Policy Update
Chetan Gupta
Background:
National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in October 2007. The National Development Council (NDC) adopted a resolution in its 53rd meeting, held on 29 May 2007, to launch a Food Security Mission aimed at increasing the production of rice, wheat, and pulses and securing food security for the nation.
The Mission aims to raise food grain production in identified districts of the country, improve soil fertility, and farm-level productivity through technology integration. The primary beneficiaries are farmers and rural communities. NFNSM is implemented in identified districts of 28 States & 2 Union Territories (UTs) (Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh) in the country.
NFSM met with overwhelming success, and based on the experience and performance, the Mission was continued. Coarse Cereals (Maize, barley, and millets) & Commercial Crops (Cotton, sugarcane, and jute) were included from 2014-15 under the scheme. The scheme is ongoing, and the government makes relevant adaptations according to needs. During 2024-25, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was renamed as the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing NFSNM.
Objectives:
The Mission is being implemented with the following objectives: –
- Increasing production of Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley), Commercial Crops (Cotton, Jute & Sugarcane) and Nutri-Cereals (Shree Anna) through area expansion, adoption of different cropping patterns and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner.
- Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the farm level.
- Enhancing the farm-level economy to enhance farmers’ income.
- Enhancing post-harvest value addition at the farm gate will help farmers realize better prices through efficient market linkages.
- Enhancing the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and Varietal Replacement Rate (VRR).
- Improving the infrastructure of the Seed Sector in the country.
Figure 1: NSFM-Strategies (Source- Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), GoI)
Functioning:
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) involves a multi-tiered structure. It operates through national, state and district level agencies to ensure effective planning, implementation and monitoring.
Figure 2: NSFM- Institutional Framework ((Source- Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), GoI)
At the National level, the Mission has a General Council and an Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the Union Agriculture Minister and the Secretary, respectively. It provides policy direction, guidance, resource allocation, reviews progress, operational guidelines, and mission oversight. It also oversees daily operations and ensures the smooth implementation of all components.
At the State level, A State Food Security Mission Executive Committee will be constituted by the State/UT Government under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to oversee the activities of the Mission in the State/UT. It oversees implementation, real-time monitoring, and evaluation of disbursements and prepares annual and long-term action plans for local needs.
At the District level, A District Food Security Executive Committee (DSFMEC) is constituted under the chairmanship of the District Collector/ CEO of Zilla Parishad. It is more responsible for ground-level planning, execution, monitoring, and working with farmers and field agencies at the district level.
Panchayati Raj Institutions are also active in beneficiary selection, regular feedback, progress of the Mission’s interventions, and developing an online system for beneficiary selection.
There are provisions to constitute a Project Management Unit (PMU) or a Project Management Team (PMT) at different levels for effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It will meticulously track the physical and financial progress of various mission interventions. The NFSM intervention consists of various components.
Figure 3: NSFM Interventions (Source- Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), GoI)
The State Food Security Mission Executive Committee identifies districts for implementing NFSNM, and different components of the Mission shall be communicated to DA&FW, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, along with the most essential element, the approved Annual Action Plan.
The selection criteria include prioritising districts with low productivity but high potential, aspirational, left-wing extremism-affected, or border area districts of the country, and it also considers districts where the Adarsh Gram Yojana and PM Dhan Dhanaya Yojana are being implemented.
The NFSNM is now having overall seven components, namely: –
1. NFSNM-Rice.
2. NFSNM-Wheat.
3. NFSNM-Pulses.
4. NFSNM-Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley).
5. NFSNM-Sub Mission on Nutri Cereals (Shree Anna).
6. NFSNM-Commercial Crops.
7. NFSNM-Seed Components (erstwhile Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material).
Performance and Impact:
The National Development Council (NDC) sub-committee noted the need for improved agricultural extension services, technology transfer, and decentralised planning, resulting in NFSM being conceptualised as a mission-mode program.
Initially, when the Mission was launched, it aimed to increase the annual production of rice by 10 Million Tonnes, Wheat by 8 Million Tonnes and Pulses by 2 Million Tonnes by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). The Mission increased food grain production by 20 million tonnes, and the scheme was continued during the twelfth five-year plan (2012-17).
