Lok Sabha Question No. 1575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-20
Subject: National Horticulture Fair 2020
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Rebati Tripura, C.N. Annadurai, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1575

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/09/2020

## NATIONAL HORTICULTURE FAIR 2020

## 1575.  SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI REBATI TRIPURA:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indian Institute of Horticulture Research has organized National Horticulture Fair-2020;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of farmers and other stakeholders who participated in the fair along with the achievements of organizing such a fair;
- (d) the  number  of  horticulture  colleges  which  participated  in  the  said  fair,  State/UTwise; and
- (e) whether the Union Government has received a request for setting  up Horticulture colleges in the country including Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government on it; and
- (f) the other steps taken by the Government to carry out more research activity in the field  of  horticulture  to  make  optimum  utilization  of  resources  and  boost  the  horticulture production?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) Yes,  ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Horticulture  Research,  Bengaluru  has  organized National Horticulture Fair -2020.
- (b) ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bengaluru has organized a four-day National Horticulture Fair during 5 - 8, February, 2020 at IIHR, Bengaluru.  The details of activities held included the following:-

- a. Live  demonstrations  on  farm  on  improved  varieties,  disease  and  pest  resistant varieties of different horticulture crops were organized,
- b. Organised live demonstrations on farming system, grafting technology, organic and soilless cultivation, polyhouse cultivation,
- c. Workshop and seminars were also organised,
- d. Launched Apps and Seed portal,
- e. Distributed seed and planting materials.

(c) 70,000  farmers,  6  start-ups,  30  Farmer  producer  organizations  and  200  different input agencies related to horticulture participated in the fair.

## The main Achievements were:

- a. Two  hundred  and  sixty  three  improved/disease  and  pest  resistant  varieties  and technologies  developed  by  institute  in  various  vegetables,  fruits,  flowers  and medicinal crops were demonstrated on farm.
- b. Live demonstrations on following were organised:
- Mango-based Integrated Farming Systems,
- Mixed Cropping System,
- Vegetable grafting technology in chilli and tomato,
- Organic and soilless cultivation of vegetables,
- Polyhouse cultivation of high value vegetables and ornamental crops,
- A  work  shop  on  urban  horticulture  was  organized  during  the  event  in  which  200 members participated.
- c. A seminar was organised on Recent Advances in Cultivation of Betel vine, Black pepper, Chilli and Garcinia in which 1000 farmers participated.
- d. The 'ICAR-IIHR Seed Portal' and  a  trilingual  mobile  app 'Arka Bagwani' was launched and Arka solar-powered vending tricycles were inaugurated during the fair.
- e. Seeds and planting materials of ICAR-IIHR developed varieties were sold during the fair.
12. (d) The following Horticulture Colleges from various States participated in the fair:
- a. One Horticulture college from Odisha
- b. Two Horticulture colleges from Tamil Nadu
- c. Five Horticulture colleges from Karnataka
16. (e) No such proposal has been received by the Council.

(f) The  steps  taken  up  by  23  Research  Institutes/Directorates/NRCs  and  12  AICRPs under  Horticultural  Science  Division  of  ICAR  to  make  optimum  utilization  of  resources and boost the horticulture production are at Annexure-I.

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## Annexure-I [Part (f) of Lok Sabha USQ No.1575 for 20/09/2020]

The  steps  taken  up  by  23  Research  Institutes/Directorates/NRCs  and  12  AICRPs  under Horticultural Science Division of ICAR to make optimum utilization of resources and boost the horticulture production are:

Improved varieties : Identification of suitable varieties and standardization of production  technologies. Thrust is  being  given  on  developing/breeding  improved varieties,  hybrids,  male  sterile  lines  (for  seed  production)  etc.  that  will  contribute  to enhanced production.

Genetic  diversity :  Future  productivity  is  closely  linked  to  conservation  of  genetic diversity and utilization of wild species for biotic and abiotic resistance. Conservation of fruits and vegetable genotypes form a part of this platform on biodiversity conservation.

Protected  cultivation : Research  on  protected cultivation for nursery production, vegetable production is underway.

Micronutrient  formulation :  Use  of  micronutrient  formulation  and  development  of crop-specific  micronutrients  in  different  fruits  and  vegetables  production  is  being undertaken.

Refinement : Refinement and validation of production and protection technologies.

Planting  material :  Multiplication  of  seed  and  planting  material  developed  through public  sector  is  being  carried  out  and  quality  seed  and  planting  material  is  made available to the farmers. Distribution of seed and quality planting materials for enhanced productivity.

Crop Management technologies: There is need to standardise crop production and crop protection technologies of varieties developed and to develop the package of practices for each and every crop.

Post  harvest  management: Research  is  carried  out  on  post  harvest  technology  and value  addition  to  reduce  post  harvest  losses  and  bring  produce  under  maximum utilization.

Technologies  transfer/Commercialization/  MoUs: There  is need  to transfer the technologies  developed  to  the  stakeholders  including  farmers.  Also  there  is  need  to commercialise  some  of  the  technologies.  In  every  sphere  of  technology  development through PPP mode there is need to sign MoU.

Mobile apps and documentaries: To transfer technologies and making aware of these technologies,  development  of  Mobile  apps  and  production  of  documentaries  are prerequisite.

Custodian  farmers :  To  enhance  the  production  of  indigenous  fruits  and  vegetables, conservation through custodian farmers, documentation and evaluation is being undertaken.

Scientists-farmers interface : Regular scientists-farmers interface meeting is organized on different crops at different places to address farmers' problems that will ultimately contribute to enhanced production of fruits and vegetables.

Human resource : Today's human resource (HR) development will contribute to future science and enhance production of fruits and vegetables. Steps are taken to impart more post graduate teaching and research to more number of students by expanding the post graduate research access to different parts of the country, eg. at IIHR, Bengaluru.

Transfer  of  Technology : technologies are disseminated to the farmers through AICRP/SAUs.

Extension :  Frontline  extension  programmes  are  carried  out  to  reach  to  the  farmers. Training and skill up-gradation of farmers and other extension officials on horticultural crops.

TSP/NEH :  Besides  programmes  under  Tribal  Sub  plan  (TSP)  and  programmes  for North  East  Hills  (NEH)  are  undertaken  towards  technology  transfer  and  capacity building so that production of fruits and vegetables in tribal regions and in NEH can be enhanced.

Further, these Institutes/Directorates/NRCs take following steps to promote horticulture in the country:

- Organize Scientist - farmer interface meetings, farmer's mela, exhibitions, advisory services etc.
- Reach out to farming community through diverse ICT Platforms i.e Mobile Apps, Social media.
- The institute websites have 'Farmer's corner' exclusively for the farming community and Crop specific advisory services.
- Provide weekly status report on insect pest and diseases of various crops.
- Extension  pamphlets  in  English,  Hindi  and  other  local  languages,  extension bulletins, Farmers  advisory  services, planting material availability, guide on nutritional disorders etc. are also available.
- Some Institutes have Facebook which are also utilized by many farmers for getting quick information about their queries regarding released varieties, planting material availability and pest and diseases of crops.

SMS service: SMS service is also available to alert the farmers for any impending disasters or pest and disease out breaks.

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