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Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Topics Covered: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

What to study?

For Prelims: Overview of measures announced as part of Self Reliant India mission, other measures announced during the lockdown period.

For Mains: Need for and significance of these measures.

Context: Third tranche of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan economic stimulus package announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

These measures are part of a Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crore – equivalent to 10% of India’s GDP announced by PM on 12th May 2020.

Focus:

The 3rd Tranche includes measures to strengthen Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors.

Key measures announced:

Measures for improving agricultural infrastructure:

  1. Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers.
  2. Rs 10,000 crore scheme for Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE).
  3. Rs 20,000 crore for fisherman through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
  4. National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis launched.
  5. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of 15,000 crore will be setup.
  6. Promotion of Herbal Cultivation: Outlay of Rs. 4,000 crore.
  7. Beekeeping initiatives – Rs 500 crore.
  8. “Operation Greens” run by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will be extended from tomatoes, onion and potatoes to ALL fruit and vegetables.

Measures for administrative and governance reforms:

  1. Amendments to Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers.
  2. A Central law will be formulated to provide adequate choices to the farmer to sell their produce at remunerative price and barrier free Inter-State Trade.
  3. A facilitative legal framework to enable farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc. in a fair and transparent manner.

Significance and I of these measures:

Amendments to the ECA, reforms in agricultural marketing and risk mitigation through predictable prices will empower farmers, strengthen agri-food processing linkages and enable demand-driven value added agriculture.

The reforms will encourage investments in food processing and together with the infrastructure outlays will contribute in shaping a competitive agri value chain, reduce wastages and raise farmer incomes.

The removal of cereals from essential commodities, the agricultural marketing policy changes being made to facilitate direct sale to aggregators, and the assistance being provided to enhance food processing and post harvest infrastructure in proximity to farm gates are excellent formulations which will help farmers.

What has the government done during the lockdown for the development of agriculture?

  1. Rs 30,000 crore as Additional Emergency Working Capital facility through NABARD to enable RRBs and Cooperative Banks extending farm loans for Rabi post-harvest and Kharif expenses.
  2. A mission-mode drive to enable Rs 2 lakh crore credit boost to the farm sector by covering 2.5 crore PM-KISAN beneficiaries under Kisan Credit Card Scheme by December 2020.
  3. Minimum Support Price (MSP) purchases of amount more than Rs 74,300 crore, PM KISAN fund Transfer of Rs 18,700 crore and PM Fasal Bima Yojana claim payment of Rs 6,400 crore have been made.
  4. During Lockdown, Demand of Milk reduced by 20-25%. Accordingly, 560 Lakh litre per day (LLPD) were procured by cooperatives against daily sale of 360 LLPD. Total 111 crore litres of milk extra procured ensuring payment of Rs 4,100 crore.
  5. A new scheme to provide interest subvention @2% per annum to dairy cooperatives for 2020-21 has been launched, also providing additional 2% p.a interest subvention on prompt payment/interest servicing. This scheme will unlock Rs 5,000 crore additional liquidity, benefitting 2 crore farmers.

InstaThink:

Prelims Link:

  1. What is Essential commodities act?
  2. What is interest subvention?
  3. Commodities covered under MSP scheme.
  4. India’s milk production capacity.
  5. What are micro food enterprises?
  6. Features of PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
  7. Objectives of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

Sources: pib.