Agriculture is one of the most crucial sectors of a country that makes or breaks the rest of the system. Nearly 60% of India’s population depends on the agriculture sector for income, which contributes to the overall Gross Development Product (GDP), but 100% of the population cannot survive without the prosperous growth of this sector. Indian farmers cultivate a wide range of crops, ranging from staples like rice and wheat to cash crops like sugarcane and cotton.
The agriculture sector of India holds a significant spot in the country’s economy, but the farmers continue to face dynamic challenges like small landholdings, changing prices, dependence on weather conditions, etc. To address such challenges and help the farmers tackle the issues, the central and state governments have introduced and continue to launch various related government schemes to provide farmers with a sturdy helping hand. The agriculture schemes aim to bridge the gap between traditional farming practices and modern technologies associated with agriculture to improve productivity and make the sector independent and strong.
Initiatives taken by India’s government are classified into central government schemes, applicable across the nation, and state government schemes, applicable in a particular region. But all the schemes have one thing in common, and that is working for the betterment of farmers and making the agriculture sector resilient.
Central Government Schemes For The Agricultural Sector
The central government has launched numerous yojanas for the agricultural sector and people involved in the sector. The schemes are applicable across the nation. Some of the central government schemes are listed below.
| Name of the scheme | Description |
|---|
| APEDA’s Export Promotion Scheme | To increase the export of agricultural and processed food products. |
| Urea Subsidy Scheme | To provide farmers with fertilisers at affordable prices. |
| Soil Health Card Scheme | Here, farmers are provided ‘soil health cards’ with specified recommendations for a particular crop to increase the soil’s health. |
| Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi | The govt scheme provides an annual amount of Rs. 6000 released in three instalments. |
| Kisan Credit Card Scheme | To provide credit to farmers on easy and convenient terms that enable farmers to access short-term credit for various purposes. |
1. APEDA’s Export Promotion Scheme
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched an Export Promotion Scheme to increase the export of agricultural and processed food products. The agri scheme aims to make a permanent spot in the global market of Indian agricultural products by providing financial and logistical support.
Registered exporters of agricultural and processed food products can apply for the scheme and avail of its benefits. The scheme provides exporters with financial assistance for packaging, branding, and product promotion.
Read more: APEDA’s Export Promotion Scheme For Agriculture And Processed Foods
2. Urea Subsidy Scheme
The Urea Subsidy Scheme was launched to provide farmers with fertilisers at affordable prices. Urea is an essential fertiliser required for the healthy production of a crop. The govt pays the difference between the market price and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
All farmers across India are eligible for the scheme, irrespective of the size of the land they own. The government scheme allows the farmers to purchase urea at a subsidised price, which reduces their financial burden considerably. It not only helps the farmers in producing a healthy crop but also promotes sustainable farming practices.
Read more: What Is The Urea Subsidy Scheme
3. Soil Health Card Scheme
The Soil Health Card Scheme was designed to check the nutrient value of soil and work on methods to increase that value and the fertility of the soil. Under this government agriculture scheme, farmers are provided ‘soil health cards’ with specified recommendations for a particular crop to increase the soil’s health. This serves as a guiding measure for the farmers to improve land productivity and grow healthy crops.
All farmers across India are eligible for the scheme, irrespective of the size of the land they own. Farmers are provided with detailed nutrient content of soil needed to maintain a good crop, leading to sustainable farming practices.
Read More: Soil Health Cards & Policy
4. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) is a government initiative launched in 2019 to provide direct financial assistance to small and marginal farmers in India. The govt scheme provides an annual amount of Rs. 6,000 released in three instalments to the farmers for investing in agricultural-related activities.
Read more: PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)
5. Kisan Credit Card Scheme
The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is a government-led initiative launched to provide credit to farmers on easy and convenient terms. It was introduced in 1998 and enables farmers to access short-term credit for various purposes like cultivation, seed purchase, and other agriculture-related activities.
Read More: Kisan Credit Scheme
There are many other central government schemes for agriculture as well that one should know about. Such as:
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National Agricultural Market (e-NAM): e-NAM is an online trading platform that helps the local agricultural markets, also called mandis, and ensures that they get fair deals.
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Subsidy Schemes for Tractors and Machinery: Here, the farmers can avail subsidies for purchasing tractors or other related machinery to carry out agriculture-related work.
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Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: This govt initiative provides farmers with long-term loans for building infrastructure like storage units, warehouses, etc.
