Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has informed Lok Sabha that a comprehensive range of Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been implemented for Farmers Welfare.
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Government Schemes and Missions for Agricultural Development
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):
- Aims to provide income support to all landholding farmers’ families in India for agricultural and domestic expenses.
- Offers an annual payment of Rs. 6000 to eligible farmers’ families with cultivable land holdings.
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):
- Launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs” in 2020.
- Facilitates the formation of FPOs through Implementing Agencies (IAs) and provides professional handholding support, including business plan execution, for 5 years.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
- Rs. 1 lakh crore fund introduced in July 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
- Provides medium to long-term debt financing for viable post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets with interest subvention and credit guarantee support.
National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2021 to promote oil palm cultivation and enhance India’s self-sufficiency in edible oils, focusing on North-Eastern States and A&N Islands.
- Aims to bring an additional 6.5 lakh hectares under Oil Palm plantation in the next 5 years.
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM):
- Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020 under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to promote scientific beekeeping and achieve a “Sweet Revolution” in the field.
