AGRICULTURE

Agriculture provides significant support for economic growth and social transformation of the
country. As one of the world’s largest agrarian economies, the agriculture sector (including allied activities) in India accounted for 15.7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP at constant 2004-05 prices) in 2008-09,compared to 18.9 per cent in 2004-05, and contributed approximately 10.2 per cent of total exports during 2008-09.Its role remains critical as it provides employment to around 52 per cent of the workforce. The rates of growth and share of agriculture and allied activities in the GDP of the country are given below:

Agriculture sector: Key indicators at constant prices (2004-05) in per cent

Source : Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.
Notes : GCF—gross capital formation; CDS—current daily status.

Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in Agriculture and Allied Sectors

The public investment in agriculture registered an increase of Rs 25, 034 crore and stood at Rs 67,260 crore , which is a positive and welcome trend. Investment in agriculture and allied sector since 2006-07 is given below:

Public and Private Investment in Agriculture & Allied Sector at 2004-05 Prices

Source : Central Statistical Organisation

The Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in agriculture and allied sectors as a proportion of total GDP stood at 2.65 per cent in 2006-07 and improved to 3.34 per cent in 2008-09. Similarly, the GCF in agriculture & allied sectors relative to GDP in this sector has also shown an improvement from 15.44 per cent in 2006-07 to 21.31 per cent in 2008-09:

Gross capital formation in agriculture in Rs crore at 2004-05 prices

Source : Central Statistical Organisation

Foodgrain production (million tonnes)

Source : Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

Crop Production 2009-10

The recovery of monsoon in September and post-monsoon (October-December),cumulative rainfall of 8 per cent above normal protected the kharif crops to some extent and improved the prospects of rabi crops in 2009-10. As per the 2nd Advance Estimates, the production of foodgain is estimated at 261.85 million tonnes as compared to 233.88 million tonnes in 2008-09.Production of major crops during 2009-10 is as under:

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

The early trends indicate that during Rabi season the production scenario will be better. The foodgrains production during Rabi 2009-10 is expected to exceed the last Rabi season’s production which was an all time record. Contributed by higher Production during Rabi season, total production of pulses during the year is expected to exceed the last year’s level by 0.18 million tonnes. The production of rapeseed & mustard is also expected to be higher by 0.23 million tonnes, resulting into overall production of Rabi oilseeds exceeding the last year’s level by 0.22 million tonnes. If weather conditions continue to be favourable, the production of some of the Rabi crops is likely to improve further.

Minimum Support Prices (MSPs)

The Government announces minimum support prices (MSPs) each season for major agricultural commodities and organizes purchase operations through public and cooperative agencies. The designated Central nodal agencies intervene in the market to undertake procurement operations with the objective of ensuring that market prices do not fall below the MSPs fixed by the Government.

The Government decides the support prices for various agricultural commodities after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the views of State Governments and Central Ministries as well as such other relevant factors as considered important for fixation of support prices. The Government has fixed the MSPs of 2009-10 kharif and rabi crops depicted in table below :

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation.
Notes: (a) staple length (mm) of 24.5-25.5 and Micronaire value of 4.3-5.1; (b) Fair and Remunerative Price.

Price Support Scheme (PSS)

The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for procurement of oilseeds and pulses through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), which is the Central nodal agency, at the MSP declared by the Government. NAFED is also the Central agency for procurement of cotton under the PSS in addition to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). NAFED undertakes procurement of oilseeds, pulses and cotton under the PSS as and when prices fall below the MSP. Procurement under the PSS is continued till prices stabilize at or above the MSP.During 2009-10 (up to January 4, 2010) NAFED has procured 64,802 metric tonnes of various oilseeds depicted below:

Procurement made by NAFED under the PSS during 2009-10

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation.

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)

The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation implements the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) on the request of State/Union Territory Governments for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities that are generally perishable in nature and not covered under the PSS. The MIS is implemented in order to protect the growers of these commodities from having to make distress sales. In the event of a bumper crop and glut in the market, prices tend to fall below economic levels/cost of production. Procurement under the MIS is made by NAFED as the Central agency and by state-designated agencies.

