Page 26 - NIS English October 1-15

Cover Story
Agriculture Reforms

FARMERS' EMPOWERMENT IN A PHASED MANNER

The Government’s overarching
emphasis on agriculture can be better BEFORE SOWING
understood with steps taken by it in a
phased manner to protect interests The Soil Health Card enables farmers to make right choices. The
of farmers. Several initiatives Government has distributed 22.39 crore soil health cards
have been taken to improve the
farm productivity, protect farmers Fertilizers: Long queues for Finance:
and boost their income and their fertilizers are now a thing of the Lack of funds
overall welfare. Steps taken by past. The Government has ensured in agriculture
the Government are benefiting the that farmers can get fertilizer troubles
farmers in many ways such as easy easily. Prices of fertilizers have farmers. But
availability of fertilizers, improvement also come down significantly. now farmers
in irrigation facilities, easy loan and Urea with 100% neem coating is can avail easy
crop insurance scheme, access to available in the country. It has also credit on lower
scientific support, and better prices reduced the consumption of urea rate of interest
for their produce fertilizer.

money will become the means to live a respectful farmers will be provided.
life for farmers for the next 10 years in which Rs 7 For doubling the income of farmers...
Lakh Crore would be transferred to their accounts On February 28, 2016, when the Prime Minister,
directly. while addressing a Kisan Rally in Bareilly, talked

Self-Reliant package about doubling the income of farmers, a certain
The Government is seamlessly taking concept was in his mind. In his determined words, he
measures to double the income of farmers by said, "When the country will be celebrating the 75th
2022. It has also turned the crisis of COVID-19 anniversary of its Independence in 2022, farmers'
into an opportunity. The importance of agriculture income will have doubled."
can be gauged from the fact that the Government Since then the Government has been also
has earmarked Rs 1 Lakh Crore for agriculture consistent in its efforts to improve the state of
infrastructure, Rs 10,000 Crore for food processing, agricultural sector in the country. Both the new
and Rs 500 Crore for Bee Farming. The Agriculture Agriculture Bill are the biggest reforms in this
Infrastructure Fund was approved by the Cabinet direction. Six years of continuous efforts by the
on July 8, 2020, and was launched on August 9, Government are now translating into the prosperity
2020. Under the scheme, the Government plans of farmers.
to spend Rs 1 lakh Crore over four years. Of this The decisions taken by the Cabinet Commitee on
allocation, Rs 10,000 Crore will be spent in 2020- Economic Affairs are an indication of good times for
21 while Rs 30,000 Crore each will be spent over farmers. Once again, the Government gave a nod to
the next three financial years. Provision of rebate increase in the MSPs. According to Union Agriculture
of 2 per cent on the loan upto Rs 2 Crore has been Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, the per quintal MSP
made. Building agriculture infrastructure, Primary for wheat has been raised by Rs 50, for gram by Rs
Agriculture Credit Society (PACS), FPO, agriculture 225, for Barley by Rs 75 and for Masoor by Rs 300.
entrepreneurs and post-harvest assistance to

24 New India Samachar