Agricultural Schemes 2021: Best Government Farmer’s Welfare Schemes

India is a agrarian country where half of it’s population still rely on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood. Hence, government schemes play a major role in the welfare of farmers and their farming. Central and state governments have been initiating different schemes time to time for the upliftment of agri field and farmers related to it. Farmers face different sort of challenges including flood, barren, natural calamities, insects attack, weather changes, scarcity of money and what not.

Hence, it is very important for them to know and aware about all the government schemes that government has initiated for their welfare and betterment. 

What are the Important Government Schemes? 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana 

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 10th September, 2020.

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package. The investment of Rs. 20,050 crores under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector. Out of this, an investment of about Rs 12340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture and about Rs 7710 crores investment for Fisheries Infrastructure.

PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10% and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.

PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.

Rythu Bandhu scheme

Rythu Bandhu scheme also Farmer's Investment Support Scheme is a welfare program to support farmer’s investment for two crops a year by the Government of Telangana. The government is providing 58.33 lakh farmers, ₹5000 per acre per season to support the farm investment, twice a year, for rabi and kharif seasons.

PM-Kisan Scheme 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is an initiative of the Government wherein 120 million small and marginal farmers of India with less than two hectares of landholding will get up to Rs. 6,000 per year as minimum income support. PM-Kisan scheme has become operational since 1st December 2018. Under this scheme, cultivators will get Rs. 6000 in three installments. 

For more details check www.pmkisan.gov.in/ 

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan yojana 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a pension scheme for the small & marginal farmers of India last September. Under PM Kisan Maandhan scheme about 5 crore marginalised farmers will get a minimum pension of Rs 3000 / month on attaining the age of 60. Those who fall in the age group of 18 - 40 years will be eligible to apply for the scheme. Under this scheme, the farmers will be required to make a monthly contribution of Rs 55 to 200, depending on their age of entry, in the Pension Fund till they reach the retirement date, 60 years. The Government will make an equal contribution of the same amount in the pension fund for the cultivators. 

For more details click pmkmy.gov.in/           

PM KUSUM  

One of the most popular agri scheme 

‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Suraksha Abhiyan Utthan Mahabhiyan (Kusum) Yojana’ was launched by the Government of India to increase the income of farmers and provide sources for irrigation and de-dieselising the agricultural sector. 

Moreover, the scheme which was announced by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the Union Budget 2018-19, is all set to run diesel/electric pumps used for irrigation across the country with solar energy where farmers have to spend only 10% of the total expenditure.  

Under this scheme, now every farmer will get free electricity which can eradicate many problems. With this, if you make additional electricity and send it to the grid, then it will also earn them.  

Actually, farmers in the country have to face a lot of problem in irrigation and due to more or less rain, the crops of farmers get spoiled. Through the Central Government's PM Kusum Yojana, financial assistance is provided for installing solar pumps. After bringing this scheme to the ground level, millions of farmers will get benefit.  

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) 

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is an actuarial premium based scheme where farmer has to pay maximum premium of 2 percent for Kharif, 1.5 percent for Rabi food & oilseed crops and 5 percent for annual commercial or horticultural crops and the remaining part of the actuarial or bidded premium is equally shared by the Central & State Government.  An important purpose of the scheme is to facilitate quick claims settlement. The claims should be settled within 2 months of harvest subject to timely provision of both yield data & share of premium subsidy by State Government. 

Check this link for more details pmfby.gov.in/ 

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme 

Kisan Credit Card scheme is yet another important Government scheme that provides farmers with timely access to credit. Kisan Credit Card scheme was introduced in 1998 to provide short-term formal credit to the farmers. KCC scheme was launched to ensure that the credit requirements for cultivators in the agriculture, fisheries & animal husbandry sector were being met. Under this scheme, farmers are given short-term loans to purchase equipment & for their other expenses as well. There are many banks that offer KCC including SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis.  

Pashu Kisan Credit Card Scheme 

For the growth and development of animal husbandry sector in India, the Government has launched ‘Pashu Kisan Credit Card’ for livestock farmers. Haryana is the first state in the country to provide Pashu Kisan Credit Card to the farmers. Under this scheme, farmers are given loan to buy cow, buffalo, goat etc. To apply for Pashu Kisan Credit Card you will have to go to your nearest bank.  

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) 

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was launched on 1 July 2015 with the motto ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ to provide end-to end solutions in irrigation supply chain, viz. water sources, distribution network & farm level applications. PMKSY focuses on creating sources for assured irrigation, also creating protective irrigation by harnessing rain water at micro level through ‘Jal Sanchay’ & ‘Jal Sinchan’.  

Components: 

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme- implemented by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR. 
• PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani) - implemented by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR
• PMKSY (Watershed) - implemented by Department of Land Resources.
• PMKSY(Per Drop More Crop - PDMC)

 National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) 

National Agriculture Market gives an e-marketing platform at the national level and support creation of infrastructure to enable e-marketing. This new market process is revolutionizing agriculture markets by guaranteeing better price discovery. It also brings in transparency & competition to enable cultivators to get improved remuneration for their produce moving towards ‘One Nation One Market’.  To register on e-NAM - Click Here 

Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme 

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F) had launched a pilot scheme called as “Venture Capital Scheme for Dairy & Poultry” in the year 2005-06.  The scheme aimed at extending support for setting up small dairy farms and other components to bring structural changes in the dairy sector. Later on, DAHD&F changed its name to 'Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme' (DEDS) & the revised scheme came into operation with effect from 1st September, 2010. 

Livestock insurance Scheme 

Livestock insurance Scheme is aimed at providing protection mechanism to farmers as well as cattle rearers against any eventual loss of animals because of death. The scheme also tells about the benefit of insurance of livestock to dairy farmers and popularizes it with the ultimate goal of attaining a qualitative improvement in livestock & their products.