National Food Security Mission

Why is in news? Increasing Agricultural Production under National Food Security Mission

In order to increase the production and productivity of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals (maize and barley), nutri-cereals (Shree Anna) and to fulfil the objectives of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), assistance is being provided to the farmers through States/Union Territories.

For interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of high yielding varieties/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing &post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings etc.

Initiatives like distribution of seed minikits of newer varieties of pulses, production of quality seed, creation of seed hubs at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutes/ State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), technological demonstrations by KVKs have also been included under NFSM.

To meet the objectives of NFSM - Oilseeds,incentives/ subsidies are being provided for purchase of breeder seeds, production of foundation seeds & certified seeds, distribution of certified seeds, distribution of seed mini kits, demonstrations (block demonstrations /front line demonstrations /cluster front line demonstrations), farmers field school, training, supply of water carrying devices, plant protection equipments, soil ameliorates, micro-nutrients, weedicides, insecticides, bio-fertilizer/bio agents, etc.

Some of the Govt measures:

National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021 to promote oil palm cultivation with the aim to augment the availability of edible oil in the country

Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is being implemented from 2015-16 in the country to focus on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems.

Under the Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) programme of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) implemented by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), lined field channels are constructed and wherever possible underground pipeline network is laid for providing last-mile connectivity to the irrigation system to enhance irrigation efficiency.

The Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation has set up Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) for promotion, regulation and control of efficient use of water in irrigation, industrial and domestic sector. The Bureau facilitates promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries etc. in the country.

National Water Mission (NWM) launched the ‘SahiFasal’ campaign in 2019 to nudge farmers in water stressed areas to grow crops which are not water intensive but use water efficiently and are economically remunerative, healthy and nutritious and suited to the agro-climatic-hydro characteristics.

The net irrigated area in the country has increased from 692.70 lakh hectare in the year 2016-17 hectare to 777.29 lakh hectare in the year 2020-21.

About the mission:

National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2007 based on the recommendations of the agriculture sub- committee of National Development Council (NDC).

The committee pointed out the need for improved agricultural extension services, technology transfer and decentralized planning as a result of which NFSM was conceptualized as a mission mode program.

During the eleventh plan period, the mission achieved increase in production of food grains by 20 million MT; covering rice, wheat and pulses.

The scheme was continued during the twelfth five year plan (2012-17) with a target of 25 million MT of increased food grain production.

Subsequently, coarse cereals and commercial crops were included under the purview of NFSM. NFSM is currently being implemented across 638 districts in the country.

Key thrust areas of the scheme:

Sustainable increase in the production of targeted crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement.

Restoration of soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level.

Rise in farm level net income.

Benefits:

Sustainable increase in the production of targeted crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement

Restoration of soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level

Rise in farm level net income