Ensuring Farmer's Welfare, Harvesting Prosperity

India, often referred to as the "land of farmers", has emerged as a key player in global agriculture. Currently holding the title of the world's largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute, India also stands as the second-largest producer of significant crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruit, and cotton. The nation's agricultural prowess extends beyond these staples, with India leading in the production of spices, fish, poultry, livestock, and plantation crops. Despite the challenges posed by climate change, the Economic Survey of 2022-23 reported a remarkable achievement in foodgrain production, reaching an impressive 315.6 million tonnes. This underscores the resilience and adaptability of the Indian agricultural sector in the face of evolving environmental conditions.

The commendable contribution of farmers, exemplified by their unwavering dedication and efforts, have not only ensured the nation's food security but have also positioned it as a powerhouse on the international agricultural stage. As India continues to navigate the path of progress, the agricultural sector remains a cornerstone of its economic strength and global influence. Recognising their pivotal role in achieving this remarkable milestone, the Indian government officially designated the 23rd of December as Rashtriya Kisan Diwas (National Farmer's Day) in 2001. This coincides with the birth anniversary of Shri Late Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India, whose visionary leadership ushered in a transformative era for the Indian agricultural sector. Since then, the government has consistently marked this day to honor and appreciate the contributions of farmers, while also focusing on their wellbeing and acknowledging their enduring efforts.

In commemoration of this special day dedicated to the farmers of India, EN Explains highlights key schemes that have played a pivotal role in reshaping the agricultural landscape, placing farmer welfare and prosperity at the forefront.

·        Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF): Powered by the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched this scheme in July 2020 to improve post-harvest infrastructure and community farming assets. By providing financial assistance, the scheme helps the beneficiary farmers to build an effective agricultural infrastructure including cold storage, warehousing, packaging, etc. The fund is inclusive of short-term as well as long-term loans that can be availed by farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), agrientrepreneurs, etc.

·        PM-Kisan: Operational since December 1, 2018, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) is a central government scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. It aims to provide income support to small and marginal land-holding farmers by giving them direct cash transfers of Rs. 6000 per year in three equal installments. PM-Kisan aims to provide immediate financial relief to farmers and ensure their economic stability by addressing income uncertainties. It intends to empower farmers and reduce their dependency on informal credit sources.

·        PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Launched in the year 2016, this crop insurance scheme strives to equip and support farmers with insurance coverage and financial assistance in case of crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases. The scheme encapsulates all food crops such as cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, etc. It relieves the burden on farmers by subsidising premium rates, which are shared by the state and central governments along with beneficiaries. Furthermore, the insured amount is at par with the rate of the crop lest any damage occurs.      

·        National Agriculture Market (e-NAM): Launched by the Prime Minister in April 2016, e-NAM is a pan-Indian electronic trading platform, which acts as a bridge between the Agricultural Produce Market Committee and mandis to enable farmers to sell their produce online, aiming to create a transparent unified national market for agricultural commodities. It provides a single platform for farmers to sell their products and help them reach a wider market and reap better prices for their products. The portal further fosters fair price discovery by displaying real-time information on prices, quantities, and transaction details, along with quality testing of the products. The platform does away with intermediaries as it directly connects the farmer to the buyer, making it a seamless experience on both ends.

·        Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme: Implemented in 1998, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme has proven to be a significant stride by the government, aimed at providing farmers with timely and adequate credit to meet their agricultural expenses without falling prey to informal credit sources. The initiative empowers farmers with access to short-term credit at affordable rates to fulfill their agricultural and related financial requirements. The scheme allows the beneficiaries to meet their farming needs such as purchasing seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and any crop cultivation expenses and offers them flexible repayment options at low interest rates, drastically reducing financial burden during the cultivation period. The KCC scheme goes a mile further by insuring the beneficiary against any unforeseen circumstances such as crop failure, accidents or fatality.

·        Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): The PKVY scheme was launched in 2015 to promote organic farming, with the pursuit of improving soil health. It encourages farmers to opt for organic farming and provides them end-to-end support, i.e., from production to certification and marketing along with post-harvest support including processing, packing, and marketing. Under the scheme, organic farmers are financially assisted with Rs 50,000 per hectare for three years, out of which 62% of the amount is funded for inputs such as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, organic manure, etc. The farmers under this scheme are encouraged to procure organic certification for their produce to meet the standards of organic farming and enhance its market value.

·        Soil Health Card Scheme: Focused on improving soil health, this scheme was launched in 2015. Under this scheme, farmers are issued soil health cards informing them of the nutrient status of their soil and recommending measures to improve the nutritional value and fertility of the soil.  From 2017-2019, 11.69 crore soil health cards were distributed to farmers across the country. Static and mobile Soil Testing Labs were also established to support the progress of the scheme. The SHC scheme was merged with Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojana cafeteria scheme in 2022 along with other schemes undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

All these initiatives aim to enhance the socio-economic standing of farmers, alleviating their financial burdens and providing a safety net against unforeseen circumstances. The well-being of farmers is crucial not only for ensuring food security but also for fostering economic stability, promoting rural development, and fostering social harmony within a nation.

Compiled by Induja Tyagi and Kaushikee, Young Professionals, EN Team

Source: Inputs from PIB, Ministry of Agriculture