Farmer Welfare Centre: A means to bring back farmer's to the agriculture mainstream
Authors: 1Abul K Azad, 2Sanjeev Kumar, 3Chandan Kumar Rai
1, 2 and 3 Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Dairy Extension
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
Email: abulazad45@gmail.com

Abstract:

Farmer Welfare Centre is a new programme organized by the Central government of India on 2nd May 2018. May be the English name of this programme is uncommon but Kisan Kalyan Karyasha (3K) is very recognizable. It is one of the part and parcel programme under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. The farmers are quitting agricultural job due to adverse climatic condition, low remunerative prices, failure to get recognition and low profile job as perceived by the farmers. Due to motivate farmers and lead to 3Ps in agriculture i.e. Production, Productivity and Profitability the government initiated this approach. These type of programme is need of the honour as per food and nutritional security to the whole world is concerned. Farmers are the food producer, world feeder but in Indian condition, they are debtor and suicidal. To bring back farmers life this type of Kisan Kalyan Karyashala will help significantly.

Introduction

Hon’ble Prime Minister has proclaimed that on the event of Ambedkar Jayanti, a “Gram Swaraj Abhiyan” could be organised starting from 14th April to 05th May, 2018 under the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. The slogan of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas” to encourage social synchronisation, spread consciousness about pro-poor initiatives of government, grasp out to poor households to register them as also to obtain their feedback on various welfare programmes. Some of the key programmes for which the government is promoting to take advantages are Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card, etc.

Kisan Kalyan Karyashala is one of the programme which was organized on 2nd May 2018 at block level under Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan systematized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is also called as “Kisan Kalyan Diwas. Theme of this programme is ‘Doubling of Farmer’s Income (DFI)’ by 2022. The main objective is “Creating awareness among farmers regarding strategy to be adopted for DFI by 2022.

Seven strategies for DFI by 2022

  • Special focus on irrigation with sufficient budget.
  • Quality seeds and nutrients based on Soil Health.
  • Large investment in Warehousing & Cold Chains.
  • Promotion of value-addition through processing.
  • Creation of a National Farm Market.
  • Introduction of a new Crop Insurance Scheme.
  • Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, bee-keeping and fisheries

    Programmes launched by the union government under these 7 point strategies

    1. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

    Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) under the special focus on irrigation was launched in 2015-16. The share of funds Centre- States is 75: 25 per cent. In case of north-eastern region and hilly states it will be 90:10 (MoWR, RD &GR 2018). PMKSY has been conceived amalgamating ongoing schemes
  • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
  • River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
  • Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and
  • On Farm Water Management (OFWM)
The broad objectives of PMKSY are as follows:

  • Converge investments in irrigation at the farm level and provide end-to-end solution
  • Har Khet Ko Pani: Enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation
  • Integration of source, distribution, efficient use of water through appropriate technology and practice
  • Enhance adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies under More Crop Per Drop.
  • Focus on adoption of micro-irrigation in the form of drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm ( Jal Sinchan)
  • Enhance recharge of aquifers; promote sustainable water conservation
  • Ensure integrated development of Rainfed areas
  • Water harvesting, water management and crop alignment, explore feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture and attract greater private investments in irrigation



    2. Soil Health Management (SHM)

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    Picture credit: SHC Committee

    Soil Health Management (SHM) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) (w.e.f. 1st April 2014). “National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture(NMSA) is implemented during 12th Plan with the objectives to make agriculture more productive, sustainable and climate resilient; to conserve natural resources; to adopt comprehensive soil health management practices; to optimize utilization of water resources; etc. “Soil Health Management (SHM) is one of the most important interventions under NMSA. Under SHM, Soil Health card is being issued to the farmers. The motto of Soil Health Card is “Swath Dhar, Khet Haraa” (Healthy Earth. Green Farm). Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilisers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and bio-fertilisers for improving soil health and its productivity; strengthening of soil and fertiliser testing facilities to provide soil test based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility; ensuring quality control requirements of fertilisers, bio-fertilisers and organic fertilisers are the main aim of Soil Health Management (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare 2018).

3. Gramin Bhandaran Yojna

This scheme launched with the collaboration of NABARD. The main objective is for creating scientific storage capacity in the rural areas for storing farm produce ,thereby prevent distress sale of produce by the farmers after harvest ,by promoting pledge financing and marketing credit. The amount of loan is depend on the project cost. Bank will finance up to 75 % of the Project cost and up to 80% in NE states and hilly area. Maximum Project cost will be Rs 3000/- to 4000/- per tonne capacity for construction and Rs. 750/ per tonne for renovation. The loan should be repaid in 11 years, with a grace period of one year.


4. PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana

This programme was launched 26th May 2017 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Guwahati. It is a scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). The following schemes implemented under PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana

  • Mega Food Parks
  • Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure
  • Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities
  • Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
  • Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages
  • Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure
  • Human Resources and Institutions
The farmers were asked to adopt new technology, so that the “dream of doubling farmers income by 2022 become successful (Economic Times 2017).

5. e-NAM (National Agriculture Market)

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Honourable Prime Minister launched this programme on April 14, 2016 where initially 21 major wholesale markets integrated electronically. It’s a platform and unified market where farm goods are being sold without mandi tax.

The plan is to link 585 major mandis in the first phase of the NAM next three years. As on July 1, 2017, 455 Mandis of 13 states have been integrated with e-NAM 69 Agricultural commodities are traded in e-NAM.

The NAM Portal provides a single window service for all APMC related information and services. Its deals with the information on commodity arrivals & prices, buy & sell trade offers, provision to respond to trade offers, among other services (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare 2018).

6. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) launched in April 2016 by honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi after rolling back the earlier insurance schemes viz. National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Weather-based Crop Insurance scheme and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS). Thus, at present, PMFBY is the only flagship scheme of the government for agricultural insurance in India (PIB 2018).

The main objective of this programme is supporting sustainable production by providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss, stabilizing income and to adopt innovative & modern agricultural practices.

Table: 1.1: Premium rates of crops

Risk covered Crops covered Premium Rates and Premium Subsidy on PMFBY
  • Yield Losses
  • Post-Harvest Losses
  • Localised Calamities
· Food crops (Cereals, Millets and Pulses)
  • Oilseeds
· Annual Commercial / Annual Horticultural crops
  • For Kharif crops premium is 2%
· For Rabi crops premium is 1.5% of · For annual commercial and horticultural crops, premium is 5%.
Note: The source of fund for government to pay premium is come from Krishi Kalyan Kosh. Both Private and Public Sector Insurance Companies provide Fasal Bima. Use of technology is mandatory
7. National Policy on Marine Fisheries

'National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017' is the recent initiative and collaborative programme launched by Prime Minister on April 2017. The idea and basic fundamentals of this NPMF programme is to provide guidance for promoting 'Blue Growth Initiative' which focus on ushering 'Blue Revolution' (Neeli Kranti) by sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from the marine and other aquatic resources of the country for improving the lives and livelihoods of fishermen and their families. The complete approach of the NPMF, 2017 is based on seven pillars, namely sustainable development, socio - economic up-liftment of fishers, principle of subsidiarity, partnership, inter-generational equity, gender justice and precautionary approach.

Conclusion

The government has taken many initiatives on “Doubling the Farmers Income by 2022” and ensure that it would be possible under seven point strategies which are mentioned above. The beneficiaries and different stakeholders is still unaware about those programmes which could enhance their income by spending minimum input cost from their micro-pocket. Therefore, 3K (Kisan Kalyan Karyasha) is an awareness creating programme for the beneficiaries which would help farmers and other stakeholders to harness the advantages of policy.

References



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