आत्मनिर्भर र्ारत

Part-3: Agriculture https://t.me/hinduhighlights

Government Of India

15.05.2020
https://t.me/upschighlights
STRATEGIC REFORMS
and
GROWTH INITIATIVES

05-05-2020
Department of Economic Affairs,
Ministry of Finance
Yesterday’s announcements
related to farmers
1. Rs 30,000 crore Additional Emergency Working Capital for farmers
through NABARD
• NABARD will extend additional re-finance support of Rs 30,000
crore over and above the Rs 90,000 already being provided by NABARD
for meeting crop loan requirement of Rural Cooperative Banks and
RRBs.
• Will benefit 3 crore farmers, mostly small and marginal.

2. Rs 2 lakh crore credit boost to 2.5 crore farmers under Kisan Credit
Card Scheme
• A special drive to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries
through Kisan Credit Cards.
• Fisherman and Animal Husbandry Farmers will also be included in this
drive.
• Will inject additional liquidity of Rs 2 lakh crore to 2.5 crore farmers
Agriculture : Additional Steps during COVID
• A number of measures supporting farmers was
explained yesterday.
• Additional measures taken during last 2 months are
below
• During lockdown period Minimum Support Price
(MSP) purchases of amount more than Rs 74,300
crores
• PM KISAN fund Transfer of Rs 18,700 crores
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana claim payment of Rs 6,400
crores
Animal Husbandry : Additional Steps during COVID

• During Lockdown, Demand of Milk reduced by 20-25%.

• 560 Lakh litre per day(LLPD) procured by cooperatives

against daily sale of 360 LLPD.

• Total 111 Crore Litres extra procured ensuring payment of Rs

4100 Cr.

• A new scheme to provide interest subvention @2% per

annum to dairy cooperatives for 20-21.

• Additional 2% p.a interest subvention on prompt

payment/interest servicing.

• This scheme will unlock 5000 Cr additional liquidity,

benefitting 2 Cr farmers.
Fisheries: Additional Steps during COVID
• All 4 COVID related announcements for fisheries
implemented
• Validity of Sanitary Import Permits (SIPs) for import of
Shrimp Broodstock extended by 3 months
• Condoned delay up to 1 month in arrival of Brood stock
consignments
• Allowed rebooking of Quarantine cubicles for cancelled
consignments with no additional charges
• Verification of documents and grant of NOC for Quarantine
relaxed from 7 days to 3 days
• Registration of 242 Registered Shrimp hatcheries and
Nauplii Rearing Hatcheries expiring on 31.03.2020 extended
for 3 months
• Operations of Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture
relaxed to cover Inland Fisheries
Agriculture
Measures to
strengthen
Infrastructure
Logistics and
Capacity Building
Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund
for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers
• Lack of adequate cold chain & Post Harvest Management
infrastructure in the vicinity of farm-gate causing gaps in value
chains.
• Focus has been on short term crop loans while investment in long
term agriculture infrastructure has often not been enough.
• Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will be provided for
funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate &
aggregation points (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies,
Farmers Producer Organisations, Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-
ups, etc.)
• Impetus for development of farm-gate & aggregation point,
affordable and financially viable Post Harvest Management
infrastructure
• Fund will be created immediately.
 Rs 10,000 crores scheme for Formalisation of
Micro Food Enterprises (MFE)
• Scheme promotes vision of Hon. PM: ‘Vocal for Local with Global outreach’
• Unorganised MFEs units need technical upgradation to attain FSSAI food
standards, build brands and marketing
• A Scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs attain attain above goals
• Existing micro food enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help
Groups and Cooperatives to be supported
• Cluster based approach (e.g. Mango in UP, Kesar in J&K, Bamboo shoots in
North-East, Chilli in Andhra Pradesh, Tapioca in Tamil Nadu etc.)
• Expected outcomes: Improved health and safety standards, integration with
retail markets, improved incomes
• Will also help in reaching untapped export markets in view of improved health
consciousness.
Rs 20,000 crores for Fishermen through Pradhan
Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Critical gaps in fisheries value chain
• Government will launch the PMMSY for integrated, sustainable,
inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries.
• Rs 11,000 Cr for activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture
• Rs. 9000 Cr for Infrastructure - Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets etc.
• Cage Culture, Seaweed farming, Ornamental Fisheries as well as New
Fishing Vessels, Traceability, Laboratory Network etc. will be key activities.
• Provisions of Ban Period Support to fishermen (during the period fishing is
not permitted), Personal & Boat Insurance
• Will lead to Additional Fish Production of 70 lakh tonnes over 5 years.
• Employment to over 55 lakh persons; double exports to Rs 1,00,000 Cr.
• Focus on Islands, Himalayan States, North-east and Aspirational Districts.
National Animal Disease Control Programme
 National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and
Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis launched with total
outlay of Rs. 13,343 crores.

