The survey on Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Livestock Holdings of Households in Rural India, 2019 conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) provides data on rural households classified by their major sources of income. As per this survey, about 58.3% of the rural households reported agricultural activities as their main source of Income. As per Agriculture Census 2015-16, small and marginal operational holders constituted about 86 per cent of the total operational holders in the country.

There is no proposal to introduce a separate budget for Agriculture. However, Government of India provides top most priority to the sector which is the backbone of the economy. This is reflected in the fact that budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is very substantial. It has increased from Rs.27662.67 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 132513.62 crore in 2022-23.

In 2017-18, foodgrain production in India was estimated at 285.01 Million Tonnes (MT).As per information obtained from FAOSTAT(database of FAO), India’s production, consumption(domestic supply) and import of pulses in 2018 vis-à-vis the world was 28%, 30% and 14% respectively.

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

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SNC/PK/2173

(Release ID: 1906888)