List of Schemes Farmers Can Avail in India

The Government of India has always considered the welfare of farmers as a priority. Thus, to revive the agriculture sector and improve farmer conditions, different Yojanas and schemes have been implemented. These agriculture schemes have proven beneficial for the farmers, and they must know about all the scheme's benefits.

So, let's check out the top government schemes that farmers can avail in India.

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana

Last September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched pension schemes for marginal and small farmers of India.

Eligibility Criteria

Farmers between the age group of 18-40 years can apply for this scheme.
Small and marginal farmers with land up to 2 hectares.
SMFs with other saving schemes like Employees provident fund organisation, national pension scheme, etc.

Pros

Farmers can avail a minimum pension of INR 3000 per month after attaining 60 years of age.
The Government will contribute between INR 55 to 200 in the pension funds for farmers.

Cons

Many states are lagging behind this scheme.

Eighty-five percent of the farmer population are landless and cannot avail this scheme.

How to Apply?

Visit the nearest common service centre with documents.
The Village Level Entrepreneur will do online registration.
An OTP will be sent on the mobile phone.
A scanned and self-attested copy will be collected from the beneficiary.
After enrolment is complete, the auto-debit mandate form is generated for the farmer.

2. PM-Kisan Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is an initiative by the Government of India for 120 marginal and small farmers with land less than two hectares.

Eligibility Criteria

Farmers with cultivable land.
Both rural and urban regions' farmers.
Small and marginal farmers.

Pros

Farmers can avail up to INR 6000 per year from the Government as income support.

Cons

The implementation of this scheme affects the fiscal health of the states.
Some states are lagging behind the applicability of the scheme.

How to apply?

Farmers must approach the nodal officer nominated by the state government.
Common service centres would also do the registration for farmers.
Farmers can apply directly by visiting the online website.

3. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is a premium based actuarial scheme. In this scheme, farmers must pay a maximum of 1.5 percent for Rabi food and oilseed crop, 2 percent for Kharif and 5 percent for horticulture crops. The remaining part of the actuarial scheme is equally shared by central and state Government.

Eligibility Criteria

All farmers, including tenant farmers, sharecroppers who are into cultivation are eligible.
Farmers must have insurable interest for the notified crops.

Pros

It helps farmers in availing quick claim settlement after the crop loss.

Cons

The scheme is not applicable in all states.

How to Apply?

Visit the official website to apply for the schemes https://pmfby.gov.in.

Click the farmer's page.
Log in with the mobile id and enter all the necessary information.

4. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana's motto was "Har Khet Ko Pani" and was launched on July 1, 2015. The vision is to provide solutions in the irrigation supply chain via a distribution network, water resources and farm level applications.

Eligibility Criteria

Farmers with Indian citizenship can apply for this scheme.
Farmers with cultivating land under a lease agreement from the past seven years are eligible.

Pros

It creates protective irrigation with rainwater harnessing.

Cons

Not all states have proper irrigation plans.

How to Apply?

Visit the official website of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
Login through the email id and fill out the necessary details.

5. Pashu Kisan Credit Card Scheme

The Government of India has launched the Pashu Kisan Credit Card Scheme for the livestock farmers to develop and grow the animal husbandry sector in India.

Eligibility Criteria

Farmers should have a permanent residency in Haryana.
Aadhar Card, mobile number, Voter ID, PAN Card and Passport Size photo.

Pros

The loan is given to buy a goat, buffalo, cow, etc.

Cons

The scheme is applicable in Haryana state only.

How To Apply?

Candidates should take all the documents to the nearest bank in the state of Haryana.
Farmers need to do the KYC by filling the form.
After obtaining KYC verification, farmers would receive a Pashu Credit Card within one month.

6. National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

The National Agriculture Market was introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and is an online platform for agriculture communities. This online welfare trading program is under the control of Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC). Now more than 200 mandis have been added in e-NAM. The idea behind e-NAM is revolutionising the agriculture markets and guaranteeing better price discovery. However, the scheme focus on promoting uniformity in the agriculture sector marketing by:

There is streamlining of online procedures at integrated markets.
There is showcasing of real-time prices based on supply and demand.
There is price transparency through auction processes depending on product quality and timely payment of the same.

Eligibility Criteria

All farmers are eligible to apply for e-NAM.
Farmers must be a citizen of India.

Pros

It gives transparent online trading.
Farmers could have real-time discovery off the price.
There is a guarantee of payment and delivery.
Transaction cost is reduced for the buyers.

Cons

A trader who wants to bid for another location should have access to produce from that place.
Most traders trust visual inspection of their agents.

How to Apply?

Any user who wants to avail e-NAM benefits can register on its official website.
Select the "Registration type".
Provide necessary details and login.
After successful submission of documents and then farmers will receive their APMC status.
Once APMC approved, farmers can have complete access to the e-NAM platform.

7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is an initiative by Government of India to increase agriculture productivity mainly in monsoon areas that focus on water use efficiency, integrated farming, synergising resource conservation and soil health management. NMSA is one of the eight missions started by the Government of India and falls under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Further, it is a parenting scheme that the Government implements for- nutrient management, water use efficiency and livelihood diversification. Some sub-schemes comes under NMSA, and that includes:

Soil Health Management
Rainfed Area Development
Soil and Land Use Survey of India
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
National Centre of Organic Farming
National Rainfed Area Authority

Eligibility Criteria

All farmers are eligible to apply for NMSA.
A person who is applying should be an Indian citizen.

Pros

It promotes better agronomic techniques.
It leads to the effective utilisation of water resources.
It promotes nutrient practices.

Cons

The proposed strategies are only targeting big farmers.
Mission lacks an adequate framework to meet climate changes.

How to Apply?

Any farmer who wants to apply for NMSA benefits can register on its official website.
After that user can log in on the different sub-scheme that they want to apply in.
Share all the necessary details to avail scheme wants.

8. Gramin Bhandaran Yojana

The objective behind launching the Gramin Bhandaran Yojana is to help farmers store farm produce, agriculture inputs, and processed farms. Moreover, it helps prevent distress sale immediately after the harvesting and provides pledge financing with marketing and strengthening infrastructure.

Eligibility Criteria

Individual farmers, farmer groups, partnership firms, groups of farmers etc. are eligible for this scheme.

Pros

It promotes the standardisation, grading and quality of agriculture produce.
The scheme helps in creating scientific storage capacity with facilities in rural areas.

Cons

The scheme is not applicable in every state.

How to Apply?

Farmers can apply for this scheme by either going to the nearest bank or through an official website.
In both cases, they have to share the required details.

However, it is strongly stated that the agriculture sector's growth and development is the Government of India's responsibility. The Government with the State Governments ensures that proper budget support and appropriate policy measures are taken. Further, the approach of the Government has shifted to income centric from production centric. The above schemes help in making the farming viable and at the same time, provides timely benefits to farmers.

Also read:

1) How To Start An Organic Farm Business In India?
2) What are Some Beneficial Government Policies for Small Home-Based Businesses in India?
3) Best Tips To Get Started With Farming And Agriculture
4) Should Agricultural Income be Taxed in India?