India is a land of agriculture. Almost half of the country’s population still relies on it as their primary livelihood source. There has been a 3.6 percent growth in the agricultural sector in 2020-21, followed by 3.9 percent in 2021-22. Hence, the country’s government must extend support for one of the most significant sectors.
Today, the intervention plays a very significant role in standing as a backbone and supporting the country’s agricultural sector. Time and again, the government has been actively introducing and promoting several agricultural schemes and subsidies for the welfare and upliftment of farmers. There are several different kinds of schemes, each aimed at fulfilling specific purposes. These aim to reduce the direct costs for beneficiaries and give them direct or indirect support.
If you wish to learn about these, here are all agriculture schemes' fundamentals, objectives, and eligibility details.
Rythu Bandhu Scheme
The Government of Telangana proposes this agricultural scheme. It is a welfare program designed to support a farmer’s investment in two crops yearly. The government helps approximately 58 lakh farmers with Rs 5000 per acre season, twice a year for rabi and Kharif.
The key objective of this scheme is to rescue the farmers of Telangana from falling into a financial plight, gradually avoiding the debt trap. Farmers can use the financial aid provided under this scheme to purchase seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other field investments.
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Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
The Union cabinet approved this Pan India scheme. It is aimed to be a National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility. In terms of intent, this Agricultural scheme shall provide medium-long term debt financing facilities for post-harvest investment management infrastructure and community farming.
The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund's primary objective is to provide financial support for farmers, gradually leading to improved agricultural infrastructure in the country. The overall size of this financing facility is Rs 1 lakh Crore. In addition, the provided credit guarantee for loans goes up to Rs 2 crores. Secondly, the objective of this scheme also includes enabling farmers to sell directly to a larger consumer base.
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Mirco Irrigation Fund Scheme
Created by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, this scheme was implemented in 2019-20. The main objective focuses on facilitating the availment of interest-subvented loans to expand micro irrigation systems and facilities.
Under this scheme, state governments can avail of loans at 3% below the cost of funds. In total, the Mirco Irrigation Fund Scheme holds a corpus of Rs. 5000 crores. Other objectives of this scheme also focus on:
- Taking up new and innovative projects to support the states
- Expanding micro irrigation areas
- Encouraging the establishment of micro irrigation systems among farmers
- Offering start-to-end irrigation supply chains
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Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
This scheme primarily caters to extending the initiative of ‘Her Khet Ko Paani’. To this effect, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana focuses on improving water use efficiency by devising an end-to-end solution. To clarify, this will focus on processes starting from source creation, distribution management, field application, and extension activities. Overall, an outlay of Rs. 5000 crores has been passed for 5 years.
In terms of objectives, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana focuses on:
- Convergence of irrigation investment at the field level.
- Expansion of cultivable irrigational area
- Improving efficient on-farm water usage
- Enhancing the adoption of precise irrigation and water conservation methods
For eligibility, here is the list of criteria to qualify as beneficiaries of this scheme:
- Farmers belonging to all classes and divisions
- The farmer must possess the land
- Members of producer farmer groups, cooperative societies, and self-help groups are eligible.
- Farmers engaged in land cultivation under a leasing arrangement
Find Indian Bank Branches for Agriculture Loan: Indian Branch Locator
ATMA Scheme
As a district-level registered society, the Agriculture technology management agency works with several agriculture-related institutions to improve sustainable agriculture development. Primarily, the ATMA scheme’s objective is to ensure the coordination of various district-level research and extension activities. Additionally, it is also responsible for the decentralization of the public agriculture technology system.
Furthermore, the ATMA agricultural scheme ensures:
- Decentralized decision-making with new institutional arrangements
- Broad-based extension delivery
- Group approach to FO and FIGs extension
- Multi-agency extension strategies and more.
Regarding eligibility, the ATMA “FIG” groups undergo registration through the respective district Project Directors. Following that, the FIG members can avail multiple benefits, including:
- Agricultural and related subjects training
- Exposure visits
- Demonstrations
- Krushi Exhibitions
- Interaction with scientists
- Farm Schools
- Publication of subject matter-related publications
- Promotion of public-private partnerships focused on agricultural development
Conclusion
To sum it up, let us weigh the importance of government subsidies. Certainly, without the implementation and aid from these, the development of the agricultural sector is challenging. But on the other hand, there is also an evident fear that farmers' agricultural production and income could decline substantially if it weren’t for subsidies.
On the other hand, there are also several speculations about subsidies reaching the right hands. As a solution, providing direct loans to farmers after an eligibility check has proven to be a great help.
Above all, the intervention of subsidies has made eliminating mediators a reality to a great extent. These are undoubtedly an integral part of the country’s farmers and are imperative for their individual and collective growth. The direct effect is seen with the transfer of income from the general taxpayers to farm owners.
