Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Development of Crop in Desert Area
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SONA RAM CHOUDHARY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/11/2016

## DEVELOPMENT OF CROP IN DESERT AREA

## 176. COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

(a) whether steps have been taken for the application of Science and Technology for development of crops in desert and deficient rain fall areas particularly the desert of western Rajasthan and if so details thereof; (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to reclaim the wasteland for cultivation; and

- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY) òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) Yes Madam. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under its societal initiatives, is implementing a Science and Technology (S&T) driven programme to address issues/challenges of people living in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ASAR), particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The focus of the program is on S&T based interventions and includes adaptive R&D, field testing and demonstration of available  technology  and  transfer  of  technology  packages  which  can  provide  enhanced  livelihood opportunities and drudgery reduction, leading to a better quality-of-life of people living in the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions. Under ASAR program, crops specific to the region such as Capparis deciduas (Kair), Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) are being worked upon for value addition leading to their effective utilization. Microbial consortium of Pyriformospora indica and Azotobacter sp is being used to enhance the growth, vigour and productivity of Prosopis cineraria (Khejri), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Plantago ovata (Isabgol) and Cassia Angustifolia (Senna). Research work is being carried out at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute  (CAZRI),  Jodpur,  towards  development  of  endemic  crops viz. sorghum,  pearl  millet,  cluster beans, mung bean and watermelon with a focus on enhanced productivity and less water utilization.

- (b) Yes Madam.
- (c) Government of India, through CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) has developed alternative  cropping  systems  especially  beyond  food  crops  to  reclaim  the  sodic  wastelands  through introduction of medicinal, aromatic, gum and dye yielding plants and their varieties. Agricultural package for intercropping with trees is also available with the institution for reclamation of wasteland.  Further, Arid  Forest  Research  Institute  (AFRI),  Jodhpur,  under  Indian  Council  of  Forestry  Research  and Education (ICFRE), has also developed various technologies to address the challenges related to sand dunes, saline patches and waterlogged sites along the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP) for arid regions. Cultivation of C.  angusifolia (Arrowroot) is being recommended by AFRI as the surface vegetation to control sand drift effectively. A farmer can get more than Rs.10,000/ha from this highly stressed site of sand dunes in addition to  product obtained from the trees through execution of the recommendations. Trials at Gangani salty area in Jodhpur were conducted to find out suitable plant species and best planting practices. Development of the best practice package is underway to make barren salt land productive. Biodrainage  with Eucalyptus  rudis was  found  to  be  highly  efficient  in  IGNP  area.  Challenges  related  to deficient rainfall areas, particularly the desert of Rajasthan, are being addressed through interventions of various scientific S&T organizations and agencies as well as R&D institutions.
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