Reflecting on the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when numerous sectors faced significant setbacks, one notable exception was the agriculture and allied sector. As the sector grew at 3.4% even as the overall economy saw a decline of -7.2%, it would not be wrong to call agriculture the dark horse of Indian economy, holding the secret to robust growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has demonstrated a keen awareness of this reality ever since 2014. Hence the government’s effort to build a comprehensive strategy addressing the entire agricultural value chain, from the very inception of cultivation to the market shelves. Beej se Bazaar Tak is the manifestation of this effort, reverberating across the spectrum—from employment, economy to environment.
PM Modi’s Beej Se Bazaar Tak details empowerment of farmers at all levels—from soil health to increased productivity, from technology to modern irrigation methods, from easier access to credit to crop insurance, from the farm-gate to wider markets.
SEEDS
Starting with seeds, the Krishi Dak model developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute is a gamechanger in ensuring that farmers have access to quality seeds right at their doorstep, leading to quality crops. Under this, farmers also receive appropriate training in improved farm practices in collaboration with local post office branches and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
As we sow quality seeds, it is essential that soil health is taken care of for enhanced yields. Disproportionate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has immensely affected soil health. Hence the government has done much to not only educate the farmers about maintaining optimum soil conditions but has also brought in significant initiatives to transform the way farmers use fertilisers.
Soil Health Cards give farmers a peek into the nature and needs of the soil, helping in retaining its fertility and making it easier for farmers to adapt it to their own needs and goals. More than 23 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers. The government has also introduced neem coated and sulphur coated urea along with streamlining the access to fertilisers via One Nation One Fertiliser scheme. It is worth noting that the government has made available 100% neem coated urea in just one year along with curbing unauthorised use of urea by chemical units.
IRRIGATION & POWER
Taking the cause of input efficiency further is the Modi government’s emphasis on water and power use. Needless to say, water is a key input for agriculture, hence ensuring its timely availability and proper use is crucial to reform the farming sector. With the objective of ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched as an end-to-end solution to our nation’s irrigation woes. Per Drop More Crop under PMKSY intends to increase water use efficiency by promoting micro irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation. A Micro Irrigation Fund has been established for this purpose even as the data reveals that an area of over 78 lakh hectares has been covered under micro irrigation since 2015-16 with the release of central assistance of over Rs. 18,000 crore to states. This not only reduces input costs for farmers but also increases overall farm productivity besides ensuring resource health.
PM KUSUM, on the other hand, paves way for solarisation of existing diesel pumps at farms, setting up of small solar power plants on agricultural land, among other things—promoting use of renewable energy and providing additional income avenues to farmers. Nearly 2.46 lakh farmers have benefitted under the scheme as of August 2023.
CREDIT & INSURANCE
Insulating the business of cultivation, the Modi government introduced the incomparable PM Fasal Bima Yojana. Making farming a risk-free phenomenon, the scheme secures farmers, both prior to sowing and post harvesting, from crop loss due to factors including natural calamities, pest attacks and diseases. Insurance coverage under the scheme along with financial assistance to farmers ensures their continuance in agriculture apart from encouraging them to adopt innovative and modern farming practices. Since 2016-17, over 5.5 lakh farmer applications have been insured with Rs. 1.5 lakh crore paid out in claims.
As the government moves ahead strongly in the direction of financial inclusion, farmers’ access to credit at fair rates through formal channels has received a firmer boost. To assist farmers with their short-term working capital needs, the government has enhanced their access to institutional credit, taking it from Rs. 7.3 lakh crore in 2013-14 to a targeted Rs. 18.5 lakh crore in 2022-23. The Kisan Credit Card scheme, which has now been extended to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers, has also played a key role in furthering this objective. The total number of operative KCC Accounts as of March 2023 is 7.35 crore with a total sanctioned limit of Rs. 8.85 lakh crore.
Market Access:
PM Modi’s government has undertaken unique initiatives in the past nine years, greatly improving farmers’ access to equitable marketplaces. e-NAM (e-National Agriculture Market) is a pan-India e-trading platform creating a unified national market for agriculture commodities. This platform has played a pivotal role in creating healthy competition and improving returns for farmers, going beyond geographical barriers and information asymmetry. Over 1.76 crore farmers are onboard as of December 2023.
Market linkages have also been strengthened via Kisan Rail and Krishi Udan that have fostered seamless connectivity between the farm and the market.
Technology & Farming
PM Modi has often urged innovators and researchers to think about ‘an inch of land and a bunch of crops’. This is a call to find instant technological solutions to farmer problems. In this regard, the government has come up with National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture. Under this, funds are made available to state governments for projects involving the use of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, robotics, block chain, among others. Additionally, a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture is also being built to enable farmer-centric solutions through relevant information services including around farm inputs, market intelligence, credit, and insurance. Efforts are underway to mainstream drone technology for use in agriculture. The government provides financial aid covering 100% of drone costs and associated expenses for on-field demonstrations. A total of Rs. 138 crore has been made available for farmer-centric drone initiatives. Recently, Rs. 1,261 crore have been allocated towards the NAMO Drone Didi scheme—aiming to train 15,000 women SHGs to offer rental services to farmers for activities like application of fertilisers and pesticides.
The multi-pronged Beej Se Bazaar Tak strategy creates lucrative prospects for farmers by also treating farming as an integrated activity. This is exemplified in the government’s push towards allied sectors like fisheries (Blue Revolution), dairy, and horticulture. These areas offer better returns per unit area, and hence are crucial in promoting sustainability of agriculture and protecting the interests of small and marginal farmers. PM Modi’s government has ensured that farmers are made aware and are educated to diversify their efforts to this end. Apart for Krishi Vigyan Kendras to provide extension services, over 1.60 lakh PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras are operational across the country, acting as nodal points for outreach activities in agriculture. These centers help farmers with vital information around soil testing, fertilisers, seeds, farming techniques, and all government schemes, among other things.
Government initiatives like PM KISAN add further content to this approach. The DBT scheme provides an annual financial support of Rs. 6,000 to all landholding farmers across the country. This support is playing a vital role in making agriculture not only remunerative but also productive. Till now, benefits amounting to over Rs. 2.61 lakh crore have reached more than 11 crore farmers in the country.
However, the Beej Se Bazaar Tak approach is not solely centered on economic gains; it is equally committed to environmental sustainability. The emphasis on precision farming and the use of technology minimises resource wastage, optimises inputs, and promotes eco-friendly agricultural practices. This dual focus on productivity and sustainability ensures that the gains made in agriculture are both enduring and responsible.
And a robust and prosperous agricultural sector has a multiplier effect on allied industries, creating employment opportunities and driving economic growth. By enhancing the efficiency of the agricultural value chain, the government is laying the foundation for a resilient and dynamic economy.
In essence, the Beej Se Bazaar Tak approach is a shining example of the Modi government's commitment to comprehensive agricultural reform. By addressing every facet of the agricultural value chain, from seed to market, the government has ushered a new era for Indian agriculture, where prosperity is not just a goal but a sustainable reality, benefitting farmers, the environment, and the nation at large.
