Agriculture: Additional Steps during COVID

·        A number of measures supporting farmers was explained yesterday.

·        Additional measures taken during last 2 months are below.

·        During lockdown period Minimum Support Price (MSP) purchases of amount more than Rs 74,300 crores.

·        PM KISAN fund Transfer of Rs 18,700 crores.

·        PM Fasal Bima Yojana claim payment of Rs 6,400 crores.

Animal Husbandry: Additional Steps during COVID

·        During Lockdown, Demand of Milk reduced by 20-25%.

·        560 Lakh litre per day (LLPD) procured by cooperatives against daily sale of 360 LLPD.

·        Total 111 Crore Litres extra procured ensuring payment of Rs 4100 Cr.

·        A new scheme to provide interest subvention @2% per annum to dairy cooperatives for 20-21.

·        Additional 2% p.a interest subvention on prompt payment/interest servicing.

·        This scheme will unlock 5000 Cr additional liquidity, benefitting 2 Cr farmers.

Fisheries: Additional Steps during COVID

·        All 4 COVID related announcements for fisheries implemented

·        Validity of Sanitary Import Permits (SIPs) for import of Shrimp Broodstock extended by 3 months

·        Condoned delay up to 1 month in arrival of Brood stock consignments

·        Allowed rebooking of Quarantine cubicles for cancelled consignments with no additional charges

·        Verification of documents and grant of NOC for Quarantine relaxed from 7 days to 3 days

·        Registration of 242 Registered Shrimp hatcheries and Nauplii Rearing Hatcheries expiring on 31.03.2020 extended for 3 months

·        Operations of Marine Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture relaxed to cover Inland Fisheries

Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers

·        Lack of adequate cold chain & Post Harvest Management infrastructure in the vicinity of farm-gate causing gaps in value chains.

·        Focus has been on short term crop loans while investment in long term agriculture infrastructure has often not been enough.

·        Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, Farmers Producer Organisations, Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start- ups, etc.)

·        Impetus for development of farm-gate & aggregation point, affordable and financially viable Post Harvest Management infrastructure

·        Fund will be created immediately.

Rs 10,000 crores scheme for Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE)

·        Scheme promotes vision of Hon. PM: ‘Vocal for Local with Global outreach’

·        Unorganised MFEs units need technical upgradation to attain FSSAI food standards, build brands and marketing

·        A Scheme will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs attain attain above goals

·        Existing micro food enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help Groups and Cooperatives to be supported

·        Cluster based approach (e.g. Mango in UP, Kesar in J&K, Bamboo shoots in North-East, Chilli in Andhra Pradesh, Tapioca in Tamil Nadu etc.)

·        Expected outcomes: Improved health and safety standards, integration with retail markets, improved incomes

·        Will also help in reaching untapped export markets in view of improved health consciousness.

Rs 20,000 crores for Fishermen through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

·        Critical gaps in fisheries value chain

·        Government will launch the PMMSY for integrated, sustainable, inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries.

·        Rs 11,000 Cr for activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture

·        Rs. 9000 Cr for Infrastructure - Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets etc.

·        Cage Culture, Seaweed farming, Ornamental Fisheries as well as New Fishing Vessels, Traceability, Laboratory Network etc. will be key activities.

·        Provisions of Ban Period Support to fishermen (during the period fishing is not permitted), Personal & Boat Insurance

·        Will lead to Additional Fish Production of 70 lakh tonnes over 5 years.

·        Employment to over 55 lakh persons; double exports to Rs 1,00,000 Cr.

·        Focus on Islands, Himalayan States, North-east and Aspirational Districts.

National Animal Disease Control Programme

·        National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis launched with total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crores.

·        It ensures 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis.

·        Till date, 1.5 crore cows & buffaloes tagged and vaccinated.

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund - Rs. 15,000 crore

·        Many areas in country with high milk production having great potential for private investment in Dairy

·        Aim to support private investment in Dairy Processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure

·        An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore will be set up.

·        Incentives to be given for establishing plants for export of niche products.

Promotion of Herbal Cultivation: Rs. 4000 crore

·        National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has supported 2.25 lac hectare area under cultivation of medicinal plants

·        10,00,000 hectare will be covered under Herbal cultivation in next two years with outlay of Rs. 4000 crore

·        Will lead to Rs. 5,000 crores income generation for farmers

·        Network of regional Mandis for Medicinal Plants.

·        NMPB will bring 800 hectare area by developing a corridor of medicinal plants along the banks of Ganga.

Beekeeping initiatives –Rs 500 crores

·        Beekeeping is a livelihood supporting activity for rural areas;

·        Increases yield & quality of crops through pollination;

·        Provides honey and other beehive products like wax.

Government will implement a scheme for:

·        Infrastructure development related to Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres, Collection, Marketing and Storage Centres, Post-Harvest & value Addition facilities etc;

·        Implementation of standards & Developing traceability system

·        Capacity building with thrust on women;

·        Development of quality nucleus stock and bee breeders.

This will lead to increase in income for 2 lakh beekeepers and quality honey to consumers.

From ‘TOP’ to TOTAL - Rs 500 crores

·        Supply chains have been disrupted and farmers are not being able to sell their produce in the markets

·        Distress sale and reduction of price of perishable fruits and vegetables at the farm level needs to be prevented.

·        Operation Greens will be extended from Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes (TOP) to ALL fruits and vegetables (TOTAL).

·        Scheme features will be as follows:

·        50% subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficient markets.

·        50% subsidy on storage, including cold storages.

·        Pilot for 6 months – Will be expanded and extended

·        Expected outcomes: Better price realisation to farmers, reduced wastages, affordability of products for consumers

Amendments to Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers

·        EC Act, 1955 was enacted in days of scarcity.

·        Need to enable better price realisation for farmers by attracting investments and making agriculture sector competitive

·        Agriculture food stuffs including cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato to be deregulated.

·        Stock limit to be imposed under very exceptional circumstances like national calamities, famine with surge in prices.

·        No such stock limit shall apply to processors or value chain participant, subject to their installed capacity or to any exporter subject to the export demand.

·        Government will amend Essential Commodities Act.

Agriculture Marketing Reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers

·        Farmers bound to sell agriculture produce only to Licensees in APMCs

·        Such restriction of sale is not there for any industrial produce

·        Results in Hindrances in free flow of Agricultural Produce and Fragmentation of Markets and Supply Chain;

·        Less price realization for farmers.

·        A Central law will be formulated to provide -

·        Adequate choices to farmer to sell produce at attractive price;

·        Barrier free Inter-State Trade;

·        Framework for e-trading of agriculture produce.

Agriculture Produce Price and Quality Assurance

·        Farmers lack an enforceable standard mechanism for predictable prices of crops at the time of sowing.

·        Private sector investment in provision of inputs and knowhow in the agriculture sector hindered

·        Facilitative legal framework will be created to enable farmers for engaging with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc. in a fair and transparent manner.

·        Risk mitigation for farmers, assured returns and quality standardisation shall form integral part of the framework.