Lok Sabha Question No. 3216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Increase in Horticulture Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3216

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  21 ST  MARCH, 2017

## INCREASE IN HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION

3216.  KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is marginal increase of Horticulture production during 2016-2017 as compared to 2015-16 despite good monsoon last year, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether there is steep fall in the production of vegetables during the current year, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  horticulture production in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): The  horticulture  production  of  the  country  during  2016-17  is  estimated  to  be around 287 million tonnes which is marginally higher (0.3%) as compared to 2015-16 which was 286 million tonnes.
- (b): There  is  no  steep  fall  in  the  production  of  vegetables  during  the  current  year. Production  of  vegetables  in  the  current  year  is  estimated  to  be  around  168.6  million tonnes which is almost same as previous year which was 169.0 million tonnes.

(c): This  Ministry  has  been  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme - Mission for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  for  the  holistic  development  of horticulture  sector  in  the  country  covering  fruits,  vegetables,  root  and  tuber  crops, mushrooms,  spices,  flowers,  aromatic  plants,  coconut,  cashew,  cocoa  and  bamboo. Mission subsumes National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East  &  Himalayan  States  (HMNEH),  National  Bamboo  Mission  (NBM),  National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB) and Central Institute for Horticulture  (CIH),  Nagaland.  All  States  including  Himalayan  states  and  UTs  are covered under MIDH.

The  Mission  envisages  production  and  productivity  improvement  of  horticulture crops including  fruits  and  vegetables  through  various  interventions.  Activities  such  as production  of  planting  material,  vegetable  seed  production,  coverage  of  area  with improved  cultivars,  protected  cultivation,  creation  of  water  resources,  adoption  of Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM),  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM),  organic farming, including in situ generation of organic inputs are taken up for development of fruits  and  vegetables.  Capacity  buildings  of  farmers  and  technologies  are  also  an integral part of MIDH for adopting improved technologies. The Scheme also envisages creation of infrastructure for post harvest management (like pack houses, cold storage units, pre-cooling units and refrigerated vans) and marketing for better price realization of produce.

Under  MIDH,  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  promote  Horticulture  in  the country:

· Production and supply of quality planting material continue to be a high priority area  for  horticulture  development  during  XII  Plan.  In  this  context,  special emphasis is being laid for establishment of Hi-tech nurseries having provision for mother /scion blocks of improved varieties, good quality rootstock banks and hitech green house.  Besides, planting material is channelized through accredited nurseries. National Horticulture Board and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland have taken up the task of accrediting the nurseries.

- Establishment of crop based Centers of Excellence encouraged in each State to serve  as  a  hub  for  supply  of  planting  material  and  dissemination  of  technology  to farmers.

· Horticulture is  emerging  as  a  prospective  sector for replacing  tobacco cultivation.    High  priority  is  given  for  promoting  remunerative  horticulture  crops for weaning away tobacco cultivation.

- Area  expansion  programme  has  been  linked  to  availability  of  quality planting material through accredited nurseries and Tissue Culture units. Importance is given for covering more area under vegetable hybrids and export oriented  varieties  of  ginger,  turmeric  &  chillies.  High  density  planting  and  tree canopy management of orchards, right from establishment stage, is given focus to derive better yield.  Besides, an integrated approach is being encouraged for

taking  up  drip  irrigation  /  mulching  and  other  support  systems  required  for cultivation of fruit and plantation crops.

Contd…3/-

-3-

· Rejuvenation of old and unproductive orchards continue to be a focus area for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability.

· Major thrust is on protected cultivation, particularly of high value crops, in green house, shade net house, plastic mulching etc.

· Creation of infrastructure for post harvest managements and value addition also continue with focus on creating cold chain networks.

· Setting up of markets infrastructure has been linked with reforms in APMC Act, for permitting direct marketing of horticulture produce.

· Mobilization of farmers into producer groups/organizations is another priority area aimed  at  strengthening  their  negotiating  power,  besides  functioning  as  viable  farmer groups involved in production and marketing of horticulture produce.

· Human  resource  development  is  being  given  thrust  for  capacity  building  of farmers, horticulture entrepreneurs / supervisors and field functionaries.

· Under  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana  (RKVY), states are given fund for development  of  horticulture.  States  may  utilize  this  fund  to  develop  horticulture  in  the non-MIDH districts/development blocks also.

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