Lok Sabha Question No. 462 (STARRED), answered on 2022-04-05
Subject: Production of Food Items
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 462

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH APRIL, 2022

## PRODUCTION OF FOOD ITEMS

## *462.     SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

†

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

- (a)      whether the Government has developed any mechanism to provide information to the farmers regarding nutritional content and quality production of the food/food items;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the preventive steps being taken for production of nonnutritional food/food items;
- (c) whether the quality of the food/food items is being affected and the soil of the farms is  getting  damaged  due to  excessive use of pesticides and  chemicals/fertilizers and the soil is on the verge of getting barren as the farmers do not have proper information in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details of the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

- (a) to (d):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  462  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  05.04.2022  REGARDING 'PRODUCTION OF FOOD ITEMS'

( a) & (b): Agriculture is a state subject. However, the Government of India along with the state governments provides information to the farmers through the Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA), trainings, demonstrations and also awareness programmes through mass communication media regarding nutritional content of food items. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 79 biofortified varieties of various crops namely rice (8), wheat (28), maize (14), millets (13), lentil (2), groundnut (2), linseed (1), mustard (6) and soybean (5) which  are  nutritionally  rich.  Besides,  8  biofortified  varieties  of  horticulture  crops  namely cauliflower  (1),  potato  (2),  sweet  potato  (2),  greater  yam  (2)  and  pomegranate  (1)  are being  popularized  among  the  farmers  through  trainings,  demonstrations  etc.,  involving various  mass  communication  media.  These  cultivars  have  been  improved  for  essential nutrients viz., iron, zinc, calcium, protein, vitamin-C, provitamin- A, oleic acid etc.

In order to promote nutritional security, ICAR has launched two special programmes, viz Nutri- sensitive Agricultural Resources and Innovations (NARI) and Value Addition and Technology Incubation Centres in Agriculture (VATICA) for upscaling the bio fortified  varieties  through  KVKs.    ICAR  is  also  implementing  projects  viz;  'Sustainable Approaches for Nutritional Security' and 'Nutritional Security & Health Promotion of Farm Families' under All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Women in Agriculture. Under the project, nutri-gardens  were  established  in schools  & village in  which nutrition education awareness programmes were conducted.

Consequent  to  the  initiative  of  the  Government  of  India,  the  United  Nations  has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM). To create awareness for  the  nutritional  and  health  benefits  of  millets,  the  Government  of  India  has  planned activities for celebrations of IYOM -2023.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) is implementing various crop production related Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) viz; National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) & Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY).  These  schemes  provide  provision  for  dissemination  of information & technology related to foodgrains and horticulture crops amongst the farmers. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is also implementing Centrally Sponsored  Schemes  for  promotion  of  various  food  items  of  fisheries/aquaculture  & dairying. These schemes educate farmers for production of food items.

(c) & (d): Recommendations  on  appropriate  dosage  of  nutrients  tobe  applied  for improving  soil  health  and  fertility  are  provided  to  the  farmers.  The  Government  is implementing Soil Health Card Scheme to provide soil test based information on nutrient status  to  farmers.  Financial  assistance  is  provided  under  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC)  for imparting farmer's trainings and field demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers.

Government  is  also  focusing  on  creating  awareness  and  educating  the  farmers about organic farming practices (including use of organic sources of plant nutrients) under the  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  on  Organic  Value  Chain Development of North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) schemes.

In  order  to  check  the  excess  use  of  pesticides,  Government  promotes Integrated Pest  Management  (IPM)  approach  as  an  ecologically  desirable  alternative.  Thirty-Five Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the country train farmers, extension  functionaries,  etc.  for  the  training  activities  that  include  programmes  on  nonchemical  pest  management  strategies  and  use  of  bio-pesticides  for  farmers  through Farmers' Field Schools (FFSs), for master trainers, extension workers and short duration courses  for  pesticides  dealers/NGOs/Graduates/Post-graduates/Private  Entrepreneurs and progressive farmers. Registered pesticides are periodically reviewed from time to time with  regard  to  their  safety  and  efficacy  in  consultation  with  experts  on  receipt  of  new studies/reports/references/information.

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