Standing Committee on Agriculture Tabled Report in Parliament

 Standing Committee on Agriculture Tabled Report in Parliament: Key Issues and Recommendations

Issues Highlighted:

1. Continuous Decline in Allocations:
   The budget allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture has steadily decreased as a percentage of the total Central outlay, dropping from 3.53% in 2021-22 to 2.51% in 2025-26.

2. Underutilization of Funds:
   The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has utilized only 59.84% of the allocated funds for 2024-25.

3. Crop Residue Management:
   There is a lack of developed markets for utilizing crop residue, such as in biofuel production or composting, which could provide farmers with additional sources of income.

Recommendations:

1. Change in Nomenclature:
   The report suggests renaming the ‘Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’ (DA&FW) to ‘Department of Agriculture, Farmers & Farm Labourers Welfare’ to recognize the significant role of farm laborers in agriculture.

2. Expand PM-KISAN Scheme to Include Farm Labourers:
   The PM-KISAN scheme should be extended to farm laborers to support their livelihoods.

3. Establish a National Commission for Minimum Living Wages for Farm Labourers:
   A commission should be set up to address wage disparities and enhance the living standards of farm laborers.

4. Minimum Support Price (MSP) for All Organic Crops:
   A guaranteed MSP for organic crops should be introduced to encourage farmers to shift towards organic farming.

5. Free and Compulsory Crop Insurance for Small Farmers:
   The government should implement a free and mandatory crop insurance scheme for small farmers with land holdings up to 2 hectares.

6. Comprehensive Approach for Crop Residue Management:
   A multi-faceted strategy is needed, involving policy interventions, farmer education, technological innovations, and financial incentives to address crop residue management effectively.

7. Other Recommendations:

• Increase the budget allocation for agriculture.
• Strengthen Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to enhance agricultural education and research.
• Launch effective publicity campaigns to promote agricultural schemes and raise awareness.

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