**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 509 in Lok Sabha, concerning the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices in the Wardha Parliamentary Constituency, to be answered on the 3rd of February, 2026. It outlines various government schemes and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing irrigation infrastructure, improving market access for farmers, and addressing soil health issues in the Wardha district. Key stakeholders include the farmers of the Wardha district.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):**
* The government is implementing NMSA across the country, including Maharashtra, to promote sustainable agriculture practices.
* Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA to encourage adoption of sustainable practices.
* **Schemes in Wardha (As reported by the State Government of Maharashtra):**
* **Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project Phase 2.0 (POCRA):** Aims to promote climate-resilient agriculture.
* **Chief Minister's Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme:** Promotes micro-irrigation.
* **Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 2.0:** Focuses on soil and water conservation.
* **Chief Minister's Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme:** Promotes the creation of farm ponds.
* **Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Krushi Swavlamban Yojna & Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana:** Assists farmers in creating wells.
* **Enhancing Irrigation Infrastructure:**
* **Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchay Yojana (PMKSY):** Implemented to expand cultivable area under assured irrigation. Includes Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP).
* The Lower Wardha Project, which benefits the Wardha Parliamentary Constituency, is included under PMKSY-AIBP, with the project creating an irrigation potential of 63.33 thousand hectares.
* A Special Package for Irrigation Projects in Maharashtra was approved in 2018. The Shirur Minor Irrigation Tank benefitting Wardha district is included in this package creating an irrigation potential of 1065 hectares.
* **Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme:** Promotes water use efficiency through drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. 23,297 hectares have been covered under micro irrigation in Wardha district till date.
* **Market Access and Linkages:**
* **Formulation and Promotion of 10000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM):** Government supports farmers via these schemes.
* 15 FPOs have been formed in Wardha district to help farmers sell produce at a fair price.
* Weekly webinars facilitate direct interaction between FPOs and large institutional buyers.
* FPOs can market produce online through the Open Network for Digital Commerce platform.
* Four mandis in Wardha district (Arvi, Hinganghat, Sindi, and Wardha) are integrated on the e-NAM platform.
* **Soil Health:**
* **Soil Health & Fertility scheme:** Promotes Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of fertilizers and organic manures.
* 32651 Soil Health Cards have been issued in Wardha District from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
* **Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):** Promotes organic farming. 105 organic farming clusters, covering 3,144 hectares and benefiting 2,813 farmers, have been sanctioned in Wardha district from 2016-17 to 2025-26.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers of Wardha District**
*Impact*
The schemes aim to promote sustainable agriculture, improve irrigation, facilitate market access, and address soil health issues, which directly impact their livelihoods and agricultural practices.
*Action Required*
Farmers should engage with the various schemes and initiatives, such as NMSA, POCRA, irrigation schemes, FPOs, and the Soil Health & Fertility scheme, to improve their farming practices, access markets, and manage soil health effectively. They should also utilize the e-NAM platform.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A government initiative to promote sustainable agricultural practices across the country, including Maharashtra.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchay Yojana (PMKSY): A scheme to expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.
Wardha: The primary location of interest in the document concerning the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): A scheme that promotes organic farming.
Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project Phase 2.0 (POCRA): A project to promote climate-resilient agriculture.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 509
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026
PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN WARDHA
509. SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the steps being taken to promote sustainable agricultural practices in
the Wardha Parliamentary Constituency and the manner in which farmers are being
encouraged to adopt these practices;
(b) the manner in which the Government proposes to enhance irrigation infrastructure in
the Wardha Parliamentary Constituency keeping in view crisis of water scarcity in the
region;
(c) the details of the measures taken to assist farmers in Wardha district facilitating their
easy access to market and improving their market linkages; and
(d) the manner in which the Government proposes to address soil health issues in the
said district mind the initiatives being taken to promote organic farming practices in the
region?
ANSWER
THE 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) to (d): Government is implementing National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
(NMSA), to promote sustainable agriculture practices in the country including State of
Maharashtra. Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA to encourage farmers to
adopt sustainable agriculture practices. As reported by State Government of Maharashtra,
following schemes are being implemented in District of Wardha promoting sustainable
practices:
i. Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project Phase 2.0 (POCRA) to promote
climate resilient agriculture.
ii. Chief Minister’s Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme promoting microirrigation.
iii. Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 2.0 promoting soil and water conservation.
iv. Chief Minister’s Sustainable Agriculture Irrigation Scheme promoting creation of
Farm Ponds.
v. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Krushi Swavlamban Yojna and
vi. Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana assisting farmers for creation of wells.
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources has been implementing
Pradhan Mandi Krishi Sinchay Yojana (PMKSY) to expand cultivable area under assured
irrigation. The Scheme has two components- Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme
(AIBP), and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP). Lower Wardha Project benefitting Wardha
Parliamentary Constituency has been included under PMKSY-AIBP. Under this project,
irrigation Potential of 63.33 thousand hectare has been created. Further, a Special Package
for Irrigation Projects in Maharashtra was approved in 2018. Shirur Minor Irrigation Tank
benefitting Wardha district has been included under Special Package. Irrigation potential of
1065 hectare has been created under this project. The Government also implements Per
Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme for promoting water use efficiency through drip and
sprinkler irrigation systems. In Wardha District till date, 23,297 hectares has been covered
under micro irrigation under PDMC Scheme.
Government is providing support to farmers to facilitate their easy access to markets
and to strengthen market linkages through its schemes of “Formulation and Promotion of
10000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM).
In Wardha District, 15 FPOs have been formed facilitating farmers to sell their produce at
fair price through these FPOs. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare also conducts
weekly webinars facilitating direct interaction between FPOs and large institutional buyers
for exploring business opportunities. FPOs also market their produce online through the
Open Network for Digital Commerce platform, enabling wider market access and better
price realization for farmers. e-NAM is an online portal which provides real time wholesale
prices of agricultural produce to facilitate farmers in informed decision making for sale of
their produce. As on date, 4 mandis of Wardha district – Arvi, Hinganghat, Sindi and
Wardha are integrated on e-NAM platform.
Government is addressing the issue of soil health through the scheme of Soil Health
& Fertility scheme. The scheme promotes Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through
judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction
with organic manures & bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity. 32651
Soil Health Cards have been issued in Wardha District from 2023-24 to 2025-26. Besides,
Government is also promoting organic through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas
Yojana (PKVY). From 2016–17 to 2025–26, a total of 105 organic farming clusters have
been sanctioned in Wardha district under PKVY, covering an area of 3,144 hectares and
benefiting 2,813 farmers.
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