Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Assistance to Tackle Climate Change
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Raju Bista

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 271 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   NOVEMBER, 2019

## ASSISTANCE TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

## 271.   SHRI RAJU BISTA:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  help  farmers  from  the  districts  of  Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur in coping with changing climate which has resulted in decline in traditional crops like Orange, Cardamom and Ginger;
- (b) the details of capacity building, training on modern farming practices and techniques, and support for modern technology granted to the farmers in North Bengal; and
- (c) the  funds  allocated  towards  developing  cold  storage  and  agriculture  marketing infrastructure in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur?:

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  & ( b): The Department is taking many steps to promote climate resilient agriculture practices which help to maintain a consistent agriculture production in a sustainable manner. One such initiative is Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that  is  implemented  in  the  Country  including  West  Bengal  for  holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew and cocoa.

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, rejuvenation of senile orchards, 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.

Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSYPDMC)  mainly focusing on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro  irrigation  (Drip  and  Sprinkler  Irrigation)  is  implemented  in  the  country including West Bengal.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  launched  a  flagship  network project  'National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture'  (NICRA)  in  2011  to  meet  the challenges of sustaining domestic food production in the face of changing climate.

Capacity buildings of farmers and technicians are also provided for adopting improved technologies.  Scheme  also  envisages  creation  of  post  harvest  management  (PHM)  and marketing for better price realization of produce. Under protected cultivation component of MIDH,  assistance  is  provided  for  creation  of  polyhouses  which  protects  the  plants  from adverse  climatic  conditions  and  provides  an  appropriate  amount  of  light,  temperature, humidity, carbon-dioxide etc. to achieve optimum yield with excellent quality.

The Technology Demonstration Component (TDC) of NICRA has been taken up in two districts, viz., Coochbehar and Malda districts located in northern region of West Bengal. As part of TDC of NICRA, capacity building on modern farming practices and techniques has been taken up. About 157 training programs were taken up involving 3880 farmers in the district of Cooch Behar and 43 training programs involving 969 farmers were taken up in the district of Malda.

(c): During 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 4400.00 Lakhs (GoI Share) has been allocated to State  Horticulture  Mission,  West  Bengal  under  NHM  scheme  of  MIDH  for  carrying  out activities related to horticulture development including activities related to capacity building, training, cold storage and market infrastructures.

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