New heights in Agriculture: key government intiatives and Policy measures for farmers

India, an agrarian country with large-scale farming practices, is seeing the government’s active support for agriculture through various schemes and programs. The Government of India encourages state-level efforts with suitable policy measures and budgetary allocations. These initiatives are aimed at the welfare of farmers by increasing production, ensuring remunerative returns, and providing economic support. To accelerate and expand agricultural development, the new government, with the approval of the Union Cabinet, has introduced the following key programs:

Key Government Initiatives:

1. Clean Plant Program: The Clean Plant Program (CPP) has been approved with a budget of ₹1,765.67 crore. This initiative focuses on enhancing the quality and productivity of horticultural crops by providing disease-free planting materials. It will aid the dissemination and adoption of climate-resilient varieties, leading to increased productivity.
2. Digital Agriculture Mission: The Union Cabinet has approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a budget provision of ₹2,817 crore, including ₹1,940 crore as the central share. The mission is designed as a comprehensive plan to support digital agriculture initiatives, such as the development of Digital Public Infrastructure, the implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and other IT projects by the central and state governments.
3. Progressive Expansion of Agricultural Infrastructure Fund Scheme: The government has approved the expansion of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to enhance agricultural infrastructure in the country. The expanded scope includes the construction of community farming assets, integrated processing projects, and coordination with the PM-KUSUM 'A' scheme, among other new projects.
4. National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds: The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) has been approved with a total budget allocation of ₹10,103 crore. The mission aims to boost domestic oilseed production and achieve self-reliance in edible oils. This mission will be implemented from 2024-25 to 2030-31.
5. National Mission on Natural Farming: The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been approved as an independent centrally sponsored scheme with a total budget of ₹2,481 crore.

Other Key Agricultural Platforms Launched in 2024-25:

1. National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS)
2. AgriSure Startups – Agricultural Fund for Rural Enterprises
3. Agriculture Investment Portal
4. Agriculture-DSS Portal – A Geospatial Platform for Indian Agriculture
5. Introduction of Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) for Sustainable Agricultural Practices

These initiatives are designed to not only increase agricultural production and farmers' incomes but also contribute significantly towards making the agricultural sector modern and sustainable.

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