Support to Farmers to Enhance Sustainability of Agriculture

13 December 2025, New Delhi: Agriculture is a State subject. Government of India supports the States through appropriate policy measures and budgetary allocation for schemes for farmers welfare. The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) from Rs. 21,933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,290.16 crore BE during 2025-26. The schemes/programmes of the Government of India that aim to increase productivity, sustainability, support mechanisms, provide remunerative returns, income support to farmers and mitigate the challenges faced by farmers including small and marginal farmers are annexed.

Government is implementing Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) to provide loan on concessional interest rate through Kisan Credit Card (KCC). Farmers receive KCC loans at a subsidized interest rate of 7%. To facilitate this, an upfront interest subvention (IS) of 1.5% is provided to financial institutions. Additionally, farmers who repay their loans promptly receive a 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI), effectively reducing the interest rate to 4% per annum. The benefits of IS and PRI are available for loan limits up to Rs. 3 lakhs.

Government has introduced yield-based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and weather index-based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from Kharif 2016 to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of natural calamities, adverse weather incidence, and to stabilize the income of farmers etc. Comprehensive risk insurance is provided under the scheme from pre-sowing to post-harvest loss. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is voluntary for the States as well as for farmers.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is an income support scheme for cultivable landholding farmers providing Rs. 6,000 per year in 3 equal instalments. So far, more than Rs. 4.09 lakh crore has been disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in 21 instalments to the eligible farmers across the country.

Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), assistance is provided for setting up of primary/mini processing units in all the States. Under HRD component of MIDH, awareness programmes, farmers training, exposure visit, etc. are being provided to make farmers aware about the latest and modern technologies being used in horticulture. Farmers are also made aware of the processing facilities/mega food parks nearby and processable varieties of horticulture crops.

Government has introduced Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) during 2014-15 under the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology and since 2022-23, merged under the umbrella of PM-RKVY with the objectives of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low; promoting ‘Custom Hiring Centres’ and ‘Hi-tech Hubs of High Value Machines’ to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of individual ownership; creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities of various farm mechanization technologies including technologies developed by ICAR and ensuring performance testing and certification of agricultural machines at FMTTIs and designated testing centres located all over the country.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is implementing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) scheme in different States of the Country to support farmers in the adoption of innovative farming techniques developed by National Agricultural Research System. The activities of KVKs include on-farm testing to identify the location specificity of technology under various farming systems; frontline demonstration to establish the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers’ fields; capacity development of farmers for knowledge and skill up-gradation; and production of quality seeds, planting materials and other technology inputs for availability to the farmers. In order to develop awareness about agricultural innovations and technologies among the farmers, a large number of extension activities are taken up by the KVKs.

To mitigate the impacts of adverse weather on agriculture, under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme, medium-range weather forecasts for the next 5 days at the district and block levels are generated by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Based on rainfall and other weather parameters along with weather forecasts issued by IMD, 130 Agromet Field Units prepare Agromet Advisories in English as well as in the regional language for dissemination through multiple channels.

The Government of India supports and facilitates the State Governments to promote agriculture throughout the country and infusing modern and smart farming technologies into the agriculture sector. The use of modern machines including kisan drones is promoted under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. Under NeGPA programme, funding is given to State Governments for Digital Agriculture Projects using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain etc.

A component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” has been launched under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with the objective of promoting innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. Under this programme, start-ups are encouraged to use innovative technologies to resolve challenges faced in agriculture and allied sectors. The funds are released to the States based on their proposals.

Government is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation namely Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. The Micro Irrigation helps in water saving as well as reduced fertiliser usage through fertigation, labour expenses, other input costs and overall income enhancement of farmers. Recent evaluation studies of the scheme have reiterated that Micro Irrigation is relevant in achieving national priorities such as improving on-farm water use efficiency, enhancing crop productivity, improving quality of agri/horti products etc.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project – National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), that studies the impact of climate change on agriculture, conducts district level risk and vulnerability assessment. Under the project, risk and vulnerability assessment of climate change has been carried out at district-level for 651 predominantly agricultural districts as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. 310 districts were identified as vulnerable out of which 109 districts have been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201 districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable. For enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers to climate variability, location-specific climate resilient technologies have been demonstrated under the project through KVKs in 448 Climate Resilient Villages. Capacity building for establishing village level seed banks and community nurseries is undertaken under NICRA project that enables availability of seeds in the adopted villages. Drought and flood tolerant climate-resilient varieties of rice, wheat, soybean, mustard, chickpea, sorghum, gram, and foxtail millet were demonstrated in several NICRA villages. Besides, training programmes are conducted under Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on various issues of agricultural practices including creation of awareness on using quality seeds among the farmers.

Government is implementing National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), to promote sustainable agriculture practices in the country. Several schemes under NMSA encourage farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture practices. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme increases water use efficiency at the farm level through micro irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation. For promoting organic farming and natural farming, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), and National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) are implemented respectively.

To promote sustainable agriculture practices, the Government implements the Crop Residue Management scheme which supports in-situ and ex-situ management of crop residues through subsidized farm machinery, thereby reducing stubble burning and improving soil health.

Annexure

Major Schemes/Programmes Initiated by DA&FW

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8. Namo Drone Didi
9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission
28. National Bamboo Mission

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