Major Agricultural Initiatives for Farmer Welfare in 2023

Overview of Agricultural Initiatives

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched several initiatives as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. These initiatives focus on the comprehensive development of agriculture and the welfare of farmers. The primary objectives are to boost farmer income, encourage sustainable farming practices, and promote environmental balance.

Key Initiatives

Here are some of the significant initiatives introduced:

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): This important scheme provides ₹6,000 annually to the families of landholding farmers via direct benefit transfer, benefiting over 11 crore farmers.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A crop insurance scheme that offers extensive coverage against natural disasters, with over 5549.40 lakh applications insured since its launch.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): This fund aims to improve post-harvest management infrastructure, having sanctioned ₹33.209 crores for 44,912 projects and mobilizing ₹56.471 crores in investments.
• Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs: With a budget allocation of ₹6,865 crores, this initiative empowers Farmer Producer Organizations to enhance farmers’ bargaining power and foster cooperation.
• National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM): This mission promotes beekeeping practices contributing to ecological balance, along with initiatives like the Madhukranti portal.
• Crop Residue Management Scheme: This scheme tackles air pollution caused by burning crop residue by promoting the use of farm machinery banks and in-situ management practices.
• Namo Drone Didi Scheme: This initiative encourages women self-help groups to utilize drones for precision farming, reducing resource consumption.
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes like RKVY-DPR: These schemes support agricultural startups and foster innovation in farming practices.
• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: This scheme provides farmers with essential soil health information, promoting sustainable and accurate fertilizer usage.
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A holistic scheme addressing various aspects of horticulture to improve farmer income and enhance green cover.
• Krishonnati Yojana Umbrella Schemes: Initiatives like NFSM, SMSP, and NMEO-Oil Palm cater to diverse agricultural needs, from food security to quality seed promotion.
• Digital Agriculture: This initiative aims to build digital infrastructure for agriculture, boosting AgriTech advancements and offering inclusive, farmer-centric solutions.

These schemes collectively contribute to a vision of an agriculturally self-reliant and ecologically balanced India, emphasizing financial inclusivity, technological advancement, and sustainable agricultural development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the PM-KISAN scheme?
Answer: The PM-KISAN scheme provides ₹6,000 annually to the families of landholding farmers through direct benefit transfer. It aims to enhance farmer income and has benefited over 11 crore farmers.

Q2. How does the PMFBY scheme help farmers?
Answer: The PMFBY scheme offers comprehensive crop insurance against natural calamities. It has insured over 5549.40 lakh farmer applications, providing financial security to farmers during crop loss.

Q3. What is the purpose of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund?
Answer: The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund aims to improve post-harvest management infrastructure, having sanctioned substantial funds for numerous projects to enhance agricultural efficiency.

Q4. What initiatives are included in the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission?
Answer: The National Beekeeping & Honey Mission promotes beekeeping to maintain ecological balance, including programs like the Madhukranti portal to support beekeepers.

Q5. How does the Soil Health Card Scheme benefit farmers?
Answer: The Soil Health Card Scheme provides farmers with vital information about soil health, promoting sustainable and efficient fertilizer use, which leads to better crop yields.

UPSC Practice MCQs

Question 1: What is the annual financial assistance provided under the PM-KISAN scheme?
A) ₹5,000
B) ₹6,000
C) ₹7,000
D) ₹8,000
Correct Answer: B

Question 2: Which scheme provides crop insurance against natural disasters?
A) PM-KISAN
B) PMFBY
C) AIF
D) MIDH
Correct Answer: B

Question 3: What is the primary focus of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund?
A) Crop insurance
B) Post-harvest management
C) Soil health
D) Digital agriculture
Correct Answer: B

Question 4: How many Farmer Producer Organizations are targeted under the formation initiative?
A) 5,000
B) 10,000
C) 15,000
D) 20,000
Correct Answer: B