What is National Food Security Mission, Get to Know about the NFSM Objective, Features & Implementation – To boost the yearly production of rice, wheat, and pulses, the government introduced the National Food Security Mission. This mission aims to enhance the cultivation of these essential crops through a series of strategic measures. Launched in October 2007, this mission aims to elevate wheat production to 8 million tonnes, rice to 10 million tonnes, and pulses to 2 million tonnes by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan in 2011-12. In today’s article, we are going to provide you with all the information related to the National Food Security Mission 2024. [Also Read – Swati Portal for Women in STEM Launched, Apply Online, Objective & Benefits]
National Food Security Mission 2024
The Government of India has launched the National Food Security Mission to boost the yearly production of rice, wheat, and pulses. This initiative aims to increase rice production by 10 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes, and pulses by 2 million tonnes annually. The mission began in October 2007, focusing on sustainable area expansion and productivity enhancement in identified districts across the country. Additionally, under National Food Security Mission 2024 measures such as soil fertility restoration, improving individual farm productivity, and enhancing farm-level economics will be implemented to augment production. Special emphasis will be placed on improving productivity in low-yield areas and high-potential districts. [Also Read – PM Kisan KYC Update Online Using Aadhar Card, Check KYC Status]
Overview of National Food Security Mission
| Article Name | National Food Security Mission |
| Started By | By Government of India |
| Year | 2024 |
| Beneficiary | Citizens of the country |
| Apply Procedure | Online |
| Objective | To improve production of rice, wheat and pulses |
| Benefits | The production of the above mentioned crops will be improved |
| Category | Central Government Schemes |
| Official Website | https://www.nfsm.gov.in/ |
Objectives of National Food Security Mission 2024
The goal of the National Food Security Mission is to increase the production of vital crops such as rice, wheat, pulses, coarse grains, nutritious grains, and oilseeds to guarantee there’s always enough food. We’re committed to rejuvenating the soil on every farm, making it richer and more productive. This is essential for keeping our farms healthy in the long run. Furthermore, the National Food Security Mission 2024 is focused on boosting farmers’ incomes at the individual farm level, which will ultimately improve their lives and well-being. We believe that when farmers thrive, so do our communities. [Also Read – Digital Voter ID Card Download: e-EPIC With Photo [email protected]]
Major Initiatives under National Food Security Mission
- NFSM collaborates with farmers in different States/UTs to conduct cluster demonstrations. These events showcase practical agricultural techniques, helping farmers learn effective methods for crop cultivation and management.
- The National Food Security Mission 2024 is to promote the development, production, and distribution of high-yielding crop varieties and hybrids. By doing so, it aims to enhance both the quality and quantity of agricultural production, ensuring improved food security for all.
- Under NFSM places a strong emphasis on protecting crops against pests and diseases to foster healthy plant growth. Moreover, the program advocates for efficient nutrient management and soil enrichment strategies to enhance overall crop productivity.
- NFSM’s Oilseeds initiative focuses on increasing oilseed production, recognizing their importance in our diet. The National Food Security Mission employs various approaches such as seed subsidies, practical demonstrations, training programs, and resource provision to support farmers.
- Launched in 2021, the NMEO-OP initiative aims to decrease reliance on imported edible oils by expanding oil palm cultivation. Through subsidies, training, and resource allocation, the mission seeks to boost crude palm oil production, increase productivity, and reduce import burdens.
Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture
- Promoting efficient water usage through the adoption of location-specific scientific techniques and modern agricultural practices.
- The CADWM initiative, part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, focuses on enhancing irrigation efficiency. This includes constructing lined field channels and underground pipelines to ensure efficient water distribution to farmlands.
- The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) plays a crucial role in regulating and promoting efficient water utilization across all sectors. It actively advocates for strategies to enhance water efficiency in irrigation, industries, and domestic settings.
- The National Water Mission (NWM) has launched the ‘Sahi Fasal’ campaign to engage with farmers in water-stressed regions. This campaign encourages farmers to cultivate crops that are suitable for their agro-climatic conditions, economically viable, and utilize water efficiently.
Challenges under National Food Security Mission
- Agricultural Obstacles: India’s farming sector faces challenges from climate change, erratic weather, pest attacks, and soil degradation, resulting in reduced crop production and food scarcity.
- Land Division: Inherited land divisions create small, unproductive plots, making it difficult to adopt modern farming methods.
