DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 445
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15TH SEPTEMBER, 2020
LOSSES DUE TO COVID-19 AND LOCKDOWN
445. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of losses suffered by the farmers and agriculture sector of the country due to Covid-19 and lockdown and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is contemplating any welfare scheme for providing relief to the farmers after conducting survey of crop loss incurred due to Covid-19 and lockdown;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a): There is no such income assessment report available that can estimate the impact of corona virus on farmers’ income.
(b) to (d): The Government proactively made the following interventions during Covid -19 Pandemic lockdown for the welfare of farmers across the country.
- (i) Allocating Rs.20 lakh crore package for ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ which also includes Creation of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs.1 lakh crore and Rs 500 crores for Bee-Keeping initiative
- (ii) Brought out two Ordinances namely The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance , 2020 and Empowerment and Protection of farmers for Agreements of Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020.
- (iii) Since 24th March, 2020 under PM Kisan Scheme, an amount of Rs.40000 crore has been deposited to the bank account of farmers.
- (iv) Government facilitated the farmer for timely harvest of the entire crop, resulting in record procurement of Rabi crop production.
- (v) Sowing Area coverage for Kharif Crops increased by 5.68% compared to the corresponding period during the last year.
- (vi) Several steps were taken to decongest wholesale market and to boost the supply chain like integration of e-NAM with e-NWR, insurance of passes/e-passes to FPOs, launching of Uberisation Module of logistics aggregators for making transport available to the farmers for faster movement of farm produce, creation of separate cell in Department for monitoring supply and prices of essential goods and fruits and vegetables. Formulation and approval of Central Sector Scheme for promoting 1000 FPOs, launching of Kisan Rath Mobile App and Farm Machinery Mobile App.
- (vii) Starting of Kisan Rail to provide seamless connectivity among farmers, markets and consumers and help farmers send their perishable agro-products to inter-state markets in a time bound manner.