Focus is on raising production, reduction of post harvest losses, food processing and integrated farming

Nirmesh Singh

New Delhi | 08 Sep 2017

 Government has announced the seven point strategy to double the farmers’ income. The strategy focuses on increase in production by improving irrigation facilities, effective use of input cost, reduction of post harvest losses, value addition through food processing, reforms in agri marketing and compensating for crop losses through Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

The Agri Ministry on Friday said, “Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Agriculture Ministry is working to achieve the target by 2022. The Ministry is working sincerely and honestly to fulfil our Prime Minister’s dream”.

The ministry is also working on strategy to encourage horticulture, integrated farming, dairying, fisheries, backyard poultry and beekeeping.

On the problems of minimizing post harvest losses, the ministry said, “To protect farmers from losses, the government is focusing on storage facilities and integrated cold chains in rural areas”.

“It is important to improve irrigation efficiency to increase production. Hence, pending medium and large projects have also been expedited. Watershed development and water harvesting &management projects have been put on the fast track”, said the ministry.

It further said, “Soil Health Card Scheme that informs farmers about nutrients status of the soils is reducing the cultivation cost as farmers are following the recommendations and going for balanced use of fertilisers”.

“Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, Rs 6000 crore project, food-processing capabilities will be developed by working on the forward and backward linkage of agro processing cluster, which will benefit 20 lakh farmers and create employment opportunities for 5 Lakh people”, the ministry said.

The official statement also informed that the adoption of new technologies in agriculture such as space technology was helping in better planning through forecasting of crop production, agricultural land-use mapping, drought prediction, and utilisation of fallow paddy fields for Rabi crops.

“Already 455 mandis have been linked to the e-NAM platform and in addition the government has circulated model Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, which includes private market yards and direct marketing. The government is also working on a model act to promote contract farming” , it further informed.

It also stated, “To reduce the risk and provide security and assistance to farmer at a time of crop losses due to weather anomalies, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) creates a security shield and covers standing crops as well as pre-sowing to post-harvesting losses.  The lowest rate has been fixed for Kharif and Rabi crops. Maximum rate is 2% and 1.5% respectively.  Not only that, 25% of the claim is settled immediately online. New technologies like Smartphones, satellite imagery and drones facilities are being utilised to carry out faster assessments of crop loss under PMFBY”.

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