LOK SABHA
SMALL BUSINESS FOR FARMERS
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing or proposes to implement any scheme to enable the farmers to set up their small business in their farm along with farming without land conversion;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the efforts being made by the Government to enable the unemployed young farmers to set up any small business in their farm along with farming; and
(e) the details of efforts being made by the Government to provide employment to the unemployed farmers?
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) to (e): The government is implementing various policies/programmes/schemes for the welfare and increasing income of the farmers. It is up to the farmers to set up a business in their own farm land. Farmers can avail assistance under various schemes of the Government such as Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), creation of 10000 FPOs, Honey Mission and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), for setting up of value addition and processing units near to farm gate to help them improve marketability and market access to their produce. There are many small businesses/ enterprises, farmers can set up in their own farms e.g. Mushroom cultivation, poultry, dairy, fishery, sericulture, nurseries of various crops, seed growing, a variety of horticulture activities, bee keeping, compost making etc. All these activities are covered under various schemes of the government. Farmers, including young farmers, can also set up start- ups under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)- RAFTAAR having innovative solutions/ business ideas with assistance from Government. In addition, farmers can avail benefit under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for supplementing their incomes.