The Coarse Cereals (Maize, Barley & Millets) & Commercial Crops (Cotton, Sugarcane & Jute) were included under NFSM. From 2018-19, NFSM-Coarse Cereals were divided into two parts, i.e. NFSM-Coarse Cereals (Maize & Barley) and Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals.
In 2018-19, the Oilseeds & Oil Palm development and the Seed Village Programme were brought under NFSM. Based on recommendations of NITI Aayog, a “SubMission on Nutri-Cereals” covering Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and Small millets is being implemented from 2018-19 to provide support to the farmers, consumers in those areas where these crops are traditionally grown and consumed by the rural population.
The Sub Mission for Seed and Planting Material (SMSP) components, which were rolled out during the twelfth five-year plan, have been merged with the NFSM under Krishonnati Yojana. The cabinet has recently approved the continuation of the Mission, and NFSM has been renamed the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM).
As a result, the food grain production has increased from 265.05 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 285.01 million tonnes in 2017- 18 and further to 329.69 million tonnes in 2022-23, the highest-ever recorded food grain production in the country. Overall, NFSM has played a substantial role in achieving additional production targets in many states.
Emerging issues:
- There are challenges in achieving year-on-year improvement as some areas are not meeting planned production targets, e.g. pulses and coarse cereals.
- The persistent issues of under and delayed utilisation of financial resources in certain states affect the implementation scale.
- Over-dependence on chemical inputs is creating issues related to soil and sustainability management.
- There is a need to harmonise the Mission with food and nutrition security objectives, going beyond mere production increase.
- Administrational and logistical challenges create hurdles in data gathering, coordinated execution, monitoring and evaluation, which results in a gap between planning and outcome.
- There is a greater need to integrate advanced technology and mitigate the impact of climate variability and changing patterns.
Way Forward:
India has significant stakes in the agricultural sector as a major population lives in rural areas and depends on agricultural-related income. The Government has modified the Mission according to the requirements of the regions, states and districts at different levels of governance. The focus should be on prioritising region-specific strategies on pulses, coarse cereals and nutri-cereals to balance production and nutrition needs.
The utilisation of funds, a timely and stronger monitoring mechanism, and decentralised planning through digital platforms can bridge the relevant implementation gaps. It is required to promote climate-resilient farming and reduce dependence on chemical inputs to restore soil health. Further, farmer-oriented training and stronger post-harvest infrastructure with efficient linkage can exponentially improve food and nutritional security.
India is a growing economy, and it should go beyond self-sufficiency. The strength lies in pursuing the vision and utilising the various components of agricultural schemes to achieve maximum output.
References:
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Official Website. Retrieved from:https://www.nfsm.gov.in/
- Government of India. NFSM Guidelines (FY 2025–26). Retrieved from: https://www.nfsm.gov.in/Guidelines/NFSNM%20GUIDELINES%20APPROVED%20FY%202025-2026.pdf
- Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG). National Food Security Mission. Retrieved from: https://www.darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/National%20Food%20Security%20Mission.pdf
- Government of India. NFSM – Components and Crops. Retrieved from: https://www.nfsm.gov.in/Guidelines/ContentE.pdf
- Parliament of India. Lok Sabha Question on NFSM (Annexure-II). Retrieved from: https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1714/AU1472.pdf?source=pqals#:~:text=National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20(NFSM,given%20in%20the%20Annexure%2DII.
- Government of India. NFSM – Brief Note. Retrieved from: https://www.nfsm.gov.in/BriefNote/BN_NFSM.pdf
- Press Information Bureau (PIB). Government initiatives under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). 2025. Retrieved from: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114891
- Press Information Bureau (PIB). National Food Security Mission achievements highlighted. 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1592269
- Press Information Bureau (PIB). Progress under the National Food Security Mission reviewed. 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1778912
About the contributor:
Chetan Gupta is a Research Intern at Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI). He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in international relations from South Asian University (established by SAARC nations), Delhi. His research areas are International Relations and Public Policy.
Acknowledgement:
The author sincerely thanks Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer:
All views expressed in the article belong to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
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