On the completion of two years of Modi regime Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh is not only touring states but also TV studios to spread the good work done by his Ministry in the intervening period.
In one such TV interaction, released by PIB, Singh said his Government is making all efforts to double farmer incomes in next five years. Agriculture Minister said this in a live interview on My GovIndia said that nothing substantial was done for the farmers so far but his Government has changed the perception and working with great commitments towards farmers’ welfare.
Singh said that Central Government has increased the budget from Rs. 15809 crore to Rs. 35,984 crore for agriculture and farmers welfare. Rs. 500 crore has been provided for the development of pulses and Rs. 850 crore has been provided for increasing milk production. Shri Singh said that amount has been released to the states in time for different agricultural plans.
On the question of utility of Soil Health Cards, the Minister said that Soil Health Cards have been issued to 2 crore farmers so far. Singh said that 146 lakh samples are to be collected by the year 2016-17 from which 8.07 crore cards will be prepared. The Minister said that Soil Health Card is the basis of soil fertility and farm productivity but, in some states its progress is quite slow.
Answering a question on National Agricultural Market, the Minister said that e-mandis at national level have been established for providing remunerative price to the farmers for their produce and it is being widely publicized.
While answering the question put up on e-mandi from Patna City, Shri Singh said that it is a matter of misfortune that there are no mandi laws in Bihar and Kerala and farmers are suffering on account of this. The Minister hoped that states would make necessary reforms in their mandi rules so that National Agriculture Market can be made successful in the interest of the farmers.
While answering a question on crop insurance, Agriculture and farmers Welfare Minister said that there were so many discrepancies in the crop insurance schemes till now. But, these discrepancies have been removed in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Singh said that in the new schemes, arrangements have been made for compensating the farmers in the event of crop failure.
While answering a question regarding Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchaye Yojana, Shri Singh said that the aim of this scheme is Har Khet Ko Paani. The Minister said that 89 medium and macro irrigation projects are pending for the last 15-20 years.