Progress of Agriculture-Sector Schemes / Programmes

A number of Centrally sponsored and Central-sector schemes are being implemented for the enhancement of agricultural production and productivity in the country, and to increase the income of the farming community:

(i) Macro Management

The Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme (MMA) was formulated in 2000-01, by bringing together under one umbrella 27 Centrally sponsored schemes relating to cooperatives, crop production programmes, watershed development programmes, horticulture, fertilizer, mechanization and seeds. The Scheme has been revised during 2008-09 to improve its efficacy in supplementing/complementing the efforts of the States towards enhancement of agricultural production and productivity. The role of the Scheme has been redefined to avoid overlapping and duplication of efforts and to make it more relevant to the present agricultural scenario in the States in order to achieve the basic objective of food security and to improve the livelihood system for rural masses. The Revised MMA comprises 10 sub-schemes relating to crop production and natural resource management.Some of the salient features of the revised scheme are:

• the practice of allocating funds to States/UTs on historical basis has been replaced by new allocation criteria based on gross cropped area and area under small and marginal holdings;
  
  
• assistance is provided to the States/UTs as 100 per cent grant;
  
  
• the subsidy structure has been rationalized to make the pattern of subsidy uniform under all the schemes implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation;
  
  
• the revised subsidy norms indicate the maximum permissible limit of assistance. states may either retain existing norms, or increase them to a reasonable level provided that the norms do not exceed the revised upper limits specified;
  
  
• two new components have been added, namely (a) pulses and oilseeds crop production programmes for areas not covered under the Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm and Maize (ISOPOM) and (b) Reclamation of Acidic Soil along with the existing component of Reclamation of Alkali Soil;
  
  
• the permissible ceiling for new initiatives has been increased from the existing 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the allocation;
  
  
• at least 33 per cent of the funds is required to be earmarked for small, marginal and women farmers;
  
  
• active participation of all tiers of the Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) would have to be ensured in the implementation of the Revised MMA including review, monitoring and evaluation at district/sub-district level.

(ii) National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

With a view to enhancing the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10 million tonnes, 8 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes respectively by the end of the Eleventh Plan, the Centrally sponsored NFSM has been launched from the rabi 2007-08 season.The three major components of the Mission are NFSM-rice, NFSM-wheat and NFSM-pulses. It was launched to enhance the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10 million tonnes, 8 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes respectively by the end of the 11th Plan (2007-2012).The Mission aims to increase production through area expansion and productivity enhancement; restore soil fertility and productivity; create employment opportunities; and enhance the farm-level economy to restore confidence of farmers. The Mission has helped to widen the food basket of the country with significant contributions coming from the NFSM districts.The NFSM is presently being implemented in 312 identified districts of 17 States of the country.

(iii) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY),a flagship scheme of the Government in the agriculture and allied sectors was launched in August 2007 to reorient current agricultural development strategies to meet the needs of farmers and rejuvenate the agricultural sector so as to achieve 4 per cent annual growth during the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012). During 2008-09, the areas of focus in the agriculture sector were seeds,fertilizers, Integrated Pest Management(IPM),horticulture,farm mechanization,extension, crops, marketing and cooperatives. A welcome feature observed during 2008–09 was that states have stepped up activities in the animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sectors. Further, about 25 per cent of the approved funds was earmarked for projects related to these allied sectors. Besides these, projects related to micro irrigation, agricultural research, watershed and others were also approved. The RKVY also incentivizes states to allocate more for agriculture and allied sectors in their plans. The States have indeed stepped up allocation to agriculture and allied sectors.

(iv) Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm and Maize (ISOPOM)

The Ministry of Agriculture has restructured oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize development programmes into one Centrally Sponsored Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize which is being implemented in 14 major States for oilseeds and pulses, 15 States for maize and 8 States for oil palm. About 75-80 per cent area of pulses is
already in the NFSM-Pulses districts under 14 States.

The Oil Palm Development Programme under ISOPOM is being implemented in the States of
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat,Goa, Orissa, Kerala, Tripura, Assam and Mizoram.The year-wise targets and achievements for the period 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 in respect of area coverage under oil palm through implementation of the Oil Palm Development Programme are given below:

Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

The area under maize cultivation is 81.80 lakh ha with production of 192.80 lakh tonnes in 2008- 09. About 90 per cent of the maize cultivated in kharif is rainfed. Maize is cultivated mainly for food, fodder, feed and industrial use. Under ISOPOM, the Maize Development Programme is being implemented in 15 States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

(v) National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)

The Government of India has also constituted the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) to give focused attention to the problem of rainfed areas of the country. The authority is an advisory, policymaking and monitoring body charged with examining guidelines in various existing schemes and in the formulation of new schemes including all externally aided projects in this area. Its mandate is wider than mere water conservation and covers all aspects of sustainable and holistic development of rainfed areas, including appropriate farming and livelihood systems approaches. It would also focus on issues pertaining to landless and marginal farmers, since they constitute the large majority of inhabitants of rainfed areas. The NRAA has formulated common guidelines for the Watershed Development Project and is in consultation with all the States for its implementation as per instructions contained in the guidelines.

