Gist of Kurukshetra- Rural Prosperity:- Major government initiatives in Agriculture:

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

• Beneficial for small and marginal farmers and in geographies where water sources are available.
• Ensure ‘more crop per drop’ which will cover 28.5 lakh hectare area under irrigation.
• 5000 crore fund for micro-irrigation has been made available .
• Also, encouragement for farmers to install solar pumps for irrigation.

Credit for Farmers

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is the biggest risk cover and safety net provided by the government.
• Under the interest subvention scheme, short-term crop loans up to 3 lakh with interest rate of 7 per cent per annum has been made available.Soil Health Card
• Government has dispatched more than 13 crore Soil Health Cards from 2015-18.
• Soil Health Cards carry crop-specific recommendations for nutrients and fertilizers to help farmers improve their productivity.

Neem Coated Urea

• To boost the growth of wheat and paddy, and curb the black marketeering and hoarding of urea.
• Government of India has made use of neem-coated urea mandatory.

Marketing the Farmers Produce (e-NAM)

• It has integrated 585 markets across 16 states and 2 union territories.
• 22,000 Rural Haats will turn into Gramin Agriculture Market which will benefit 86 per cent small farmers.
• Address price volatility of perishable items like tomato, potato and onion.

Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF)

• To facilitate the States in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of Micro irrigation.
• Bringing additional coverage through special and innovative initiatives by State Governments.

Agriculture Contingency Plan

• ICAR has prepared district level Contingency Fund to tackle the monsoon situations leading to drought and floods, extreme events affecting crops, livestock and fisheries.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

• To promote organic farming in the country
• To improve soil health and increase net income of the farmer so as to realise premium prices.