Parliament Question: Promoting the alternative Income Sources for Farmers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 359 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2ND DECEMBER, 2025 PROMOTING THE ALTERNATIVE INCOME SOURCES FOR FARMERS

359. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by Government to enhance the income of farmers across the country, State-wise;

(b) the manner in which the implementation of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) has contributed to farmers' income growth during the last five years;

(c) whether any new initiatives are under consideration to promote alternative income sources such as agri-tourism or allied activities; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) : Government of India follows the following integrated strategy to support States & UTs in enhancing farmer incomes and comprehensive growth of agriculture sector:-

(i) Increase crop production/ productivity

(ii) Reduce cost of production

(iii) Remunerative returns of farmers’ produce to enhance their incomes.

(iv) Agricultural diversification

(v) Developing post harvest value addition

(vi) Adaptation to climate change for sustainable agriculture and mitigate against crop losses Since Agriculture is a State subject, Government of India supports the States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes. The Government has substantially enhanced 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.Major schemes of DA&FW to increase the income of farmers and for the

development of agriculture Sector in India are as under:

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)

3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)

4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)

5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations

(FPOs)

7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

8. Namo Drone Didi

9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE)

12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)

13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)

14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)

16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)

17. Agroforestry

18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)

19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)

20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)

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(b): Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops and Fair & Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned. The 22 mandated crops include 14 Kharif crops viz. paddy, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, tur (arhar), moong, urad, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, nigerseed, cotton and 6 Rabi crops viz. wheat, barley, gram, masur (lentil), rapeseed & mustard, safflower and two commercial crops viz. jute and copra.

While recommending MSPs, CACP considers important factors like cost of production, overall demand-supply conditions, domestic and international prices, inter- crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, the likely effect on the rest of the economy, besides ensuring rational utilization of land, water and other production resources and a minimum of 50 percent as the margin over cost of production. The inclusion of crops under MSP framework is dependent on several factors which include relatively large shelf life, widely grown, item of mass consumption, essential for food security, among others.

The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSPs at levels of one and half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, Government had increased MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other Commercial crops with a minimum return of 50 percent over all India weighted average cost of production from year 2018-19 onwards. The details of MSPs (marketing Season wise) fixed by Government from 2018-19 onwards is at Annexure.

( c ) & (d) : Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare does not have any scheme for Agri Related Tourism Activities. Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including rural tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations. Rural Circuit has been identified as one of the thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourist-centric approach. Ministry of Tourism has also formulated national strategies for development of rural tourism and promotion of rural homestays in India.Annexure Minimum Support Price (Marketing Season-wise)(₹/quintal) (As on 01.10.2025) Sr. Commodities KMS KMS KMS KMS KMS No. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 KHARIF CROPS Paddy (Common) 1940 2040 2183 2300 2369 1 Paddy (Grade ‘A’) 1960 2060 2203 2320 2389 2 Jowar (Hybrid) 2738 2970 3180 3371 3699 Jowar (Maldandi) 2758 2990 3225 3421 3749 3 Bajra 2250 2350 2500 2625 2775 4 Ragi 3377 3578 3846 4290 4886 5 Maize 1870 1962 2090 2225 2400 6 Arhar 6300 6600 7000 7550 8000 7 Moong 7275 7755 8558 8682 8768 8 Urad 6300 6600 6950 7400 7800 Cotton 5726 6080 6620 7121 7710 9 (Medium Staple ) Cotton 6025 6380 7020 7521 8110 (Long Staple ) 10 Groundnut 5550 5850 6377 6783 7263 11 Sunflower Seed 6015 6400 6760 7280 7721 12 Soyabean Yellow 3950 4300 4600 4892 5328 13 Sesamum 7307 7830 8635 9267 9846 14 Nigerseed 6930 7287 7734 8717 9537 RMS RMS RMS RMS RMS RABI CROPS 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 15 Wheat 2015 2125 2275 2425 2585 16 Barley 1635 1735 1850 1980 2150 17 Gram 5230 5335 5440 5650 5875 18 Masur 5500 6000 6425 6700 7000 19 Rapeseed & mustard 5050 5450 5650 5950 6200 20 Safflower 5441 5650 5800 5940 6540 COMMERCIAL CROPS 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 21 Jute 4500 4750 5050 5335 5650 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Copra (milling) 10335 10590 10860 11160 11582 22 Copra (ball) 10600 11000 11750 12000 12100

Note: KMS: Kharif Marketing Season, RMS: Rabi Marketing Season *****