Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI)

• The committee on Doubling Farmers' Income (DFI) was formed by the Government of India on April 13, 2016, and chaired by Mr. Ashok Dalwai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 

• It examined farmers' income issues and submitted a report in September 2018, outlining strategies to double farmers' income by 2022. 

• The 7-point strategy included:

• Enhancing crop and livestock production.

• Raising productivity through better management and irrigation.

• Reducing production costs via technology and conventional practices.

• Increasing net income through modern/electronic marketing.

• Processing and adding value to farm produce.

• Diversifying into high-value crops.

• Adopting supplementary agricultural/non-agricultural enterprises with skill development programs.

• After acceptance of the DFI Committee recommendations, the Government has constituted an ‘Empowered Body’ to review and monitor the progress.

• The government initiated steps focusing on intensification, diversification, and commercialization towards agro-based small-scale enterprises.

Food Corporation of India (FCI)

• The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

• Headquartered in New Delhi, it was established under the Food Corporation's Act of 1964.

• FCI is the central government's nodal agency responsible for procuring food grains at the minimum support price (MSP) to protect farmers' interests. 

• It also maintains strategic stocks and distributes grains under various welfare schemes.

Agricultural Census

• In India, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has been conducting the Agricultural Census every five years since 1970-71. 

• This is done in collaboration with the States and Union Territories as part of the World Census of Agriculture program.

• The Agricultural Census is the primary source of detailed information on various agricultural parameters.

• Including the number and area of operational holdings, their size, class-wise distribution, land use, tenancy, and cropping patterns.

• Since the first Agriculture Census in 1970-71, ten censuses have been completed, with the 11th census for the reference year 2021-22 currently underway.

• The Eleventh Agriculture Census (2021-22) was launched by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 28th July 2022 in New Delhi.

• The 11th Agricultural Census marks the first time that data collection will be conducted using smartphones and tablets, ensuring timely availability of data.

•  The entire census operation is conducted in three phases, using operational holdings as the statistical unit at the micro level for data collection. 

• Based on the data collected, the Department publishes three detailed reports:

•  Analysing trends across various parameters at the national and state/UT levels, while district/tehsil level reports are prepared by the respective States/UTs.