The Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) is carried out by the National Statistical Organization (NSO) at certain intervals only. The last two SAS were carried out for the Agricultural Years, July 2012–June 2013, and July 2018–June 2019. The last available estimates on income of agricultural household are based on the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during 77^th round (January – December 2019).  As per the survey results, the average monthly income per agricultural household from all sources was estimated to be. Rs. 10218/-. 

The Government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers. All these policies & programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources such as creating Corpus Funds like Micro Irrigation Fund etc. There have been several reforms to unleash the potential, e.g. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs along with necessary financial support under Atma Nirbhar Package (Agriculture). Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat special attention is being paid for creation of infrastructure for which “ Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has been created  with a size of Rs. 100,000 crore. Other special initiatives include Supplementary Income transfers under PM-KISAN; Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna  (PMFBY);  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi Crops ensuring a minimum of 50 percent of profit margin on the cost of production, Bee-Keeping; Rashtriya Gokul Mission; Blue Revolution; Interest Subvention Scheme; Kisan Credit Card (KCC) that now offers production loan to even dairy & fishery farmers besides agricultural crops etc. The adoption of Drone technologies in agriculture has a potential to revolutionize the Indian agriculture. In order to make Drone technology affordable to the farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance @ 100 % cost of drone together with the contingent expenditure is extended to ICAR/SAU/ State governments/ State government Institutions under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) for its demonstration on the farmer’s fields.

In the FY 2020-21, a provision of Rs. 116757.92 crore was kept at RE 2020-21stage for various schemes being implemented by the department of Agriculture for the welfare of farmers, out of which an amount of Rs. 108622.51 crore was utilized.

Agriculture being a State Subject, the State Governments take appropriate measures for development of agriculture in the State. However, Government of India supplements the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support and various schemes/ programmes. Government encourages the State Governments from time to time to increase the utilization of funds.

The Department holds review meetings with the State Governments for the implementation of various schemes of the department so as to ensure that funds allocated to such schemes are optimally utilized.

 This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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