Read More: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Benefits & Eligibility
State Government Schemes For The Agricultural Sector
State governments have launched many government agriculture schemes as per the required needs of the region. Some of the major agri-schemes are listed below and explained in detail:
| Name of the schemes | Description |
|---|
| Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana | Focuses specifically on horticulture by promoting the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, spices, and floriculture. |
| YSR Rythu Bharosa Scheme | This government scheme for farmers ensures a fixed amount of Rs. 13,500 deposited into their accounts annually. |
| Poultry Farm Loan Subsidy | To support poultry farming through financial aid and also help in increasing livestock production. |
| Tractor subsidy | Help small farmers in purchasing tractors to carry out farming practices with ease. |
| Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana | Provides financial support per the acres of land a farmer may own. |
| Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana | Compensates farmers when the market price of their produce goes below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). |
| Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) | To provide financial help to small and marginal farmers. |
1. Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana
Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana is an agri scheme that focuses specifically on horticulture and aims toward making farmers independent by promoting the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, spices, and floriculture. This government agriculture scheme is part of a broader initiative of Atma Nirbhar Bharat to increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP of the nation.
Farmers involved in horticulture or who are planning to start horticulture can apply for the agri scheme. The scheme provides financial aid for planting seeds, materials, and fertilisers, along with necessary infrastructure development for nurseries, greenhouses, and storage facilities.
Read more: Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana
2. YSR Rythu Bharosa Scheme
The YSR Rythu Bharosa Scheme is a state government initiative launched by the state of Andhra Pradesh. This government scheme for farmers ensures a fixed amount of Rs. 13,500 deposited into their accounts annually. The scheme aims to support farmers financially and help them as much as possible.
Farmers from the state of Andhra Pradesh can apply for the scheme, irrespective of the size of the lands they own. The scheme provides the farmers with a fixed amount of money annually that they can use as per their wishes and needs.
Read more: YSR Rythu Bharosa: Transforming Agricultural Support For Farmers
There are many other such state government schemes for supporting the agriculture sector, such as:
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Poultry Farm Loan Subsidy: Several states, like Kerala, Maharashtra, etc., have launched this agri scheme to support poultry farming through financial aid and also help in increasing livestock production.
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Tractor subsidy: Various states like Punjab, Karnataka, and others help small farmers in purchasing tractors to carry out farming practices with ease.
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Mukhyamantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana: The state government of Jharkhand has launched this government agriculture scheme, which provides financial support per the acres of land a farmer may own.
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Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana: This Sarkari Yojana was launched by the state govt. of Madhya Pradesh and compensates farmers when the market price of their produce goes below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The different amount is deposited directly in the farmer’s account.
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Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA): This scheme was launched by the state government of Odisha to provide financial help to small and marginal farmers.
Other Central Government Agriculture Schemes
Here is a list of a few more central government farmer schemes that are boosting the agriculture sector of India and working as a supporting hand for the Indian farmers.
| Name of the scheme | Description |
|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) | Aims to improve the existing irrigation system and water use through techniques like micro-irrigation systems. |
| Gramin Bhandara Yojana | The scheme provides monetary assistance to the farmers for building necessary units like warehouses, etc. |
| Operation Greens | It aims to balance and maintain the supply of tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) crops. |
| National Food Security Mission (NFSM) | It aims to increase the production of wheat, rice, pulses, and other cereals by increasing the area of agricultural land and enhancing productivity. |
| Per Drop More Crop | The government's agriculture scheme focuses on mindful and efficient water usage, especially by small and marginal farmers. |
Read More: Organic Growth: Doubling India’s Farmers‘ Income through Sustainable Agriculture
Other State Government Agriculture Schemes
Apart from the abovementioned Sarkari Yojanas, let’s look through a few more agricultural schemes from different states.
| Name of the scheme | Description |
|---|
| Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (Chattisgarh) | It provides direct money transfers to farmers as on the kind of crop they cultivate and provides financial and fair income support. |
| Yogi Kisan Suryoday Yojana (Uttar Pradesh) | This is a special scheme that provides farmers with solar pumps to improve irrigation, foster the use of renewable energy, and save the ecosystem. |
| Karnataka Raitha Siri | This scheme provides financial assistance to millet farmers as per the size of the land they own to promote sustainable agriculture. |
| Hari Kranti Scheme (Haryana) | The government offers financial aid and subsidies for applying modern farming techniques, equipment, and sustainable practices. |
| Nadapu Scheme for Organic Farming (Kerala) | The government's agriculture scheme encourages organic farming and provides subsidies to farmers who choose eco-friendly farming practices. |
Read More: How The Government is Investing In The Future Of Indian Agriculture
Conclusion
Agriculture schemes introduced by both central and state governments play a significant role in shaping the present and future of the diverse agricultural sector of a major developing country of India.
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