Initiatives of Government of India to Increase Production and Productivity of Food

National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched in 2007-08 to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement; restoring soil fertility and productivity; creating employment opportunities; and enhancing farm level economy. Coarse cereals were included from 2014-15 under NFSM. The Mission was continued during 12th Five Year Plan with target of additional production of 25 million tonnes of food grains comprising of 10 million tonnes of rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat, 4 million tonnes of pulses and 3 million tonnes of coarse cereals by the end of XII Plan. Beyond the 12^th Plan, the mission was continued with new additional targets of 13 million tonnes of food grains comprising 5 million tonnes of rice, 3 million tonnes of wheat, 3 million tonnes of pulses and 2 million tonnes of nutri-cum-coarse cereals from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

 NFSM presently comprises of thesub-components viz., NFSM-Rice, NFSM-Wheat, NFSM-Pulses, NFSM-Coarse Cereals, NFSM-NFSM-Nutri-Cereals and NFSM-Commercial Crops.Currently, NFNSM is being implemented in identified districts of 28 States & 2 Union Territories (UTs) viz. Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh in the country. NFSM-Rice in 193 districts of 24 States & UT of J&K, NFSM-Wheat in 124 districts of 10 states & 2 UTs viz. J&K and Ladakh, NFSM-Pulses in 644 districts of 28 States & 2 UTs viz. J&K and Ladakh and NFSM-Coarse Cereals in 269 districts of 26 States & 2 UTs viz. J&K and Ladakh. Assistance is being provided to the farmers for organizing cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system. To spread the newer improved crop production technologies around 80.00 ha area has been covered under technology demonstrations of food grains crops such as rice, wheat, pulses & coarse cum nutria-cereals from 2014-15 to 2019-20.

Under the Mission, Seed distribution of HYVs, farm machineries/resources conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection, nutrient management, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc. are provided. From the year, 2020-21, primary processing units/small storage bins/flexibility interventions have been added as per local requirements with the aim of increasing the income of the farmers.

Focused attention for improving the seed replacement rate and varietal replacement is given in the Mission. Mini kits of the latest varieties are distributed free of charge to farmer’sdoorstep through the central seed agencies. To increase the seed replacement rate (SRR) of improved varieties of food grains, about 74 lakh quintals of certified seed of high yielding varieties/ hybrids of rice, wheat, pulses & coarse cereals were distributed under NFSM from 2014-15 to 2019-20.

To ensure the good quality seed of pulses & nutria-cereals at the farmer’s doorstep about 16 lakh quintals of certified seed of pulses & nutri-cereals were produced from 2014-15 to 2019-20.

The Mission has been able to achieve around 110 lakh ha area to be treated with Micronutrients, Bio-fertilizers, soil ameliorants/ (Gypsum/Lime/others) from 2014-15 to 2019-2020. Around 120 lakh ha area under Integrated Pest Management (IPM) were achieved during from 2014-15 to 2019-20. To strengthen mechanization at farmer’s field about 15 lakh improved farm implements were distributed under NFSM from 2014-15 to 2019-2020. To support to achieve objective of “harkhetkopani” & “Per Drop More Crop” , 274600 pump sets, 126967 sprinklers and around 764 lakh metres of water carrying pipes were distributed amongst the farmers under NFSM from 2014-15 to 2019-2020.To educate to farmers about the newer improved crop production and protection technologies at real time, 60677 cropping system based trainings for capacity building of farmers were conducted from 2014-15 to 2019-2020 and this benefitted around 18 lakh of farmers .

During 2014-15 to 2019-20, a sum of Rs.8760.81 crores has been released under the scheme to the States and other implementing institutions as Central share. After implementation of the programme in the country and concerted efforts made by the state governments as well as Government of India. This has resulted in increase of total foodgrains production from 252.02 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 296.65 million tonnes during 2019-20, which is a 17.71% increase. The productivity of foodgrains which was 2028 kg/ha in 2014-15, has increased to 2325 kg/ha during 2019-20 (14.64% increase). Especially noteworthy is the production of pulses which has increased from 17.15 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 23.15 million tonnes in 2019-20 which is about 35% increase.