- Insufficient Variety: Over-reliance on staple crops such as rice and wheat limits nutritional diversity, contributing to malnutrition.
Strategy of National Food Security Mission
The National Food Security Mission 2024 will prioritize districts with low productivity and high potential, especially in rainfed areas. Additionally, there will be careful planning based on different agro-climatic zones, and a cluster approach will be used to enhance crop productivity. Special attention will be directed towards increasing pulse production by utilizing rice fallow lands, rice ridges, and intercropping with coarse grains, oilseeds, and commercial crops. Monitoring of fund allocation will be meticulous to ensure timely delivery to beneficiaries.
Structure of National Food Security Mission 2024
National level
A General Council will be formed with the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as the chairperson. This council will set policies, offer direction, and review the progress of the scheme. It has the authority to update operational guidelines as needed. Additionally, a committee called the National Food Security Mission Executive Committee will be established, led by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare. This committee will supervise the Mission’s activities and endorse the Annual State Action Plan for food grains crops.
State Level
The State Government will establish a State Food Security Mission Executive Committee to oversee the Mission’s activities within the state. This committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, will develop future and annual state action plans aligned with the Mission’s goals. It will also conduct surveys and studies to assess crop production, expansion opportunities, and demand. The approved action plan will be executed by the State Committee at the state level.
District Level
To put this plan into action, each district will establish a District Food Security Mission Executive Committee. This committee will oversee project development, implementation, and monitoring through the Department of Agriculture, involving various stakeholders.
Project Management Team
The mission will also set up a project management team to provide guidance to states and districts on organizational and technical issues. Additionally, this team will assist in implementing and monitoring various interventions of the Mission. They will support capacity building programs and maintain records of crop yield data for states and districts.
Number of Districts Covered under Each State under National Food Security Mission
| Name of District | Number Of Districts |
| Andhra Pradesh | 13 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 17 |
| Assam | 27 |
| Bihar | 38 |
| Chhattisgarh | 27 |
| Goa | 2 |
| Gujarat | 26 |
| Haryana | 21 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 12 |
| Jharkhand | 24 |
| Karnataka | 30 |
| Kerala | 14 |
| MP | 51 |
| MaharashtraMaharashtra | 35 |
| Manipur | 9 |
| Meghalaya | 11 |
| Nagaland | 11 |
| Odisha | 30 |
| Punjab | 22 |
| Rajasthan | 33 |
| Sikkim | 4 |
| Tamil Nadu | 32 |
| Telangana | 10 |
| Tripura | 8 |
| UP | 75 |
| Uttarakhand | 13 |
| West Bengal | 19 |
Why National Food Security Mission
As per the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, South Asia needs to boost food grain production by 2020 compared to the average of 1994-95. To achieve this, certain actions need to be undertaken: –
- Food grains – 55%
- Fruit – 142%
- Meat – 57%
- Fish – 24%
- Milk – 28%
India, with its vast population and unpredictable rainfall, has implemented the NFSM to tackle these challenges. The mission aims to utilize technology along with newly developed hybrids and high-yielding seeds to boost food production and improve food security. In the 2016-17 report by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), they have introduced 310 new high-yielding/hybrid varieties and 51 horticultural crops. Additionally, they have produced 12,500 tonnes of breeder seeds, which will be distributed to farmers on a mission-oriented basis.
Priority Crops and Centre-State Funding Budget for the year 2017-18
- Rice: This year, Rs 39,277.78 lakh is allocated for rice, with the central government providing Rs 26,000 lakh and the state government Rs 13,277.78 lakh, following a 60:40 funding ratio.
- Wheat: With a similar 60:40 funding ratio, Rs 18,333.33 lakh is allocated for wheat this year. The central government contributes Rs 11,500 lakh, while the states provide Rs 6,833.33 lakh.
- Pulses: For regular states, the funding ratio is 60:40, while Hill States like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, along with North Eastern states, have a 90:10 ratio. This year, Rs 1,37,111.11 lakh is allocated for pulses, with the central government contributing Rs 85,000 lakh and the states Rs 52,111.11 lakh.
- Coarse Grain: Similar to other grains, the financing ratio for coarse grain is 60:40. This year, Rs 21,555.56 lakh is allocated, with the central government providing Rs 14,500 lakh and the states Rs 7,055.56 lakh.
- Commercial Crops (sugarcane, cotton, jute): Following a 60:40 funding ratio, Rs 3,845.11 lakh is allocated for commercial crops this year, with Rs 2,500 lakh from the central government and Rs 1,345.11 lakh from the states.
