National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

Government of India has launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ‘National Food Security Mission’ in October 2007.

Objectives

  • Increasing production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals (Maize and Barley) and Nutri-Cereals through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country. Coarse cereals were included from 2014-15 under NFSM.
  • Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level
  • Enhancing farm profits to restore confidence amongst the farmers.

During and after the 12th Five Year Plan

  • The Mission was continued during 12th Five Year Plan with target of additional production of 25 million tonnes of food grains comprising of 10 million tonnes of rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat, 4 million tonnes of pulses and 3 million tonnes of coarse cereals by the end of XII Plan.
  • Beyond the 12th Plan, the mission was continued with new additional targets of 13 million tonnes of food grains comprising 5 million tonnes of rice, 3 million tonnes of wheat, 3 million tonnes of pulses and 2 million tonnes of nutri-cum-coarse cereals from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

Strategies

To achieve the above objectives, the Mission adopted following strategies:

  • Focusing on low productivity and high potential districts including cultivation of food grain crops in rain fed areas.
  • Implementation of cropping system based interventions in a Mission mode approach through active engagement of all the stakeholders at various levels.
  • Agro-climatic zone wise planning and cluster approach for enhancement of crop productivity.
  • Focusing on pulse production through utilization of rice fallow, rice bunds and intercropping of pulses with coarse cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops (sugarcane, cotton, jute).
  • Promotion and extension of improved technologies i.e., seeds, integrated nutrient management, micronutrients, soil amendments, integrated pest management, input use efficiency and resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of the farmers/extension functionaries.
  • Close monitoring of flow of funds to ensure timely reach of interventions to the target beneficiaries.
  • Integration of various interventions and targets with the district plan of each identified district.
  • Constant monitoring and periodic evaluation by the implementing agencies for assessing the impact of the interventions for a result oriented approach.

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