Parliament Question: Schemes for farmers' welfare in Himachal Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3224 ANSWERED ON 20/03/2026 SCHEMES FOR FARMERS' WELFARE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH 3224. SHRI HARSH MAHAJAN Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) the major schemes currently being implemented by Government for farmers’ welfare and agricultural development in Himachal Pradesh; (b) the financial assistance provided to Himachal Pradesh under these schemes during the last three years, scheme-wise and the number of farmers benefited thereunder; and (c) whether Government is considering launching any special initiative/package to promote natural farming, apple/horticulture and climate-resilient agriculture in the hilly and rain-fed areas of Himachal Pradesh, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): Government of India is implementing a comprehensive range of Central Sector as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes and programmes for the farmers’ welfare and agricultural development in the country including Himachal Pradesh. The list of schemes implemented by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is attached as Annexure I. The financial assistance provided to Himachal Pradesh under these schemes are placed at Annexure II. The number of farmers benefitted during the last three years is attached as Annexure III. (c): DA&FW is implementing National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), Mission for Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD) for promotion of natural farming, apple/horticulture and climate-resilient agriculture in the hilly and rain-fed areas of Himachal Pradesh. The details of these schemes are as under: National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) –Under NMNF, Output based incentive to Krishi Sakhis for hand-holding, training, extension and documentation is provided for 2 years. Block level mission is implemented to create awareness generation to Gram Panchayat, farmers, SHG women, etc. Assistance ₹4000/- per acre per year for a cluster of 50Ha land for 2 years is provided to the willing farmers. Natural Farming certification for willing farmers is also provided. Orientation programmes are also conducted at Block Level for willing farmers.Mission for Development of Horticulture (MIDH) was implemented for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic & medicinal plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. Under MIDH, assistance is provided for activities related to production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops including mango through various interventions. Assistance is also provided for activities such as production of planting material, vegetable seed production, coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources, adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), organic farming, including in-situ generation of organic inputs are taken up for development of fruits and vegetables. Capacity buildings of farmers and technicians are also provided for adopting improved technologies. Scheme also envisages creation of post-harvest management (PHM) and marketing for better price realization of produce. Rainfed Area Development (RAD) focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Under RAD, crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro- forestry, apiculture etc. to enable farmers not only in maximizing farm returns for sustaining livelihood, but also to mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events. Financial assistance of Rs. 30,000/- is provided to each farming family under RAD component irrespective of the size of their land holding.ANNEXURE I The list of the schemes implemented by the Government to support States in agriculture 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 29. Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana 30. Mission for Atmanirbharta in PulsesANNEXURE II Scheme wise details of funds allocated and released under major Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by the DA&FW in Himachal Pradesh during 2022-23 to 2024-25 is given below: (Rs in Crore) S. N. Name of Mission/Scheme 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 . Release Release Release A Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna 1 Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna-DPR 0 3.66 8.69 2 Sub- Mission on Agricultural Mechanization 15.29 3.46 20.74 3 Per Drop More Crop 0 5 7.88 4 Rain fed Area Development 0 1.78 5.00 5 Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna 0 1.24 7.44 6 Soil Health & Fertility 0.26 0.48 1.43 7 Sub Mission on Agroforestry - 0.50 1.08 Total Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna 15.55 16.12 52.26 B Krishionnati Yojana 1 National Food Security Mission 2.99 7.08 5.13 2 Mission for Integrated Development of 17.5 7.95 12.75 Horticulture 3 Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension 15.5 15.34 12.75 4 Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material 10.15 4.34 4.36 5 National Bamboo Mission 0.00 0.75 2.00 Total Krishionnati Yojana 46.14 35.46 36.99 C National Mission on Natural Farming - - 0.239ANNEXURE III Details of number of farmers benefited in Himachal Pradesh: S. N. Name of Scheme Year Farmer Benefited 1. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-Detailed Project 2022-23 - Report 2023-24 37506 2024-25 15881 2. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization 2022-23 2084 2023-24 865 2024-25 2145 3. Per Drop More Crop 2022-23 1337 2023-24 653 2024-25 1102 4. Rainfed Area Development 2022-23 9038 2023-24 9620 2024-25 8694 5. Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana 2022-23 38783 2023-24 38783 2024-25 31301 6. Soil Health & Fertility 2022-23 24000 2023-24 12361 2024-25 74084 7. National Food Security Mission 2022-23 79809 2023-24 65581 2024-25 60001 8. Mission Integrated Development of Horticulture 2022-23 3545 2023-24 4328 2024-25 1898 9. Sub Mission on Agriculture Extension 2022-23 19835 2023-24 46646 2024-25 46087 10. Sub Mission on Seed and Planting Material 2022-23 162500 2023-24 87400 2024-25 132280 11. National Bamboo Mission 2022-23 - 2023-24 - 2024-25 786 12. Agroforestry 2022-23 - 2023-24 145 2024-25 1205 13. National Mission on Natural Farming 2022-23 - 2023-24 - 2024-25 23675 *****