The Government's agriculture schemes are “not disjointed†but linked at various stages of the farm sector. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh informed the Parliament that Indian agriculture is confronted with high price volatility and climate risk for which adequate preparedness has been in place.
Due to steps taken by the Government, despite climate risks, the overall crop production in the country is on the increasing trend, he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Singh.
To reduce the dependence of farmers on private money lenders, Singh said that the Government has taken several measures to increase institutional credit flow and bringing down the interest rate on farm loans.
Further, with a view to provide better insurance coverage to crops for all stages, the Government has launched crop insurance scheme under which Rs 16,967.92 crore claims was settled during Kharif 2017, he added.
The Minister also mentioned that the Government has been “reorienting†the agriculture sector by focusing additionally on an income-centric approach.
In another reply, Singh said that more than 60 per cent markets in the country are still selling agricultural produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
On the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), the minister informed that after implementation of the PMFBY since April, 2016, enrolment of non-loanee
farmers for whom the scheme is voluntary, has increased from 27.81 lakh in 2015-16 under erstwhile schemes, to 136.66 lakh in 2016-17 and to 138.47 lakh in 2017-18, indicating acceptance of the scheme.