 It ensures 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat

and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and
Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis.

 Till date, 1.5 crore cows & buffaloes tagged and vaccinated.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
Development Fund - Rs. 15,000 crore

 Many areas in country with high milk production

having great potential for private investment in
Dairy
 Aim to support private investment in Dairy
Processing, value addition and cattle feed
infrastructure
 An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore will be
set up.
 Incentives to be given for establishing plants for
export of niche products.
Promotion of Herbal Cultivation :
Rs. 4000 crore
 National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has supported
2.25 lac hectare area under cultivation of medicinal plants

 10,00,000 hectare will be covered under Herbal cultivation

in next two years with outlay of Rs. 4000 crore

 Will lead to Rs. 5,000 crores income generation for farmers

 Network of regional Mandis for Medicinal Plants.

 NMPB will bring 800 hectare area by developing a

corridor of medicinal plants along the banks of Ganga.
Beekeeping initiatives –Rs 500 crores
• Beekeeping is a livelihood supporting activity for rural
areas;
• Increases yield & quality of crops through pollination;
• Provides honey and other beehive products like wax.
Government will implement a scheme for:
• Infrastructure development related to Integrated Beekeeping
Development Centres, Collection, Marketing and Storage
Centres, Post Harvest & value Addition facilities etc;
• Implementation of standards & Developing traceability
system
• Capacity building with thrust on women;
• Development of quality nucleus stock and bee breeders.
This will lead to increase in income for 2 lakh beekeepers
and quality honey to consumers.
From ‘TOP’ to TOTAL - Rs 500 crores
• Supply chains have been disrupted and farmers are not being
able to sell their produce in the markets
• Distress sale and reduction of price of perishable fruits and
vegetables at the farm level needs to be prevented.
• Operation Greens will be extended from Tomatoes, Onion
and Potatoes (TOP) to ALL fruits and vegetables
(TOTAL).
• Scheme features will be as follows:
• 50% subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficient
markets.
• 50% subsidy on storage, including cold storages.
• Pilot for 6 months – Will be expanded and extended
• Expected outcomes: Better price realisation to farmers,
reduced wastages, affordability of products for consumers
Governance and
Administrative
Reforms
Amendments to Essential Commodities Act to
enable better price realisation for farmers
• EC Act, 1955 was enacted in days of scarcity.
• Need to enable better price realisation for farmers by attracting
investments and making agriculture sector competitive
• Agriculture food stuffs including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds,
pulses, onions and potato to be deregulated.
• Stock limit to be imposed under very exceptional circumstances
like national calamities, famine with surge in prices.
• No such stock limit shall apply to processors or value chain
participant, subject to their installed capacity or to any exporter
subject to the export demand.
• Government will amend Essential Commodities Act.
Agriculture Marketing Reforms to
provide marketing choices to farmers
• Farmers bound to sell agriculture produce only to Licensees in APMCs

• Such restriction of sale is not there for any industrial produce

• Results in Hindrances in free flow of Agricultural Produce and

Fragmentation of Markets and Supply Chain;

• Less price realization for farmers.

A Central law will be formulated to provide -

• Adequate choices to farmer to sell produce at attractive price;

• Barrier free Inter-State Trade;

• Framework for e-trading of agriculture produce.

Agriculture Produce Price and Quality
Assurance
• Farmers lack an enforceable standard mechanism for
predictable prices of crops at the time of sowing.
• Private sector investment in provision of inputs and
knowhow in the agriculture sector hindered
• Facilitative legal framework will be created to enable
farmers for engaging with processors, aggregators, large
retailers, exporters etc. in a fair and transparent manner.
• Risk mitigation for farmers, assured returns and
quality standardisation shall form integral part of the
framework.
Thank You