The Agriculture Minister provided updates on the National Food Security Mission in a written response to the Lok Sabha. The NFSM began in 2007 based on recommendations from the agriculture sub-committee of the National Development Council. This mission aims to tackle the urgent requirement for better agricultural practices, sharing of advanced technologies, and community-specific planning.

What is the National Food Security Mission?

• In 2007, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, in line with recommendations from the agriculture sub-committee of the National Development Council (NDC).
• This committee emphasized the importance of enhancing agricultural extension services, transferring technology, and adopting decentralized planning.

Key Objectives

• Our goal is to boost the production of vital crops such as rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and oilseeds to ensure a plentiful supply of essential food.
• We’re dedicated to revitalizing the soil on each farm, making it more fertile and productive. This is a vital step to ensure the long-term health of our farmlands.
• Our aim is to boost the income of farmers at the individual farm level, ultimately enhancing their livelihoods and well-being. We believe that thriving farmers lead to thriving communities.

Major Initiatives

Cluster Demonstrations and Better Farming Methods: NFSM works with farmers in different States/Union Territories to organize cluster demonstrations. These events showcase improved agricultural practices in a practical way, helping farmers learn optimized techniques for crop cultivation and management.

Seed Production and Distribution for Improved Harvests: NFSM places a strong emphasis on developing, producing, and distributing high-yielding crop varieties and hybrids. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural output, ensuring better food security for all.

Plant Protection and Soil Health: NFSM prioritizes protective measures against pests and diseases to ensure healthy plant growth. Additionally, the program encourages effective nutrient management and soil enhancement strategies, aiming to boost overall crop productivity.

Focus on Oilseeds Production for Dietary Needs: Acknowledging the significance of oilseeds in our diet, NFSM-Oilseeds initiative concentrates on increasing oilseed production. The initiative employs a multi-faceted approach, including seed subsidies, practical demonstrations, training programs, and providing essential resources to farmers.

National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): Launched in 2021 to reduce dependency on edible oil imports, NMEO-OP focuses on expanding oil palm cultivation. The mission aims to increase crude palm oil production, enhance productivity, and alleviate the burden of imports through various initiatives such as subsidies, training, and resource provision.

Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture

• Promote efficient water use by encouraging location-specific scientific techniques and modern agronomic practices.
• The CADWM initiative, under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, focuses on enhancing irrigation efficiency. It involves constructing lined field channels and underground pipelines to ensure the last-mile connectivity of water resources to agricultural lands.
• The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) is vital in regulating and promoting efficient water use across sectors. The bureau actively advocates for strategies to enhance water use efficiency in irrigation, industries, and domestic settings.
• Under the National Water Mission (NWM), the ‘SahiFasal‘ campaign was launched to connect with farmers in water-stressed regions. The campaign encourages farmers to cultivate crops that align with agro-climatic conditions, are economically viable, and use water efficiently.

Challenges 

• Agricultural Challenges: India’s agricultural sector grapples with climate change impacts, unpredictable weather patterns, pest outbreaks, and soil degradation, all of which contribute to reduced crop yields and food scarcity.
• Land Fragmentation: Fragmented land holdings due to inheritance laws lead to small and uneconomical plots that hinder the adoption of modern farming techniques.
• Lack of Diversification: Overemphasis on staple crops like rice and wheat limits dietary diversity, contributing to malnutrition issues.

Conclusion

In summary, the NFSM significantly contributes to tackling food security issues in India through various initiatives, emphasizing sustainable agriculture, efficient water management, and increased diversification.

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