Page 45 - NIS-English 16-31 May 2022

Duty
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Towards Duty
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Years
Years
KISAN RAIL: Kisan Rail with Cold Storage is one such initiative that
has enabled farmers to transport their agricultural produce to far-flung
markets faster and at less cost. The scheme, fully launched from August Krishi Udan Yojana
7, 2020, is proving to be effective in doubling the income of the farmers Commencement August 2020
and reaching the market before their produce gets damaged. The potential Scheme
Kisan Rail Circuit is identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Farmers get the right market
Welfare in consultation with the departments, local bodies, agencies, and
Mandis. On the basis of demand, coaches are made available for the Kisan to sell their produce
Rail operation. Till March 25, 2022, Kisan Rails have undertaken 2190 Objective: To help farmers
trips. Under 'Operation Greens - Top to Total', a 50 percent subsidy on get a better price for
transportation of fruits and vegetables in Kisan Rail Transport is given by agricultural produce and
the Ministry of Food Processing. increase income

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSP): Wheat and rice are being Many agricultural products
procured at MSP across the country. In Rabi Marketing Season 2022-2023, were damaged before
137 LMT of wheat was procured till April 24, 2022, in which MSP of more reaching the market. To solve
than Rs 27 thousand crores was distributed to about 12 lakh farmers. this, Krishi Udan Yojana was
Similarly, 757.27 LMT of rice was procured in the Kharif marketing season launched in August 2020 on
of 2021-2022 in which MSP of Rs 1.5 lakh crore was distributed to about international and national
1.10 crore farmers. The MSP fixed for Rabi crops is equal to one and a half routes so that fair prices for
times the cost of production to the farmers. There is a possibility of getting Progress
a 100% return on wheat and mustard. In lentils, gram, barley, returns up to agricultural products can be
60-69 percent are possible. Progress obtained. This scheme was
carried forward as Krishi
Udan 2.0 in October 2021.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Scheme Commencement Kharif Season 2016 More than 7.65 crore farmers At least half of the seats on
Udan flights are offered at
applied under Pradhan Mantri
subsidized fares to farmers.
Fasal Bima Yojana in 2021-2022
Immediate relief
during the natural as compared to 4.85 crore farmer Preference is given to farmers
applicants in 2015-2016 under
engaged in businesses like
erstwhile crop insurance schemes.
baby corn, litchi, organic
disasters About 36.98 crore farmers have products, seafood, pineapple,
applied since the inception of
Objective: Affordable crop the scheme from 2016-2017 to milk production and dairy
insurance for relief from 2021-2022. A system has been products, meat.
natural hazards. developed to electronically deposit
crop insurance claims directly Landing, parking, and certain
into the account of farmers charges are fully waived at
Over Rs 1,00,000 lakh through National Crop Insurance
crore compensation has Portal. Similarly, remote sensing, 53
been given to more than 36 technology, smartphones, drones, airports, including 25 in
and crop insurance apps are being
crore farmers in 6 years. used to assess crop loss quickly. North Eastern, Tribal and Hilly
areas.

Commencement July 4, 2018
Kisan Credit Card In order to free the farmers from
the clutches of moneylenders, the
Loans to farmers at easy interest central government started Kisan `3,00,000
Scheme Objective: To provide easy loan farmers to get adequate and timely are given to the
rates without processing charge
Credit Card Scheme to enable
credit support from the banking
farmers at the
system under a single window
assistance to farmers, self-help groups, or
tenant farmers for short-term or long-term with the flexible and simplified rate of 9%. In this,
the government
procedures. On February 4, 2019,
farming needs or expenses. livestock farmers and farmers gives a 2% interest
engaged in fisheries were also subvention.
3.05 crore Kisan Credit Cards have been included in the scheme.
issued till April 2022.

New India Samachar May 16-31, 2022 43