This scheme was introduced in 2007, to increase production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis so as to ensure food security of the country. It is valid upto 2/12/2011

According to the National Development Council (NDC) there is a need to ensure that the production of rice be increased by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons, by the end of the Eleventh Plan. It aims to achieve increased production and productivity through working towards restoring the soil fertility, and productivity at the farm level. It also aims to enhance farm level economy and thereby create employment opportunities.

The scheme envisages the adoption of various strategies to fulfill its objectives—

1. Active engagement of all the stakeholders at various levels.
2. Promotion and extension of improved technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient Management including micronutrients, soil amendments, resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of farmers.
3. Close monitoring of flow of funds to ensure that interventions reach the target beneficiaries on time.
4. Integration of the proposed interventions proposed with the district plan and fixing the targets for each identified district.
5. Constant monitoring and concurrent evaluation for assessing the impact of the interventions for a result oriented approach by the implementing agencies.

One key strategy to raise farm production is to identify districts in which there is scope of significantly improving productivity of major foodgrain crops by focused intervention from the government. Quality seeds and fertilizers, credit and extension support will be made available to identified districts.

The General Council under the Union Agricultural Ministry oversees the activities of this mission. The State Food Security Mission Executive Committee (SFSMEC) will implement the mission at the State level. Funds would be directly received by it from the National Food Security Mission to execute the approved Action Plan for the State. The State level committee will monitor the activities at the district level.

At the District level, the scheme will be implemented through the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). The State Level Agency will provide the required funds to the District Level Agency for execution of the programme at the district / block level.

A District Food Security Mission Executive Committee (DFSMEC) will be constituted for project formulation, implementation and monitoring of the scheme components through the District Agriculture Department.

In each district, the project will be implemented by the project teams—who will be assisted by technical experts for technology transfer and implementation of the Mission.

The funds for the implementation of the activities of the components will be released by the State/District Level Agency to the nodal departments. The nodal departments will submit the utilization certificate to the State/District level Agency which, will be compiled and a consolidated utilization certificate, duly authenticated by the DFSMES and SFSMEC will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, for further releases.

In accordance with the decision of the Government of India regarding implementation of Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Castes and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for Scheduled Tribes, 16% of the total allocation for SCP and 8% for TSP will be earmarked.

At least 33% allocation of the fund is to be made for small, marginal and women farmers.

The allocation to SC/ST farmers will be made proportionate to their population in the district.

A beneficiary farmer will be entitled to avail of assistance limited to 2 hectares.

Zonal research stations of ATMA, reputed NGOs and other line departments will be involved in planning and execution of demonstration, training of farmers and their evaluation. The Project Management Team at the district level will help in developing synergy among various line departments to get the desired output.

Districts which have high potential but relatively low level of productivity performance; or Resource poor farmers

Contact

Joint Secretary,
National Food Security Mission
Dept. of Agriculture & Cooperation
Ministry of Agriculture

Ph: 011-23381176
Contact the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation at the State level or the Agricultural Technology Management Agency at the District.

The procedure for approval and implementation would be that the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Government of India would communicate the tentative annual outlay to each State, which in turn will indicate component-wise district-wise allocation. The agencies at the district level will prepare the annual action plan keeping in view their priority and potential and submit the plan to the State Level Agency. The States concerned will be required to prepare a State Action Plan based on the District Action Plans for the XI Plan. States could engage the Project Management Team or alternatively, outsource to technical consultants for preparing the Annual Action Plans and State Food Security Mission Document. The State Level Agency will get the State Action Plan vetted by the State Food Security Mission Executive Committee and furnish the same to Ministry of Agriculture for consideration by the NFSMEC.