Parliament Question: Progress and Initiatives for Farmers Welfare

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5202 ANSWERED ON 24TH MARCH, 2026 PROGRESS AND INITIATIVES FOR FARMERS WELFARE 5202. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN: 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 steps taken to enhance farmers’ income during the last three years; (b) whether Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been revised for major crops; (c) the details of crop insurance coverage under PMFBY; (d) the measures taken to promote organic and natural farming; and (e) the funds allocated for farmer welfare schemes during the current financial year? 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 RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): In order to enhance the farmers’ income, the Government has substantially increased the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & 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 actual expenditure during the last three years i.e. 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 was ₹1,01,572.54 crore, ₹1,10,283.64 crore, and ₹1,29,933.47 crore, respectively. The various schemes/programmes of Government of India meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers are at Annexure I. (b): Every year, Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops for the country as a whole, based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of the State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned.The details of increase in MSP of 22 mandated crops during the last three years are given at Annexure II.(c): Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) - PMFBY provides for comprehensive risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post-harvest for crops and area notified by the concerned State Government. As of 31.12.2025, 40.76 Crore Farmer Applications have been enrolled and total claims of Rs.54,883.28 Crores have been paid to 9.82 Crore Farmer Applications under PMFBY cumulatively during the last three years, i.e. from 2022-23 to 2024-25. For FY 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 12,242.27 Crore (BE) has been allocated for PMFBY. (d): Organic farming is being promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States since 2015-16. Both schemes provide end-to-end support including organic manure for farmers engaging in organic farming. Both the schemes are implemented through States /UT Governments. Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers including small and marginal farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off –farm organic inputs. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500/ha is provided over 3 years for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32,500/ ha is provided to farmers for off -farm /on –farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been initiated for scientifically backed agro ecological 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. (e): Total Scheme Budget Estimates of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is Rs.1,26,026.99 crore in FY 2025-26.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)Annexure II Minimum Support Price (Marketing Season-wise) (₹/quintal) Sr. N o. Commodities KMS 2023-24 KMS 2024-25 KMS 2025-26 KHARIF CROPS 1 Paddy (Common) 2183 2300 2369 Paddy (Grade ‘A’) 2203 2320 2389 2 Jowar (Hybrid) 3180 3371 3699 Jowar (Maldandi) 3225 3421 3749 3 Bajra 2500 2625 2775 4 Ragi 3846 4290 4886 5 Maize 2090 2225 2400 6 Arhar 7000 7550 8000 7 Moong 8558 8682 8768 8 Urad 6950 7400 7800 9 Cotton 6620 7121 7710 (Medium Staple) Cotton 7020 7521 8110 (Long Staple) 10 Groundnut 6377 6783 7263 11 Sunflower Seed 6760 7280 7721 12 Soyabean Yellow 4600 4892 5328 13 Sesamum 8635 9267 9846 14 Nigerseed 7734 8717 9537 RABI CROPS RMS 2024-25 RMS 2025-26 RMS 2026-27 15 Wheat 2275 2425 2585 16 Barley 1850 1980 2150 17 Gram 5440 5650 5875 18 Masur 6425 6700 7000 19 Rapeseed & Mustard 5650 5950 6200 20 Safflower 5800 5940 6540 COMMERCIAL CROPS 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 21 Jute 5335 5650 5925 2024 2025 2026 Copra (Milling) 11160 11582 12027 22 Copra (Ball) 12000 12100 12500 Note: KMS: Kharif Marketing Season, RMS: Rabi Marketing Season *****