National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched in 2007-08 with a view to enhancing the production of rice, wheat, and pulses by 10 million tonnes, 8 million tonnes, and 2 million tonnes respectively by the end of the Eleventh Plan (viz. March 2012). The Mission aims to increase production through area expansion and productivity; create employment opportunities; and enhance the farm-level economy (i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence of farmers. The approach is to bridge the yield gap in respect of these three crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices while focusing on districts which have high potential but relatively low level of productivity at present.
The NFSM has three components (i) National Food Security Mission - Rice (NFSM-Rice); (ii) National Food Security Mission - Wheat (NFSM-Wheat); and National Food Security Mission - Pulses (NFSM Pulses).
To achieve the envisaged objectives, the Mission is mandated to adopt following strategies:
- Speedy implementation of programmes through active engagement of all the stakeholders at various levels.
- Promotion and extension of improved technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient Management including micronutrients (like iron, cobalt, copper etc), soil amendments, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of farmers.
- Flow of fund would be closely monitored to ensure that interventions reach the target beneficiaries on time.
- The proposed interventions would be integrated with the targets fixed for each identified district in the existing District Plan (formulated as a part of national Five Year Plans).
- Constant monitoring and concurrent evaluation for assessing the impact of the interventions for a result oriented approach by the implementing agencies.
The NFSM is presently being implemented in 476 identified districts of 17 States of the country. 20 million hectares of rice, 13 million hectares of wheat and 4.5 million hectares of pulses are included in these districts that roughly constitute 50% of cropped area for wheat and rice. For pulses, an additional 20% cropped area would be created. Total financial implications for the NFSM will be Rs.48824.8 million during the XI Plan (2007-08 – 2011-12). Beneficiary farmers will contribute 50% of cost of the activities / work to be taken up at their / individual farm holdings.
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