To view common guidelines for Watershed Development Projects click here.

To view clarifications on common guidelines for Watershed Development Projects click here.

(vi) Drought Management

During the year 2009-10, drought/scarcity/drought-like situation has been declared in 334
districts by 14 State Governments. The states have ready availability of funds under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for taking immediate necessary measures in the wake of natural calamities including drought. For natural calamities of severe nature, the State Governments can seek additional assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), by submitting a detailed Memorandum with relevant details. Several steps were taken to mitigate the hardship being faced by the States due to the drought situation. Some of the important measures were:

• States were requested to prepare alternate plans for unsown/germination-failed areas with shortduration/alternate crops;
  
  
• The Diesel Subsidy Scheme was launched to provide supplementary protective irrigation to save the standing crops (50 per cent of the cost of the subsidy with cap of Rs7.50/ litre given by the States was borne by the Central Government);
  
  
• Use of Truthfully Labelled (TL) seeds, relaxation of age for seed varieties and distribution of mini kits were allowed under the NFSM, RKVY;
  
  
• Area-specific approach was adopted to achieve higher production through provisioning of inputs like fertilizers, credit and pest control measures in areas with higher rainfall;
  
  
• Agricultural advisories for appropriate crop programmes were telecast/broadcast through the media for the benefit of farmers. Scientists from ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) as well as experts of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) helped the States in their efforts to counter the impact of deficit rainfall/ drought on agriculture;
  
  
• Zonal conferences and a Rabi Campaign Programme with the State Governments were held to enable formulation of an appropriate action plan for the rabi season;
  
  
• Funds were made available under Centrally sponsored programmes like the RKVY, NFSM, NHM, MMA and ISOPOM to enable taking up of an agricultural reconstruction programme.

Research & Development

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. Agricultural research and education plays a crucial role in the growth of the agriculture and allied sectors. Someof the major achievements for the year 2009,include:

• Development of 147 varieties/hybrids of crops including a Bt gene containing cotton variety Bikaneri Narma.
  
  
• To promote use of better seeds, ICAR produced and distributed 7340 tonnes of breeder seeds of different field crops and over 25 lakh planting materials.
  
  
• To contain crop loss due to droughts and floods, new varieties of rice capable of withstanding drought (Sahbhagi Dhan) and water submergence (Swarna-Sub 1) were developed. The latter can survive for 14 days under water. To ward off threat to wheat production from the globally spreading menace of stem rust, Ug99, resistant varieties (DBW 17, PBW 550, Lok 1, and Turja) have been identified.
  
  
• ICAR released 3 location specific coconut varieties/hybrids and developed dry matter-rich variety potato Kufri Frysona for making French fries. Pusa Navrang, a fungal resistant grape variety with red pigmentation in both peel and pulp was developed for juice making.
  
  
• To promote production-to-consumption chains for maximizing farmers’ profits, 51 models were developed for different agricultural commodities. In 102 of 150 most disadvantaged districts, 36 models of technological innovation-based sustainable rural livelihood initiatives were introduced which benefitted 50,000 farm families.
  
  
• The year also witnessed production of the first survivor cloned buffalo calf. This success will pave way for faster multiplication of selected highly productive animals.
  
  
• In fisheries sector, for year-round rearing of Indian carp (fish), technique for off-season spawning was developed. Open sea cage farming technology was developed for culturing sea bass. An international award-winning device was designed to reduce by-catch and juvenile fish trapping in trawl nets.
  
  
• ICAR has developed cost effective amelioration technologies for waterlogged, salt affected and acid soils. In order to address the issues of impact of climate change on agriculture, a National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management has been established.
  
  
• Eight new Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been added during the year. Provision has been made for e-linking of Krishi Vikas Kendras and for establishment of facilities like mobile diagnostic-cum-exhibition units, soil and water testing labs, rain water harvesting, etc.
  
  
• ICAR has also set up a comprehensive accreditation system to ensure quality of education, strengthening of infrastructure and faculty improvement in agricultural universities, introduction of new courses on skill and entrepreneurship development and introduction of international fellowships.

