Schemes For Farmers’ Welfare | 03 Aug 2023

For Prelims: Schemes for Farmers’ Welfare, Central Sector Scheme, Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

For Mains: Schemes For Farmers’ Welfare.

Source: PIB

Why in News?

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.

What are the Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes?

  • Central Sector Scheme:
    • Central sector schemes are based on subjects from the union list, and they are formulated by the centre.
    • These schemes are designed, planned and comprletely funded by the central government.
      • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri ujjwala Yojana, Khelo India Scheme are some examples of the Central sector schemes.
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme:
    • Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are schemes that are funded partially by both the Central and State Governments.
    • It is basically a channel which the central government uses to help the states run their plans financially.
    • In these schemes, a certain percentage of the funding is provided by the states, although most of it rests with the centre.
      • The amount of state participation varies from state to state.
    • Their implementation rests on the Union territories and the States.

What are the Key Government Schemes For Farmers Welfare?

  • The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN):
    • The PM-KISAN Scheme aims to provide income support to all landholding Farmers’ families across the country to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs.
    • The Scheme provides a payment of Rs.6000/- per year for the farmers’ families with cultivable land holding, subject to certain exclusions.
  • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):
    • The Government launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs” in the year 2020.
    • Formation & promotion of FPOs are to be done through Implementing Agencies (IAs), which further engage Cluster Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to form & provide professional handholding support to FPOs for a period of 05 years including preparation and execution of business plan for the concerned FPOs.
  • Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
    • Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infra Fund was launched in July 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
    • The AIF is a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee support.
  • National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):
    • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in 2021 to promote oil palm cultivation for making India Atma Nirbhar in edible oils with special focus on North-Eastern States and A&N Islands.
    • The Mission will bring an additional area of 6.5 lakh ha under Oil Palm plantation with 3.28 lakh ha in north-eastern states and 3.22 lakh ha in the rest of India in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
  • National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM):
    • It is a Central Sector Scheme, launched in 2020 under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for its implementation in the field for overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping & to achieve the goal of Sweet Revolution.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q1. Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? (2020)

  1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
  2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks
  3. Consumption requirements of farm households
  4. Post-harvest expenses
  5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: (b)

Q2. Consider the following statements: (2017)

  1. The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
  2. Enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
  3. Checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Mains

Q. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by science-based technologies? (2020)

Q. Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (2016)