Benefits and Features of National Food Security Mission
- The Government of India has initiated the National Food Security Mission 2024 to boost the production of rice, wheat, and pulses.
- The aim is to increase rice production by 10 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes, and pulses by 2 million tonnes annually.
- To achieve its objectives, the government plans to expand cultivation areas and enhance productivity sustainably in specific districts across the country.
- In addition, efforts to improve soil fertility, increase individual farm productivity, and strengthen the farm-level economy will be undertaken.
- Special focus will be given to areas with low productivity and districts with high agricultural potential.
- The wheels of the National Food Security Mission initiative began turning in October 2007.
Criteria for Selection of District under National Food Security Mission
- Districts eligible for National Food Security Mission intervention must have an area of over 50,000 hectares, and their yields should fall below the state average for NFSM rice and wheat.
- For coarse grains, districts covering at least 70% of the state’s total area have been chosen.
- During the 11th Five Year Plan, all districts in 16 states were included in the pulses initiative.
- All North Eastern states, including Sikkim, are part of the program. NFSM will extend its reach to districts affected by Left Wing Extremism.
- In the North Eastern states, except Assam, districts with at least 5,000 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation are selected.
- Hill states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, and Uttarakhand are included if they have at least 15,000 hectares under rice or wheat cultivation.
Fund Flow Mechanism under National Food Security Mission
- Funds for implementing the National Food Security Mission 2024 will be disbursed to the state government, The state government will then transfer funds to the state-level agency for management.
- Next, the state-level agency will distribute funds to district-level agencies, District-level agencies will allocate funds to implementing agencies or beneficiaries.
- The fund disbursement will occur in two installments. The first installment, subject to the State Annual Action Plan approval and specified conditions, will be released between April to June.
- The second installment, upon state government request and meeting prescribed conditions, will be released between October to December.
- State or district-level agencies will allocate funds to the nodal department for procuring necessary inputs. Under the National Food Security Mission the nodal department will submit utilization certificates to the respective agencies.
- Utilization certificates will be compiled and consolidated by the District Food Security Mission Executive Committee and the State Food Security Mission Executive Committee.
- Funds transfer will be facilitated through PFMS or treasury channels. The central government’s share will be 60% for General States and 90% for North-Eastern States and Himalayan Hill States.
- In General States, the central government will cover 40% of the share, while for North-Eastern or Himalayan Hill States, it will cover 10%.
Implementation of National Food Security Mission
- District-level agencies will draft the annual action plan, considering priorities and feasibility, and present it to the State Mission Director for approval.
- The State Mission Director will then formulate the State Action Plan based on the District Action Plans received.
- Implementation of the scheme will proceed according to the action plans laid out, ensuring uniformity across all districts.
Criteria for Identification of Areas of Beneficiaries
- For Scheduled Tribes, 16.6% of funds will be set aside for Scheduled Caste and 8.6% for Scheduled Tribe communities.
- States have the flexibility to allocate funds to Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste farmers according to their population in the state or district.
- Thirty-three percent of funds will be allocated for small and marginal farmers, while 30% will be for women farmers.
- All farmers can receive assistance for various Mission components, limited to 5 hectares per season.
- District-level seed committees will be formed to verify beneficiary lists, assess seed demand, and distribute seeds to end-users.
- Planning and implementation, as well as farmer training and evaluation, will involve regional research centers, reputable NGOs, and relevant departments.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Residence certificate
- Passport size photograph
- Bank account details
- Mobile number
- Email id
- Income certificate
- Ration card etc.
Procedure to Apply under National Food Security Mission
All those citizens who want to apply under National Food Security Mission 2024 can apply under this scheme by following the following procedure: –
- First of all you have to go to the official website of the National Food Security Mission, after this the homepage of the website will open in front of you.
- You have to click on Apply Now on the homepage of the website, after which the application form will appear in front of you.
- In this application form you have to enter your name, email ID, mobile number etc. Now you have to upload all the required documents.
- After that you have to click on submit, by following this process you can apply under the National Food Security Mission.
Procedure to Download Mobile App
- First of all you have to go to the official website of the National Food Security Mission, after this the homepage of the website will open in front of you.
- On the homepage of the website, you have to click on the mobile app option, after which you will be redirected to the Google Play store.
- Now you have to click on the install option, after this the mobile app will be downloaded on your device.