Allied Sectors

Horticulture

National Horticulture Mission (NHM):India is a major producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. For the holistic development of the horticulture sector, a Centrally sponsored scheme called the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) was launched in 2005-06. The objectives of the Mission are to enhance horticulture production and improve nutritional security and income support to farm households and others through area-based regionally differentiated strategies. All States and two Union Territories (Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) are covered under the Mission. At present, 344 districts have been included under the NHM.

Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in the North Eastern States (TMNE):Eight north-eastern States including Sikkim and the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand which are covered under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in the North Eastern States (TMNE). Under TMNE during 2008-09, an additional area of 1,48,071 lakh ha has been brought under different horticultural Agriculture and Food Management 193 crops. Further, infrastructure facilities for improving production and productivity of crops such as model nurseries, community tanks, tube wells, greenhouses, model floriculture centres, mushroom units, vermi-compost units, training of farmers/ trainers, training of women and market infrastructure and processing units, which are project based, have also been created. Apart from introduction of improved production technology in traditional crops, a significant contribution of the Mission has been in the promotion of commercial cultivation of potential crops, namely citrus, fruits, banana, pineapple, strawberry, kiwi, apple, passion fruits; anthuriums, roses, liliums, orchids and other cut flowers; and high value vegetable crops. The most remarkable development under the scheme has been the expansion of area under specific crops in the States and in clusters which will facilitate easy marketing access in the future.

Micro Irrigation

National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture (NCPAH):A centrally sponsored scheme on micro irrigation was launched in January 2006 for promoting water-use efficiency by adopting drip and sprinkler irrigation. All States and Union Territories and all horticultural as well as agricultural crops are covered under the scheme. The National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture (NCPAH) provides the required technical guidance in association with Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) at 22 locations. The PRIs are involved in selecting the beneficiaries.

National Bamboo Mission (NBM)

The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is a Centrally sponsored scheme with 100 per cent Central assistance. The scheme commenced in 2006-07 and aims at holistic development of the bamboo sector in India. The thrust of the Mission is area-based regionally differentiated strategy for forest and non-forest areas. So far, the NBM has been concentrating on plantation and related activities; there are plans to extend the Mission to the development of handicraft and marketing of bamboo. The Mission intends to establish 195 bamboo bazaars and 10 retail outlets (showrooms) in different metropolitan cities by the end of 2010-11, to promote marketing of bamboo and its products.

Rubber

India is the fourth largest producer of natural rubber with an 8.9 per cent share in world production in 2008. The smallholding sector accounted for 89 per cent of rubber planted area and 93 per cent of natural rubber production. Despite not having regions geographically best suited to growing natural rubber, India continued to record the highest productivity in the world with an average yield of 1,867 kg/ha. Productivity is further being improved through the Rubber Plantation Development Schemes in the Eleventh Five year Plan. The schemes provide subsidy on planting, supply of critical inputs with price concession, assistance for soil and water conservation and generation and distribution of quality planting materials.

In 2008-09, the estimated export of natural rubber was 46,926 tonnes against an import of 77,616 tonnes. The export of natural rubber is promoted through Export Promotion Schemes, which include participation in international trade fairs, assistance to exporters to participate in trade fairs and, organizing buyer-seller meets.

Coffee

Among plantation crops, coffee has made significant contribution to the Indian economy during the last 50 years. Indian coffee has created a niche for itself in the international market, particularly Indian Robusta, which is highly sought after for its blending quality. Arabica coffee from India is also well received in the international market.

In India, coffee is cultivated in an area of around 3.94 lakh ha. The post-monsoon crop estimate for the 2009-10 season is estimated at 2.90 lakh tonnes comprising 0.95 lakh tonnes of Arabica and 1.95 lakh tonnes of Robusta. The current year’s production is about 10.6 per cent more than the previous year’s.

Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries

The livestock and fisheries sector contributed over 4.07 per cent of the total GDP during 2008-09 and about 26.84 per cent value of output from total agriculture and allied activities. The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) envisages an overall growth of 6-7 per cent per annum for the sector. In 2008-09, this sector contributed 108.5 million tonnes of milk, 55.6 billion eggs, 42.7 million kg wool and 3.8 million tonnes of meat.

