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UPSC Government Schemes Agriculture 

National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

Last updated on April 15th, 2025 Posted on April 15, 2025 by  595
national food security mission

Launched in 2007 by the Government of India, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aims to increase the production of rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereals through expansion of area and improvement of productivity. It emphasizes sustainable agriculture and food security and seeks to increase farmers’ real incomes, while also reducing regional disparities in crop production.

About the National Food Security Mission

  • Launched by the Government of India in 2007, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) aims at enhancing food security of the country by increasing production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and commercial crops like sugarcane and cotton.
  • The program recognizes issues like rising food demand, increasing population, and decreasing agricultural productivity with a focus on increasing area under cultivation, raising crop productivity, and bridging yield gaps through improved agricultural technology.
  • These include promoting the use of high-yielding varieties; efficient water management; enhancement of soil fertility; pest control; and strengthening of capacity among farmers.
  • The mission has a special focus on empowering small and marginal farmers in the effort to contain regional imbalance in crop production and promote sustainable farming.
  • By creating proper food grain availability and supporting farmers’ incomes, the NFSM plays a very significant role in strengthening the resilience of Indian farming and achieving sustained food security.

Features of the National Food Security Mission

  • Special Crops: The scheme will popularize the productivity of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals. Several components also consider jute, cotton, and sugarcane as commercial crops.
  • Eco-Friendly approaches support the sustainable agricultural practices, such as integrated nutrient management and integrated pest management, which conserve the environment while boosting agricultural productivity.
  • Area Increment: The goal was to expand the area with target crops, especially in areas with untapped potential, so as to fill in gaps of production.
  • Productivity Increase: It promotes the use of new technology, high-yielding varieties, agricultural machinery, and irrigation systems for increasing productivity of the crop.
  • Capacity Development: The farmers are trained in best practices and the management of resources to the application of new technologies in the enhancement of efficiency and productivity on input and output.
  • Support and Incentives: Finance is extended for critical inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and machinery. The development of local infrastructure would encompass custom hiring centers and seed banks.
  • Inclusive Approach: Small and marginal farmers, women farmers, and farmers in backward areas get special attention to mitigate socio-economic inequalities.

Objectives of the National Food Security Mission

  • Initially, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was started in the year 2007 to promote increased production of important staple crops like rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals in a sustainable manner to meet the ever-growing demand for food in India. Their task is to improve agricultural practices and technologies to close yield gaps in potential areas.
  • Increased production and productivity means increasing the output of production of paddy, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and cash crops through area expansion in cultivation and bettering crop productivity through improved agronomic practices. encourage sustainable agriculture towards safeguarding and better environmental conditions as well as maintaining long-term productivity.
  • Capacity Building: Build the capacity of the farmers through training and sensitizing them on improved farming practices. Effective water management, pesticide, and nutrient management must also be covered.
  • Support to Farmers: Providing essential inputs, including good quality seeds, fertilizers, and machinery, to farmers at below-market prices, thereby ensuring timeliness in input supply.
  • Close Gaps in the Region: The closing of farm production gaps should also be targeted toward areas with lower yields to enhance food supply across the country.
  • Improve Livelihoods: Marginal and small farmers should be provided with better crop yield and marketing linkages of their surplus crops to improve incomes.

By achieving these objectives, NFSM seeks to ensure food and nutritional security in the country with inclusive agricultural growth and rural development.

