The Government of India has always laid the greatest importance on the welfare of farmers. For this reason, it has put in place a variety of programmes or yojanas to boost the agricultural industry and strengthen the economic circumstances of farmers. Farmers can gain greatly from these agricultural programmes, but they must be aware of them in order to use them.
In this article we will thus discuss some of the most beneficial and well-known government programmes for farmers in India.
Here are some of the most important government schemes in the agriculture sector:
1. Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) programme was designed by the Indian government with the goal of expanding irrigation coverage and enhancing water usage effectiveness. Source generation, distribution, management, field application, and extension activities are the emphasis of PMKSY’s end-to-end solutions. On July 1, 2015, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to the irrigation plan.
The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Initiative (AIBP), the Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), and the On Farm Water Management (OFWM) scheme have all been combined into one new programme by the Center. For a period of five years, the Center has approved spending Rs. 50,000 crore on India’s main irrigation programme.
2. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
One of the significant government programmes that supports conventional and organic farming in India is the Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). In accordance with the plan, the Indian government gives farmers a financial subsidy of Rs 50,000 per acre every three years to help with the cost of organic inputs, certification, labelling, packing, shipping, and marketing of organic produce.
By encouraging organic manures, bio-fertilizers, and bio-pesticides, the programme aims to lessen the negative consequences of excessive use of fertilisers and agrochemicals. By increasing the organic carbon content of the soil, it aids in raising the soil’s fertility and the field’s ability to store moisture.
3. Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
The Central Government launched the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in the year 1998 in an effort to give sufficient and prompt credit to farmers for their agricultural needs. Under the programme, the Indian government offers farm financing at a drastically discounted rate of just 4% annually.
Since 2019, the Center has increased the existing maximum of the collateral-free loan from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.60 lakh and expanded the benefits of the Kisan Credit Card to farmers who raise livestock, produce dairy products, and fish.
The Center has declared that as a component of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme, 2.5 crore farmers will be covered under the KCC programme with a credit booster of Rs 2 lakh crore through a special effort. Data from the Government of India shows that as a result, 1.35 lakh crore rupees have been distributed to 1.5 crore farmers under the programme as of October 19, 2020.
4. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which was introduced on February 24, 2019, uses Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to send Rs 6,000 per year in regular installments of Rs 2,000 each to the bank accounts of farmers. The programme helps small and marginal farmers meet their financial needs for farm input purchases and other agricultural costs. It also protects farmers from falling into the traps of local financiers and ensures that they can continue their farming operations.
5. National Mission For Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
The Indian government launched the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in 2014–15 with the goal of increasing agriculture’s productivity, sustainability, economic viability, and resiliency to climate change. The mission advocates soil conservation, moisture protection, soil nutrient management, effective and sustainable water management practices, and mainstreaming rainfall methods in order to achieve these goals. It also encourages location-specific viable and best farming practises.
In order to increase the effectiveness of water use, “On Farm Water Management” (OFWM), a key component of the mission, is being implemented. Its goal is to do this by promoting cutting-edge technologies like micro irrigation, sustainable water management methods, efficient water use, and better distribution channels, as well as secondary storage facilities.