India ranks first in world milk production, its production having increased from 17 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 108.5 million tonnes by 2008-09. The per capita availability of milk has increased from 112 grams per day in 1968-69 to 258 grams per day in 2008-09. The efforts of the Government in the dairy sector are concentrated in promotion of dairy activities in non-operation flood areas with emphasis on building cooperative infrastructure, revitalization of sick dairy cooperatives and federations and creation of infrastructure in the states.

National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB): A major programme for genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes named the National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB) was launched in October 2000 to be implemented over a period of 10 years in two phases of five years each with an allocation of Rs 402 crore and Rs 775.9 crore respectively. The NPCBB envisages genetic upgradation and development of indigenous breeds on priority basis. At present, 28 states and one UT are participating in the project.

Production and per capita availability of milk

Source:Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Livestock insurance

A centrally sponsored scheme for livestock insurance is being implemented in all the States with the twin objectives of providing a protection mechanism to farmers and cattle rearers against loss of their animals due to death and to demonstrate the benefit of livestock insurance to the people. The scheme benefits farmers (large, small and marginal) and cattle rearers having indigenous/crossbred milch cattle and buffaloes. The scheme has been extended from 100 districts to 300 districts from December 2009, covering all States.

Poultry

Poultry continues to play an important role in providing livelihood support and food security,
especially to the rural population. India produces more than 55.6 billion eggs per year, with per capita availability of 47 eggs per annum. As per the estimate provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for 2008, the annual chicken meat production in India is around 2.49 million tonnes. The value of exports was around Rs 422 crore during 2008-09.

Eggs and poultry are among the cheaper source of animal protein. During 2009-10, a new Centrally sponsored Poultry Development Scheme with an outlay of Rs 150 crore was launched. The scheme, through its Rural Backyard Poultry Development component is expected to cover below poverty line (BPL) sections of the society to help them gain supplementary income and nutritional support. In order to encourage entrepreneurship skills of individuals, a Poultry Venture Capital Fund is also being implemented covering various poultry activities.

Livestock health

Animal wealth in India has increased manifold and animal husbandry practices have also changed to a great extent. With increased trade activity, the chances of ingress of exotic diseases into the country have also increased. With improvement in the quality of livestock through launching of extensive cross- breeding programmes, the susceptibility of this livestock to various diseases, including exotic diseases, has increased. To ensure maintenance of disease-free status and compliance with the standards laid down by the World Animal Health Organization, major animal health schemes and programmes have been initiated. Further, for control of major livestock and poultry diseases, the Government of India provides financial assistance to States/UTs in their efforts to prevent, control and contain animal diseases and also to strengthen veterinary services including reporting of animal diseases. All avian influenza outbreaks reported were effectively controlled and the country was free from avian influenza in October 2009. Control and containment operations for the recent outbreak reported on January 14, 2010 in Khargram block of West Bengal are in full swing.

Fisheries

Fish production increased from 7.1 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 7.6 million tonnes in 2008-09. Fishing, aquaculture and allied activities are reported to have provided livelihood to over 14 million persons in 2006-07 apart from being a major foreign exchange earner.

Production and export of fish

Source: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying

Feed and fodder

Adequate availability of feed and fodder for livestock is very vital for increasing milk production and sustaining the ongoing genetic improvement programme. It is estimated that there is green fodder shortage of about 34 per cent in the country. To increase the availability of fodder, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing a Centrally sponsored Fodder Development Scheme throughout the country to supplement the efforts of the states. A central Minikit Testing Programme is also being implemented under which minikits of latest high-yielding fodder varieties are distributed free of cost to farmers for their popularization. During the current year (2009-10) 9.23 lakh minikits have been allotted to the states for distribution to farmers.

Credit and Insurance

Agricultural Credit

In order to provide adequate and timely credit support from the banking system to farmers for their cultivation needs, including purchase of all inputs,in a flexible and cost-effective manner, the Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC) was introduced in August 1998. About 878.30 lakh KCCs have been issued up to November 2009.

The scheme includes a reasonable component of consumption credit and investment credit within the overall credit limit sanctioned.From kharif 2006-07, farmers have been receiving crop loans up to a principal amount of Rs 3 lakh, at 7 per cent rate of interest. Additional subvention of 1 per cent will be paid from the current year, as incentive to those farmers who repay short term crop loans on schedule resulting in bringing down the rate of interest to 6 per cent per annum.