Significance of the National Food Security Mission

  • NFSM helps in food security in India and lists sustainability in Indian agriculture among its major concerns. Inception 2007, the mission targets issues faced by food production such as low food yield, degrading soil fertility, and complete development of regional farms.
  • While addressing the immediate food requirements of the rising population in India, NFSM mainly comes into play with its emphasis on principal staple crops-Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Coarse cereals, and Nutri-cereals.
  • By introducing improved agronomic practices, quality seed dispersal, and better water and nutrient management practices, NFSM increases the productivity of farm activities, ensuring that maximum production is being achieved while sustaining ecological balance.
  • In addition to these, other inputs from the NFSM build up the capacity of farmers, empowering them with the knowledge and physical infrastructure towards sustainable agricultural practices.
  • The socio-economic dimension of this mission also enhances the income of farmers while alleviating regional disparities in agricultural development. It ensures the livelihood securities of resource-poor areas, granting small-scale farmers inclusive development.
  • Diversification and value addition to agriculture are promoted, making agriculture and rural economies resilient.
  • At the national level, NFSM plays a vital role in diminishing food import dependency, achieving price stabilization, and improving national food self-sufficiency.
  • In a nutshell, the mission is a matter of great significance for food and nutritional security, enhancing farmer well-being, and sustaining India’s agriculture and economy.

Lacunae of the National Food Security Mission

  • Propped up by the NFSM (National Food Security Mission) in India, agricultural productivity has reached a level never known before in the country, whereby food is assured. However, it has a number of gaps in intention and execution that adversely affect its own potential.
  • The first issue deals with regional imbalances in implementation. The mission does intend to raise production, but certain states and regions, especially rainfed and resource-poor ones, have not benefited proportionately due to the spiral of fund distribution and poor infrastructure.
  • The second point is that small and marginal farmers are not usually benefiting from NFSM. Limited awareness of the schemes, bureaucratic constraints, and low extension services limit their access, leaving a large section of the agricultural community underserved.
  • Thirdly, the mission is focused heavily on production growth, ignoring sustainability issues. Under NFSM, dependence on chemical fertilizers and high-yielding varieties may cause soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and long-term environmental problems.
  • Another issue is a lack of poor integration of technology and innovations. Application of modern technology including remote sensing, precision agriculture, and digital platforms for monitoring and implementation is not very high, thus constraining efficiencies and transparency.
  • Further still, monitoring and evaluation systems under the mission require strengthening. Sporadic collection of data and delayed reporting coupled with poor impact assessment do not allow for timely course correction and informed decision-making.
  • Lastly, post-harvest loss management and market linkages do not figure prominently on NFSM’s agenda. As it stands, farmers are not getting a fair price for their produce due to lack of adequate storage, transport, and value addition infrastructure.
  • Filling in these gaps is therefore very critical for making the NFSM far more inclusive, sustainable, and effective in meeting India’s food security goals.

Key Pointers about the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for UPSC CSE Prelims

  • Year of Launch: Launched in 2007-08 as part of the 11th Five-Year Plan.
  • Aim: To boost production of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals sustainably.
  • Approach: Increase area expansion, productivity improvement, soil health, and water use efficiency.
  • Target Crops: Rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals (maize, millet, barley) and commercial crops (sugarcane, cotton, jute).
  • Funding Pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme – 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between Center and States (90:10 for Northeastern and hilly states).
  • Focus Areas:
    • Soil fertility and productivity restoration.
    • Promote technology like hybrid seeds, bio-fertilizers, and water-use efficiency.
    • Financial incentives to farmers.
  • Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • Special Component: NSFM-Pulses to give more focus on this component-namely, pulses production.
  • Coverage: Operates in identified districts across states based on production potential.
  • Vision: To ensure food and nutritional security whilst supporting farmer livelihoods.

Way Forward

Maximum priority must be given to climate-resilient agriculture, advanced technologies, and effective resource-utilization under the National Food Security Mission for sustainable productivity in future. Enhancing training for farmers will lead to increased diversification of crops, while in turn augmenting returns from farming through public-private partnerships. Sustainable farming practices that focus on environmental sustainability and equitable distribution will attain food security and pro-poor agricultural growth.

Conclusion

Since its inception, the National Food Security Mission has immensely contributed to agricultural development in India with improved crop yields and enhanced food security. Empowering farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture, and bridging regional disparities cumulatively help in enhancing the country’s self-sufficiency in food production and in supporting inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.

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