The central government on Monday announced seven major programmes for comprehensive growth in agriculture and allied sectors, with a total outlay of about Rs 1.4 trillion, aimed at improving farm incomes.
The Union Cabinet has approved seven mega programmes related to the farm sector, including the Rs 2,817-crore Digital Farming Mission and the Rs 3,979-crore Crop Science Scheme.
“The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved seven schemes to improve the lives of farmers and increase their income with a total outlay of Rs 1,396.6 billion,” an official statement said.
Briefing reporters here, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnau stressed that this comprehensive programme aims at increasing farm incomes.
These programs will focus on research and education in agriculture, climate resilience, natural resource management, and digitalization, with a focus on growth in the horticulture and livestock sectors.
The Cabinet approved the Crop Science for Food and Nutrition Security Programme with a total outlay of Rs 3,979 crore. The programme has six pillars focused on climate resilient crop science and preparing farmers for food security by 2047.
These six pillars are: research and education, plant genetic resources management, genetic improvement of food and feed crops, improvement of legumes and oilseed rape crops, improvement of commercial crops, and research on insects, microorganisms and pollinators.
The cabinet also approved an expenditure of Rs 2,291 crore to strengthen agricultural education, management and social sciences. The programme will be run by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
The goal is to modernize agricultural research and education in line with the new Education Policy 2020. The use of modern technologies such as digital DPI, AI, big data, remoteness, etc. will be promoted, and programs will include natural farming and climate resilience.
The cabinet also approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a total investment of Rs 2,817 crore. The project has two pillars – Agri Stack and Krishi Decision Support System.
The minister said a Rs 1,702 crore scheme for sustainable livestock health and production has also been approved. The scheme aims to increase farmers’ income from livestock and dairy products.
Under this plan, the focus will be on animal health management and veterinary education, dairy production and technology development, animal genetic resources management, production and improvement, animal nutrition and small ruminant production and development.
Another major scheme approved by the cabinet is related to sustainable development of horticulture. “With a total outlay of Rs 860 billion, the measure aims to increase the income of farmers from horticultural plants,” he said.
The program consists of tropical, subtropical and temperate horticultural crops, roots, tubers, bulbs and dry crops, vegetables, floriculture and mushroom crops, and stewed, spice, medicinal and aromatic plants.
The Union Cabinet also approved a Rs 1,202 crore scheme to strengthen Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and a Rs 1,115 crore scheme for natural resources management.
There are over 700 KVKs across the country.