Ziraat Times News Network
New Delhi: The Government of India has said it is pursuing an integrated strategy, supported by a wide range of central schemes, to enhance farmers’ income and ensure comprehensive growth of the agriculture sector across the country.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur said the Centre is supporting States and Union Territories through policy measures and budgetary allocations, even as agriculture remains a State subject.
According to the government, the strategy rests on six key pillars: increasing crop production and productivity, reducing the cost of cultivation, ensuring remunerative returns for farmers’ produce, promoting agricultural diversification, developing post-harvest value addition, and strengthening climate adaptation to make agriculture sustainable while mitigating crop losses.
The minister noted that central schemes are designed to raise production, provide income support and ensure better price realisation for farmers. Reflecting this focus, the budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has risen sharply from ₹21,933.50 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,27,290.16 crore in the Budget Estimates for 2025–26.
Wide range of schemes for farmers
The government listed a comprehensive set of schemes aimed at income support, risk mitigation, infrastructure creation, diversification, sustainability and market access for farmers. These include:
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) for direct income support
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY) for pension coverage
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) for crop risk protection
- Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) to provide concessional credit
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to strengthen post-harvest and market infrastructure
- Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
- Namo Drone Didi initiative
- National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
- Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) for assured price support
- Agri Fund for Start-Ups and Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE)
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) for micro-irrigation
- Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanisation (SMAM)
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for organic farming
- Soil Health and Fertility (SH&F) programme
- Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
- Agroforestry initiatives
- Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
- Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
- Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
- National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
- Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
- National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) – Oil Palm
- National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) – Oilseeds
- Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region
- Digital Agriculture Mission
- National Bamboo Mission
The government said these schemes collectively aim to improve farm productivity, lower input costs, expand income opportunities, strengthen market linkages and make Indian agriculture more resilient to climate change, while ensuring inclusive growth across regions.
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