**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the economic empowerment of farmers through various schemes and policies. It highlights the government's support to states, findings from surveys indicating increased farmer income, and an integrated strategy for enhancing farmer income and agricultural growth. The Digital Agriculture Mission, approved in September 2024, aims to create a digital infrastructure for agriculture.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Government Support and Assessment:**
* Agriculture is a state subject, with the Indian government providing support through policies, budgetary allocations, and schemes.
* The Indian Council on Agricultural Research (ICAR) documented 75,000 farmers who more than doubled their income through converged schemes.
* National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data indicates an increase in the average monthly income per agricultural household from ₹6,426 in 2012-13 to ₹10,218 in 2018-19.
* NSSO data indicates an increase in the average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) in the rural sector from ₹1,430 (2011-12) to ₹4,122 (2023-24).
* **Integrated Strategy for Enhancing Farmer Income:**
* Increase crop production productivity.
* Reduce the cost of production.
* Ensure remunerative returns for farmers' produce.
* Promote agricultural diversification.
* Develop post-harvest value addition.
* Adapt to climate change for sustainable agriculture.
* The budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) has increased from ₹21,933.50 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1,27,290.16 crore in 2025-26.
* **Major Schemes for Farmer Income and Agricultural Development:**
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN)
* Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PMKMY)
* Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
* Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
* Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
* Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
* National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
* Namo Drone Didi
* National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
* Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PMAASHA)
* Agri Fund for StartUps Rural Enterprises AgriSURE
* Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
* SubMission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
* Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
* Soil Health Fertility (SHF)
* Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
* Agroforestry
* Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
* SubMission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
* SubMission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
* National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
* Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
* Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
* National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO-Oil Palm)
* National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO-Oilseeds)
* Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
* Digital Agriculture Mission
* National Bamboo Mission
* **Digital Agriculture Mission:**
* Approved in September 2024, to create a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Agriculture, including AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and a Soil Fertility Profile Map.
* AgriStack DPI consists of Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry, and the Farmers Registry.
* Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with 30 States/UTs for implementation.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Aims to uplift and economically empower farmers through various schemes, policies, and digital initiatives to increase income and improve agricultural practices.
* *Action Required:* Participate in relevant schemes, adopt recommended agricultural practices, and utilize digital resources for informed decision-making.
* **State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing agricultural policies and creating foundational registries/databases for the Digital Agriculture Mission.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with the central government, implement schemes effectively, and participate in the Digital Agriculture Mission by creating and maintaining Geo-Referenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry, and the Farmers Registry.
* **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for formulating policies, allocating budgets, and implementing schemes to support the agriculture sector.
* *Action Required:* Continue to monitor the impact of schemes, allocate resources effectively, and drive the implementation of the Digital Agriculture Mission.
* **Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):**
* *Impact:* To conduct research and document success stories related to agriculture.
* *Action Required:* Continue research efforts, document success stories, and disseminate information to farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of targeted schemes and policies for farmers.
Indian Council on Agricultural Research ICAR: An autonomous organisation responsible for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
National Sample Survey Office NSSO: An office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation responsible for conducting large-scale sample surveys in India.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi PMKISAN: A scheme providing income support to small and marginal farmers in India.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY: An agricultural insurance scheme providing insurance coverage against crop loss due to natural calamities.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund AIF: A fund to provide medium-long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
National Mission on Natural Farming NMNF: A scheme to promote natural farming practices in India.
Digital Agriculture Mission: A mission to create a Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture, such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and a comprehensive Soil Fertility Profile Map to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem in the country.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3877
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025
STUDY ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF FARMERS
3877. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:
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) whether any comprehensive impact assessment study has been conducted by the
Government specifically evaluating the upliftment and economic empowerment of
farmers through various schemes and policies;
(b) if so, the main findings thereof and if not, the time by which such assessment is
planned to be conducted;
(c) the details of specific strategy being adopted in terms of targeted schemes and
policies by the Government to reach out to farmers effectively, particularly in Uttar
Pradesh; and
(d) the mechanisms in place to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access in
online application processes?
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) & (b): Agriculture is a State subject. Government of India supports the States
through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes.
Indian Council on Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a compilation of
success stories of 75,000 farmers who have increased their income more than two
times by convergence of schemes of DA&FW and the allied Ministries/Departments.
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation (MoSPI) conducted a Situation Assessment Survey
(SAS) of Agricultural Households during NSS 77th round (January, 2019 – December,
2019) with reference to the agricultural year July, 2018- June, 2019 in the rural areas
of the country. According to these surveys, the estimated average monthly income per
agricultural household increased from ₹6,426 in 2012-13 (NSS 70th round) to ₹10,218
in 2018-19 (NSS 77th round).As per NSSO Survey on House hold Consumption Expenditure (2023-24), a
comparison of the estimates of all-India average Monthly Per Capita Consumption
Expenditure (MPCE) is as under:
Sector Average MPCE (Rs.) over different period
2011-12 NSS (68th 2023-2024
round)
Rural 1,430 4,122
Urban 2,630 6,996
Difference as % of 83.9 69.7
Rural MPCE
(c) & (d): Government of India has identified following integrated strategy for
enhancing the farmers income 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
All Schemes/programmes of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are
aligned to achieve these objectives. 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 including Uttar Pradesh 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 Didi9. 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
The Government has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission in September 2024.
The Mission envisages the creation of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for
Agriculture, such as AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System, and a comprehensive
Soil Fertility & Profile Map to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem in the
country. This, in turn, would drive innovative farmer-centric digital solutions and make
reliable crop-related information available to all farmers on time. The AgriStack DPI
consists of three foundational registries or databases associated with the agriculture
sector, i.e., GeoReferenced Village Maps, Crop Sown Registry and the Farmers
Registry, all created and maintained by the State Governments/ Union Territories. At
present, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with 30 States/UTs
for the creation and implementation of the Digital Public Infrastructure, including the
State of Uttar Pradesh.
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