All that was discussed in the House through the day
According to satellite data, stubble burning events have reduced by 41 per cent between 2018 and 2016, respectively in the Indo-gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare informed members of the Lok Sabha on June 25, 2019. Stubble burning is mainly practiced to clear agricultural fields before the Rabi crop is sown.
To address the increasing air pollution levels, a new central sector scheme on promotion of agricultural mechanisation for in-situ management of crop residue in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi was launched with the total outgo from the central funds of Rs 1,151.80 crore.
Farmers not affected due to fewer crop insurance settlements
It is incorrect to say that loanee farmers, for whom Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is mandatory, are financially affected due to less settlement of claims under the scheme, according to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. The ministry was asked about the state-wise details of claim ratio during 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The claim ratio during the first two years of implementation — 2016-17 and 2017-18 — was 74 per cent and 83 per cent.
Weather affects 161.12 lakh hectares of cropped area
The National Disaster Response Fund Against approved Rs 8,170.81 crore to spent on 161.12 lakh hectare of cropped area, which was affected due to adverse weather in six states – Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat , Jharkhand and Rajasthan, said Narendra Singh Tomar in the Lok Sabha on June 25, 2019.
Heatwave deaths increase by 276%
The number of deaths due to heatwave increased by 276 per cent in 2019 than last year, said Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for the Ministry Of Home Affairs. He then took pride in stating that with efforts of the central and state governments, numbers of deaths due to heat wave declined significantly between 2016 and 2018.
Seven sources to increase farmers’ income identified
There are seven sources to increase the income of farmers, identified an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the government, said agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar. These include improvement in crop productivity, improvement in livestock productivity, resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production, increase in cropping intensity, diversification towards high value crops, improvement in real prices received by farmers, and shift from farm to non-farm occupations.
Money released for repair of water bodies dips
Funds released under the Repair and Restoration of Water Bodies Programme registered a dip. In 2016-19, Rs 104.44 crore was released and in 2015-16 the number was Rs 161.18 crore.
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