Parliament Question: Modern Farming and Agro Processing

O.I.H. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1582 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28th JULY, 2026 MODERN FARMING AND AGRO PROCESSING 1582. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं(cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has considered providing additional financial assistance to farmers for promoting natural farming, organic farming and drone-based agriculture; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has considered implementing any special scheme to promote maize, fox nut, jute and horticulture-based agro-processing industries in the Kosi-Seemanchal region of Bihar, including Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura; and (d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER 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): The Government is promoting natural farming, organic farming and use of drone in agriculture through various ongoing schemes/programmes. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Mission on Natural Farming is being implemented since November, 2024 across the country to promote natural farming. The Mission facilitates adoption of natural farming through formation of clusters, capacity building of community resource persons (Krishi Sakhis), establishment of Bio-Input Resource Centers and farmer training and awareness programmes. The Mission provides output based incentive of ₹4000/- per acre, per year to a farmer for 2 years (up to 1 acre per farmer).Organic farming is being promoted under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) of PM-RKVY and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States. Under PKVY, an assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for promotion of organic farming. Under MOVCDNER, an assistance of Rs. 46,500/ha is provided over 3 years for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, to support to farmers for organic inputs etc. 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. The Government is also promoting the use of drones in agriculture under the Sub- mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM). Under the scheme, financial assistance @ 100% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs per drone is provided for its purchase and demonstration on the farmers’ fields by the institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs), State and other Central Government Agricultural Institutions/Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of Government of India engaged in agricultural activities. The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants up to 75% of the cost of Kisan Drone for its demonstrations on the farmers’ fields. In order to make available drone services to farmers on rental basis, financial assistance @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs are provided for purchase of drones by CHCs under Cooperative Society of Farmers, FPOs and Rural entrepreneurs. Agriculture graduates establishing CHCs are eligible to receive financial assistance @ 50% of the cost of drone up to a maximum of Rs.5.00 lakhs per drone. For purchase of drones on individual ownership basis, the Small and Marginal, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Women and North Eastern State farmers are provided financial assistance @ 50% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs. 5.00 lakhs and other farmers @ 40% up to a maximum of Rs. 4.00 lakhs per drone.In addition, the Central Sector Scheme of Namo Drone Didi is being implemented in convergence with other ongoing schemes. The objective of the scheme is to promote advance technology in agriculture for improving efficiency, enhancing crop yield and reducing cost of operation and to empower Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) as drone service providers for increasing their income and providing livelihood support to them. (c) & (d): The Government is implementing various schemes to promote maize, fox nut (makhana), jute, and horticulture-based agro-processing industries across the country, including in Bihar's Kosi-Seemanchal region, covering the districts of Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul, and Madhepura. Production of Maize and Jute are being promoted under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) through interventions such as distribution of quality seeds, demonstration of improved production technologies and capacity building of farmers. Horticulture crops are promoted under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which provides assistance for area expansion, quality planting material, protected cultivation, post-harvest management and value addition. Assistance is also extended for establishment of infrastructure relating to integrated cold chain supply system, refrigerated vans/containers, primary/mobile processing units, ripening chambers, evaporative/low energy cool chambers, preservation units etc. under Integrated Post Harvest Management component of MIDH. To support the promotion of Foxnut (Makhana), the Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana has been launched for the period 2025–26 to 2030–31. The scheme aims at the holistic development of the makhana (foxnut) sector by addressing key components such as production and productivity enhancement, post-harvest management, value addition, research and development, marketing, branding, export promotion, and capacity building. The scheme is being implemented by the National Makhana Board in close coordination with the State Governments, including the Government of Bihar. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided for the establishment of micro, small, medium, and large makhana processing units for processing raw makhana into popped makhana and for undertaking further value addition. Credit-linked back-ended subsidy is admissible at the rate of 35% for private sector entrepreneurs and 50% for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).Support for post-harvest infrastructure and agro-processing is also available under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). Further, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is promoting the overall development of the food-processing sector, including rural areas, through its flagship schemes namely the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and the Centrally Sponsored Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. Assistance under these schemes is available to eligible beneficiaries across the country, including Bihar, as per the respective scheme guidelines. Under MoFPI, the details of the projects sanctioned and scheme implementation in the Kosi-Seemanchal region of Bihar, including Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul, and Madhepura districts—are placed at Annexure I.Annexure-I STATE: BIHAR (AS ON 30.06.2026) List of approved projects under Component Scheme of PMKSY in Bihar Sl. Project Sector District Date of Project Approved Released Status No. Name Approval Cost Grant-in- Grant-in- aid (Rs. aid (Rs. in Cr) in Cr) Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities Scheme (CEFPPC) 1 M/s Anmol Under Industries Consumer Products Kishanganj 05-01-23 172.7689 5.00 2.50 Implementation Limited 2 ABZ Agro Meat Kishanganj 24-07-19 43.34 10 10.00 Completed Pvt Ltd 3 M/s Fruits and Vegetables Under Nostino Araria 13-03-26 17.4 5.00 0.00 Processing Implementation FoodsCommitted Investments under PLIS Scheme in Bihar as on 30-06-2026 Project Cost/ Actual/ Processing & preserv Beneficiary Committed Reported Employment Generation Sr.No Sector District ation Capacity additio Name Investment Investment by plant on Month Basis n (L/MT) (Rs in Cr) (Rs in Cr) ANMOL INDU RTC/ 1 STRIES Kishanganj 182.85 186.49 60600 11174 RTE LIMITED Status of PMFME Scheme Implementation Credit Linked Seed capital S.No. Districts No. of Loan Sanctioned Amount (Rs. No. of SHG members Amount Sanctioned (in Rs. Sanctions In Cr.) approved Cr.) 1 Araria 539 27.12 451 1.077 2 Katihar 753 46.32 827 2.844 3 Kishanganj 482 27.93 265 1.006 4 Madhepura 474 21.68 558 2.030 5 Purnia 817 51.48 584 2.194 6 Saharsa 525 22.98 372 1.237 7 Supaul 602 35.22 540 2.003 Total (Bihar) 32100 2037.26 24636 87.696 *****