Lok Sabha Question No. 3042 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: CSIR Floriculture Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3042 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021)

## CSIR FLORICULTURE MISSION

## 3042. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will  the  Minister  of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY विज्ञान एिं प्रौद्योविकी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  implementing  Floriculture  Mission  and  if so, the details thereof and the significance of the mission;
- (b)   whether the Government has asked the scientists of CSIR laboratories to  develop  land  available  at  each  laboratory  as  a  model  under  the 'CSIR Floriculture Mission' and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the number of States that have been given approval for implementation of said mission;
- (d)   the contribution of CSIR in the development of floriculture and also to help  Indian  farmers  and  industry  to  reposition  themselves  so  as  to meet import requirements; and
- (e)   whether the Government has also launched CSIR's Societal Portal and if so, the details thereof and the objective behind the move?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Yes.  CSIR Floriculture Mission has been approved for implementation from  financial  year  2020-2021  by  its  constituent  laboratories  CSIRNational Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow; CSIR-Institute of  Himalayan  Bio-Resource  Technology  (IHBT),  Palampur;  CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat; CSIR-Central Food  Technological  Research  Institute  (CFTRI),  Mysuru  and  CSIRIndian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu.

Significance  of  the  Mission:  India  has  diverse  agro-climatic  and edaphic  conditions,  and  rich  plant  diversity,    however  it  shares  only 0.6% of global floriculture market. At least 1200 million USD worth of floriculture  products  are  being  imported  by  India  every  year  from different countries. Floriculture has the potential to provide

- employment  to  a  large  number  of  people  through  nursery  raising, floriculture  farming,  and  entrepreneurship  development  for  nursery trade, value addition and export to enhance farmers' income, achieve import substitution, generate employment and promote entrepreneurship.  The  CSIR  Floriculture  Mission  has  been  developed for  implementation  in  different  States  and  Union  Territories  of  India. Through Floriculture Mission of CSIR, agro-technologies, new varieties and  value  addition  technologies  available  with  the  CSIR  institutions, efforts are being made to take these to farmers and entrepreneurs and help them in increasing their income significantly.
- (b) In CSIR laboratories, available land can be utilized for showcasing the model to locals for popularising the floriculture in the country.
- (c) In  the  initial  process  of  implementation  of  the  project,  horticulture department of 21 States and Union Territories have been contacted for their cooperation and support in implementation of the project.
- (d) CSIR  has  been  developing  new  floral  varieties  and  several  value addition technologies since 1953. Through Floriculture Mission; agrotechnologies, new varieties and value addition technologies available with CSIR institutions will be provided to Indian farmers and industry in  order  to  help  them  to  reposition  themselves  to  meet  the  import requirements.
- (e) Yes. The portal can be accessed at https://innovateindia.mygov.in/csirsocietal-platform/. The expectations of the society from scientists are ever  growing  and  rightly  so  given  the  transformative  power  of  S&T. CSIR  is  committed  to  utilize  its  scientific  strength  and  meet  the expectations  of  the  country.  While  India  has  made  commendable progress thus far, there are still many challenges facing the country which could be solved through S&T interventions. CSIR would like to identify such problems / challenges and find a solution. This portal is the  first  step  in  that  direction  to  seek  inputs  on  challenges  and problems from different stake holders in society.

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