping, vermicomposting, etc. Further, youths are encouraged to participate in agriculture sector with the implementation of schemes like Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE), Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Agriculture Start-Up and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem (AgriSURE) and Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) by the Government of India.Annexure-I Schemes and Programmes run by DA&FW 1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY) 3. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) 4. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) 5. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) 6. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) 7. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs) 8. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) 9. Namo Drone Didi 10. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE) 11. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) 12. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Detailed Project Report (RKVY-DPR) 13. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) 14. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) 15. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) 16. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F) 17. Rainfed Area Development (RAD) 18. Agroforestry 19. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) 20. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE) 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. Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses 30. PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) *****