In January 2006, the Government announced a package for revival of short-term Rural Cooperative Credit involving financial assistance of Rs 13,596 crore. The National Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (NABARD) has been designated as the implementing agency for the purpose. States are required to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Government of India and NABARD, committing to implementing the legal, institutional and other reforms as envisaged in the revival package.So far twenty-five States have executed MoUs with the Government of India and NABARD. This covers 96 per cent of the primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) and 96 per cent of the Central cooperative banks (CCBs) in the country.

Agricultural Insurance

National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS):The frequency and severity of droughts, floods, cyclones and erratic climatic changes accentuate uncertainty and risk in agricultural production and livestock breeding in India. The National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) is being implemented since rabi 1999-2000, as part of the strategy for risk management in agriculture with the intention of providing financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure as a result of natural calamities, pests and diseases. The scheme is open to all the farmers loanee and non-loanee-irrespective of their size of holding. Loanee farmers are covered on compulsory basis in a notified area for notified crops. For non-loanee farmers, participation in the scheme is on voluntary basis. The scheme envisages coverage of all food crops, oilseeds and annual commercial/ horticultural crops, in respect of which past yield data are available for adequate number of years. The scheme is being implemented by 25 States and two Union Territories.

The pilot Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS):WBCIS is being implemented in 13 States to provide insurance protection to farmers against adverse weather incidences which are deemed to adversely impact crop production.

The Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS): CPIS has been launched on pilot basis during 2009-10 in selected areas of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. The pilot scheme will continue during 2010-11. To benefit from the scheme, a farmer should have at least 10 healthy nut-bearing palms in the age group 4 to 60 years in contiguous area/plots and to have been enrolled by the State Agriculture/Horticulture Department or Coconut Development Board (CDB) or any other such agency under a rehabilitation/ development/expansion scheme. The Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) which is implementing the scheme is responsible for making payment of all claims within a specified period. The CDB administers the scheme.

Marketing and Extension

Agricultural Marketing

Organized marketing of agricultural commodities has been promoted in the country through a network of regulated markets. Most of the State and Union Territory Governments have enacted legislations (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act) to provide for regulation of agricultural produce markets. There are 7,139 regulated markets in the country as on March 31, 2009. The country has 20,868 rural periodical markets, about 15 per cent of which function under the ambit of regulation.The advent of regulated markets has helped mitigate
the market handicaps of producers/sellers at the wholesale assembling level. But rural periodic markets in general and tribal markets in particular have remained outside the developmental ambit of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act.

The Ministry of Agriculture has formulated a model law on agricultural marketing for guidance of and adoption by State Governments. The legislation provides for establishment of private markets/yards, direct purchase centres, consumers’/farmers’ markets for direct sale and promotion of public-private partnership in the management and development of agricultural markets in the country. Provision has also been made in the law for constitution of State Agricultural Produce Marketing Standards Bureaus for promotion of grading, standardization and quality certification of agricultural produce. This would facilitate pledge financing, direct purchasing, forward/ futures trading and exports. Sixteen States/UTs have
amended their Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts and the remaining States are in the process of doing so . Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee model rules based on the Model Law are under formulation in consultation with states.

Extension reforms

The Government supports transfer of agricultural technologies and information to the farming community through various initiatives. The Support to State Extension Programmes for the Extension Reforms scheme launched in 2005-06,aims to make the extension system farmer driven and farmer accountable by way of new institutional arrangements for technology dissemination in the form of an Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at district level. The ATMA has active participation of farmers/farmer groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), KVKs, PRIs and other stakeholders operating at district level and below. Up to January 2010, 595 districts-level ATMAs have been established. Gender concerns are being mainstreamed by mandating that 30 per cent of resources on programmes and activities are allocated for women farmers and extension functionaries.

The Agri-clinic and Agri-business Centres Scheme launched in 2002 provides extension services to farmers through agriculture graduates on payment basis by setting up of economically viable self-employment ventures.National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) monitors the credit support to Agri-clinics through commercial banks. Provision of a credit linked back-ended subsidy at 25 per cent of the capital cost of the project funded through bank loan as well as full interest subsidy on the bank credit for the first two years has recently been approved under the scheme.

Progress of reforms in agricultural markets (APMC Act) in the year 2009

Note: * APMC Act has been repealed with effect from September 1, 2006

Sectoral Policies

To view the Sectoral policies of Agriculture sector Please visit:

http://agricoop.nic.in/Policyinit.htm

Useful Web links

• Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of agriculture, Government of India
• Directorate of Economics and Statistics,Ministry of agriculture,Government of India