Role of NFSM in Improving Productivity: A Case Study of select Crops in Karnataka

As India was facing an acute food deficit challenges , in order to get rid of lack of food supply as per demand of the growing population , the Government of India initiated in the year 2007-08 at the onset of the 11th five year plan the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).Since 2014-15 NFSM aimed at improving commercial crops such as sugarcane, cotton, and jute yield and thus, further diversified domestic market. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to compare yield and total cost per acre for cereals , pulses and oilseeds under NFSM programme and Non NFSM, to assess empirically the impact of seeds , fertilizers ,human labour , machine labour, farmyard manure and fertilizer on yield of pulses and rice ,to examine quantitatively the impact of interventions on output/yield of crops(rice, wheat and cereals) under the NFSM programme in Karnataka for 11th and 12th FYP .The study is entirely based on secondary data and used multiple regression technique to find out the impact coefficients. The findings of the study suggested that there is a direct relationship between output and interventions(miscellaneous ,extension , subsidies , mechanization, plant protection , local initiatives and soil nutrients) for rice, wheat and pulses for 12th FYP . The study also pointed out that by increasing an efficient use of fertilizers, seeds, farmyard manure and electricity the maximum output could be achieved. Findings of the study indicated that a) Human labour and fertilizers, has positive impact on yield in case of pulses , b) seeds , human labour , farmyard manure and fertilizers has positive impact on yield in case of rice and have significant impact coefficients. It means a unit increase in seeds ,human labour, farmyard manure and fertilizers causes increase in yield. NFSM need to focus more on training oriented programmes, agriculture based infrastructural development and advanced farming technologies in order to achieve optimum utilisation of the resources by way of liberal financial schemes such as provision of tractors and other agricultural inputs at subsidised rates with easy payment modes.