According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) July 2023 - June 2024, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), 46.1% of the workforce in India is employed in the agriculture sector. Further, as per the National Accounts Statistics 2025, this sector contributed approximately 17.8 per cent of the country’s GDP for FY 2023-24. The Government of India has undertaken several initiatives aimed at enhancing farm productivity.

The details of select major schemes pertaining to enhancement in agricultural productivity:

The National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) is implemented in 28 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs) viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The objective of NFSNM is to increase production of foodgrains through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Under this Scheme, the incentives are provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system- based demonstrations, distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, integrated nutrient and pest management techniques, improved farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, etc.

The Ministry advises the States and seed producing agencies from time to time to place the breeder seeds indents of newly released High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), stress-tolerant varieties (drought, flood and salinity) including stress tolerant/ climate-resilient /smart varieties (to tackle the challenges of climate changes in a more effective way) of different crops developed by ICAR Institutes /State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) etc. for further multiplication into foundation and certified seeds, so as to make available to the farmers, the required seeds of these crops varieties to enhance farm production, productivity and also to help farmers’ profitability in the country.

The Government of India is promoting mechanization with the specific aim of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low. It also aims at promoting 'Custom Hiring Centers' to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small land holding and high cost of individual ownership. In this regard, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization' (SMAM) is being implemented through the State Governments. Under SMAM, financial assistance is being provided for purchase of agricultural machinery and equipments, including tractors, to the farmers on individual ownership-basis and for establishment of Custom Hiring Centre (CHC)/High Tech Hub/Farm Machinery Bank (FMB).

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is also implementing CentrallySponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) from 2015-16 onwards. PDMC focuses on enhancing water-use efficiency at farm-level through Micro Irrigation viz. Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. The Micro Irrigation helps in saving water as well as reduced fertilizer usage (through fertigation), labour expenses, other input costs and thereby, creating overall income enhancement of farmers. Further, NITI Aayog conducted an evaluation study on PDMC scheme during the year 2021, which revealed that productivity increased in the range of 9% to 100% for various crops in different States through adoption of micro irrigation.

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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RC/ KSR/AR

(Release ID: 2158030)