Government to Promote Organic and Innovative Techniques of Farming Government is promoting organic farming through various schemes/ programmes under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/ Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) of NMSA, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP) Network Project on Organic Farming of ICAR and National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) of APEDA. The Government is implementing Soil Health Management under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Soil Health Management (SHM) is one of the components under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). SHM aims at promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and biofertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity; upgradation of skill and knowledge of soil testing laboratory staff, extension staff and farmers through training and demonstrations. Soil Health Card" Scheme is also implementing in the country since February 2015 to provide Soil Health Card to all farmers in the country. Soil Health Card will provide information to farmers on soil nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrient to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. Soil health card will be issued every 3 years for all land holdings in the country. Under this scheme, also financial assistance is given to State Governments for training of farmers on application of further on soil test basis, amounting to Rs. 24000/- per training. The Government under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) w.e.f. 2014-15. The following new technology machines/equipment have been identified and promoted under SMAM for planting, ploughing and harvesting of paddy, wheat and pulse Planting machines - Resource conversation technologies such as Zero till machine, strip till drill, happy seeder, raised bed planter, paddy transplanter, pneumatic planter, ridge furrow planter, multi-crop planter, pneumatic vegetable seeder etc. Ploughing machines - Mould board plough, disc plough, hydraulically reversible mould board plough. Harvesting machines - Multi crop combine harvester, crop reaper (self propelled and tractor operated), reaper -cum- binder, brush cutter etc. As far as mode of educating farmers for use of these machines, the details are as under informed:- The Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) conduct training programmes on operation, maintenance and repair of agricultural machines for farmers. The farmers admitted in these training programmes are provided stipend @ Rs. 500/-per week, to and fro travel expenses on actual basis and lodging is provided free of cost in the hostel of the Institutes. Financial assistance @ Rs.4000/- per person per week is also provided to the State Governments and ICAR Institutions for conducting training of farmers through the institutions identified by them. The FMTTIs also conduct demonstration of the equipments on the farmers' field in order to promote adoption of these equipments by the farmers. Financial assistance @ Rs. 4000 per hectare is also provided to the State Government and ICAR institutions for conducting demonstration of equipments on the farmers fields. This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Sh. Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria in Rajya Sabha today. NCJ/CP
