Impact of National Food Security Mission on input use, yield and income

This paper assesses the impact of National Food Security Mission that was launched during 2007–08 to combat the challenge of food deficit in the country. The study was conducted with a sample of 2700 NFSM farmers and 900 Non-NFSM farmers in the paddy growing states of Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Bihar, and wheat growing Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. It was found that the production of rice, wheat and pulses exceeded by 2.1, 11.1 and 0.9 million tonnes as compared to target of 10,8, 2 million tons, respectively by end of 11^th FYP. The yield levels and net income of NFSM farmers for paddy was 7 per cent and 22 per cent higher than the Non-NFSM farmers, respectively and in the case of wheat, the yield and net income was 12 per cent and 28 per cent higher than the non-NFSM farmers, respectively. Further it was seen that lack of awareness was the major constraint for participation of farmers in the programme. Increasing the subsidy amount for high cost items like tractors and paddy harvesters, increasing MSP and access to quality inputs and equipment were the more pronounced suggestions given by the sample farmers.