Lok Sabha Question No. 413 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Production of Sunflower
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Balak Nath

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 413

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  JULY, 2022

## PRODUCTION OF SUNFLOWER

413. SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR: SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE: SHRI BALAK NATH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  plan  for  promoting  the  area  and production of sunflower, an important oilseed crop, specially in Maharashtra;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to have a separate mini-mission, seed availability, disease/pest control, market support and insurance support for sunflower?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (c): The Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz., National  Food  Security  Mission-  Oilseeds  &  Oil  palm  (NFSM-OS&OP)  from  2018-19  to augment the availability of edible oils by increasing the production and productivity of nine oilseed crops including sunflower and to reducing the import burden in the country. The NFSM-OS is being implemented in 28 States/ UTs including Maharashtra during 2022-23.

Under the NFSM- Oilseeds, incentives/ subsidies are being provided to the farmers through State Government for three broad interventions viz. (i) seed component covering purchase of breeder seeds , production of foundation seeds & certified seeds, distribution of certified seeds, distribution of seed minikits & seed hub (ii) production inputs component covering seed storage bins, Plant Protection (PP) equipments & seed treating drum, PP chemicals, distribution of gypsum/ pyrites/ lime etc., Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus/ bio agent, supply  of  bio-fertilizers,  improved  farm  implements,  sprinkler  sets,  water  carrying  pipes, and  (iii) transfer of technology  component  covering  cluster/ block demonstrations,

Frontline Demonstrations, Cluster Frontline Demonstrations and training through National Agricultural  Research  System  and  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra,  Integrated  Pest  Management through  Farmer  Field  School  (FFS)  mode,  training  of  farmers,  training  of  officers/ extension  workers,  need  based  R&D  project  including  seminar/  kisan  mela  and  oil extraction unit under flexi funds.

Maharashtra  State  Government  is  also  implementing  a  State  Sponsored  Special Action Programme with a provision of Rs. 50.00 crore for Productivity Enhancement and Value Chain Development of soybean and other oilseed crops including sunflower during 2022-23  to  2024-25.  Organization  of  advance  technology  based  demonstrations,  value chain development, farmers field school, seed production, cleaning cum grading unit, oil extractor, publicity are the major interventions of the scheme.

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  following  steps  have  also  been  taken  for  a  separate mini-mission, seed availability, disease/pest control, market support and insurance support for sunflower:

- (i)  The Government has approved a special project of Rs. 43.53 crore to the ICARIndian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad to increase area and production of  sunflower  cultivation  in  the  country  through  hybrid  seed  production  and demonstration for three years from 2022-23 - 2024-25.
- (ii)  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan  (PM-AASHA)  comprises Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS),  Price  Deficiency  Payment  Scheme  (PDPS)  and Pilot  of  Private  Procurement  and  Stockist  Scheme  (PPSS).  Under  this,  States/ UTs are offered to choose either PSS or PDPS in a given procurement season with respect to particular oilseeds crop for the entire State.
- (iii)  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)  provides  for  comprehensive  risk insurance against crop damage from pre-sowing to post- harvest for food crops, oilseeds  and  commercial  horticultural  crops  notified  by  the  concerned  State Government. Many State Governments are notifying sunflower under PMFBY.

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