Lok Sabha Question No. 984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Production of Fruits
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 984

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  NOVEMBER, 2016

## PRODUCTION OF FRUITS

## 984.   SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of fruits in the country;
- (b) if  so,  whether  any  special  emphasis  is  being  given  to  Andhra  Pradesh  by  APEDA  in improving the productivity, quality and export of its produce;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Agriculture Ministry in coordination with the Commerce  Ministry is considering to push for more agro exports from Andhra Pradesh; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): No Madam, Andhra Pradesh is not the largest producer of fruits in the country. As per the 2015-16 (3rd Adv Estimates) Andhra Pradesh is the second largest producer of fruits in the country after Uttar Pradesh.
- (b) & (c): The Government extends financial assistance to promote exports of fruits, under Plan  schemes  of  the  Commodity  Boards  and  Export  Promotion  Councils.  It  takes  several measures for improving the productivity, quality and exports of agricultural commodities in the whole country including Andhra Pradesh, some of which are as under:
-  For export promotion of fruits and vegetables from the country including Andhra Pradesh several  initiatives/measures  are  being  taken  by  APEDA,  such  as     Setting  up  of  Vapour Heat Treatment Facility (VHT), Setting up Common infrastructure facilities, Market access initiatives, Scheme for recognition of Horticulture Packhouse,  Horti Net Traceability system, Sensitization Programme etc.
-  To boost the production, productivity and quality of vegetables and  fruits  in the country the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), is implementing Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  which  provides  support  for production  of  quality  planting  material,  improved  quality  seed  production,  rejuvenation  of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources, creation of infrastructure

to  prevent  post  harvest  losses  of  horticultural  crops,  adoption  of  Integrated  Nutrient Management  (INM)/Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  and  organic  farming  including insitu  generation  of  organic  inputs.  Assistance  for  increasing  horticulture  production  is also  being  provided  by  DAC&FW  under  the  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY) scheme.

- Assistance  is  also  provided  by  DAC&FW  for  development  of  infrastructure  for  post harvest management, sorting and Grading facilities, development of Cold Chain supply system etc, which also helps in exports.

(d) & (e): To boost exports, recently a new scheme has been launched namely 'Merchandize  Exports  from  India  (MEIS)'  under  Foreign  Trade  Policy  2015-20,  wherein  the exporters/farmers  are  incentivized  for  export  of  their  goods/products  including  fruits  and vegetables to specified markets. This would benefit all the farmers, including those of Andhra Pradesh.  Besides this  the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has put in place various schemes namely Market Development Assistance (MDA), Market Assistance Initiative (MAI), Assistance to  States  for  Developing  Export  Infrastructure  and  Allied  Activities(ASIDE),  etc.  to  provide assistance to encourage exports. These schemes are open to exporters/associations from all States/UTs, including Andhra Pradesh.

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