CUI Brief
CUI Brief
CUI Brief
Foodgrains: The Crops Division has set a production target of 274.55 million
tonnes of foodgrains during the 2017-18. Keeping in view the normal monsoon
forecast and record production of 273.38 miliion tones of foodgrains during 2016-
17 (3rd Advance Estimtates), it is expected that the agricultural growth will likely be
around 4% in 2017-18. Foodgrain production in the country during 2015-16 was
almost stagnant at an estimated 252.23 million tonnes, compared to 2014-15
production of 252.02 million tonnes, as drought and un-seasonal rains affected
crops in several States across the country. To enhance the production and
productivity of foodgrains, National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is being
implemented in all the 29 states of the country.
i. Rice:
Rice being important staple food of India and continues to play a vital role
in the national food and livelihood security system. India is having largest
area under rice crop. However, productivity is lower than world’s average
productivity. The reason for low productivity is that rice is being grown in the
country under various agro-ecologies ecologies i.e. irrigated and rainfed
systems. The States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh and Assam are having huge potential for rice cultivation and there is
scope to increase productivity in this region. Therefore, these States are covered
under BGREI besides NFSM programme.
ii. Wheat:
Wheat is the second most important staple food crop and plays a key role in food
and nutritional security of the country. Higher productivity of wheat is mainly
confined to states contributed to green revolution like Punjab, Haryana and
Western parts of Uttar Pradesh. To meet the ever raising demands of growing
population there is need to increase production by enhancing productivity in states
like eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat and
Maharashtra. Various interventions are being promoted to enhance the production
and productivity of wheat under NFSM. Newer varieties, resource conservation
technologies like zero till seed drill are promoted in eastern India for enhancing
production and productivity of wheat.
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To increase the production and productivity of Wheat, the NFSM-Wheat
programme is being implemented in 126 districts of 11 states i.e. Bihar (10),
Gujarat (5), Haryana (7), Himachal Pradesh (11), Jammu & Kashmir (8), Madhya
Pradesh (16), Maharashtra (3), Punjab (12), Rajasthan (14), Uttar Pradesh (31), and
Uttarakhand (9).
iii. Pulses:
Pulses are an important source of protein for human being. More than 80%
of the pulses are grown in rainfed condition. India is one of the largest
producers as well as consumers of pulses. Under NFSM, a number of
initiatives have been taken in last two years to increase production of pulses like,
intercropping of pulses with cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops, cultivation of
pigeon pea pulses on farm bunds, additional demonstrations during rabi and
summer, demonstrations of pulses under BGREI, laying of demonstrations through
KVKs etc.
In addition to existing interventions under NFSM-Pulses, from the year 2016-
17 new initiatives/ interventions have been taken to increase pulses production
like breeder seed production, creation of seed hubs, distribution of seed minikit,
promotion of INM and IPM, targeting rice fallow areas, new/improved technology
demonstration among farmers through KVKs etc.
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To increase the production and productivity of Coarse cereals, the NFSM-
Coarse Cereals is being implemented in 265 districts of 28 states i.e. Andhra
Pradesh (6), Arunachal Pradesh (17), Assam (4), Bihar (11), Chhattisgarh (9),
Gujarat (8), Haryana (5), Himachal Pradesh (12), Jammu & Kashmir (22),
Jharkhand (11), Karnataka (11), Kerala (1), Madhya Pradesh (16), Maharashtra (8),
Manipur (9), Meghalaya (11), Mizoram (8), Nagaland (11), Odisha (6), Punjab (3),
Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (4) Tamil Nadu (10), Telangana (6), Tripura (8), Uttar
Pradesh (20) Uttarakhand (13), and West Bengal (3).
Hence, various interventions are being taken up under NFSM for Rice, Wheat,
Pulses and Coarse cereals to enhance production and productivity of foodgrains in
the country.
Commercial crops are highly demanded in the country. The Government of India
has approved Crop Development Programme on Cotton, Jute and Sugarcane for
enhancing production and productivity under National Food Security Mission-
Commercial Crops (NFSM-CC) w.e.f 2014-15. Under this scheme thrust has been
given on transfer of technology through frontline demonstrations and training in
order to extend benefits to the farmers.
The Cotton States Covered under the NFSM programme are Assam, Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa,
Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal.
Jute States Covered under NFSM programme are Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Bihar, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, & West Bengal.