The government released more than Rs 16,000 crore till January 31 in the ongoing financial year to state governments under various schemes of the agriculture ministry, Parliament was informed today.
The government provides financial assistance to state governments so as to boost agriculture under various schemes being implemented for increasing production and productivity in agriculture and allied sectors.
"...An amount of Rs 16,627 crore has been released up to January 31 under various schemes to the state governments and implementing agencies as per their requirement and past performance for development of agriculture," Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Tariq Anwar said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
Anwar added that the funds have been released out of a total amount of Rs 21,609 crore allocated to different plan schemes aimed at boosting agricultural production in the year 2013-14.
Government enhanced plan outlay of agriculture to Rs 1,34,746 crore for 12th Five Year plan from Rs 61,528 crore in 11th Five Year plan.
Important schemes or programmes which are under implementation at present are; Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission, Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States, Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oilpalm & Maize and few others.
Enhancement of minimum support prices of agricultural commodities, increase in credit flow to agriculture sector, debt waiver, interest subvention on crop loans, extension activities, etc, are some other steps taken by the government for the growth of agriculture sector, he added.
The government on its part, is supplementing the efforts of states by extending necessary financial assistance and technical inputs through its various programmes, Anwar said.
The combined efforts of Centre and the states have been successful in achieving 3.64 per cent annual growth rate during 11th Plan period (2007-2012). This is against 2.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent growth rate during 9th and 10th Plan periods, respectively.
