Lok Sabha Question No. 1290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: Horticulture Crops Production in West Bengal
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.1290

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  JULY, 2021

## HORTICULTURE CROPS PRODUCTION IN WEST BENGAL

1290.  SHRI RAJU BISTA

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

- (a) the details of the production of horticulture crops including vegetables, fruits, and flowers, in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal;
- (b) whether the Ministry has taken cognizance of the fact that the production of oranges and cardamom in Darjeeling and Kalimpong regions has gone down in past decades;
- (c) if so, the steps taken by the Ministry to assist the growers;
- (d) whether the Ministry will consider establishing a central university  for horticulture or agriculture in North Bengal, particularly in Darjeeling or Kalimpong District; and
- (e) if so, the details of the same?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a)   The details of the production of horticulture crops including Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers, in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal for

- the year 2019-20, as reported by Government of West Bengal is at Annexure-I
- (b)  &  (c)  As  reported  by  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research-Indian  Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) and Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), the area  and  production  of  Orange  (Mandarin)  has  gone  down  in  Darjeeling  and Kalimpong  in  past  decade  because  of  shifting  of  area  to  Vegetables  Cultivation  & Spices (large Cardamom). Area under large Cardamom in Darjeeling and Kalimpong are increasing.

ICAR-IARI has reported the following remedial steps for addressing the issue:-

1.  Started production of healthy planting materials (grafted and nucellar seedlings).
2.  To address the issue of rootstock availability, the Institute has produced more than One Lakh rootstocks.
3.  Four  village  clusters  in  the  region  of  Sitong,  Mungpoo,  Balason  and  Icche gaon  was  adopted  and  farmers  were  mobilized  and  trained  for  scientific Darjeeling mandarin cultivation.
4.  Under IARI, extension and technology transfer programme with the assistance of  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Government  of  West  Bengal  and National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  (NABARD),  so  far 20,000  new  healthy  planting  materials  were  distributed  among  the  farming communities.
5.  Approximately, 100 Ha area has been covered under new plantation by IARI (Research Station), Kalimpong.
6.  Four nurseries were established for production of healthy planting materials of Darjeeling  Mandarin  by  the  farmers  at  village  level  in  Mungpoo,  Sitong, Balason and Icche gaon of Kalimpong and Darjeeling hills.

UBKV  has  informed  that  they  are  giving  major  emphasis  to  Clonal  selection  of Darjeeling Mandarin Orange and production of quality planting materials to improve the production of Oranges in the region.

As per Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), the production of Cardamom has not gone down in Kalimpong and Darjeeling region  during the last decade. In fact, the production of Cardamom in Darjeeling region has increased from 476 Tonne in 2017-18 to 483 Tonne in 2020-21 and production in Kalimpong region has increased from 347 Tonne in 2017-18 to 352 Tonne in 2020-21.

(d) & (e) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has reported that there is no such proposal under consideration in the ICAR for establishing a Central University for Horticulture or Agriculture in North Bengal.

Annexure - I referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1290 on 'Horticultural Crops Production in  West Bengal' due for answer on 27.07.2021

A:Area in '000 Hectare

| District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   | District-wise Area/ Production of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  | A:Area in '000 Hectare P:Production in '000 Tonne                  |
| Sl. No                                                             | District                                                           | Vegetables                                                         | Vegetables                                                         | Fruits                                                             | Fruits                                                             | Flowers                                                            | Flowers                                                            |
|                                                                    |                                                                    | 2019-20                                                            | 2019-20                                                            | 2019-20                                                            | 2019-20                                                            | 2019-20                                                            | 2019-20                                                            |
|                                                                    |                                                                    | A                                                                  | P                                                                  | A                                                                  | P                                                                  | A                                                                  | P                                                                  |
| 1                                                                  | DARJEELING                                                         | 18.47                                                              | 224.55                                                             | 9.53                                                               | 200.63                                                             | 1.03                                                               | 17.62                                                              |
| 2                                                                  | KALIMPONG                                                          | 12.90                                                              | 138.44                                                             | 3.29                                                               | 37.83                                                              | 0.82                                                               | 14.21                                                              |
| 3                                                                  | NORTH DINAJPUR                                                     | 50.63                                                              | 930.18                                                             | 11.48                                                              | 205.64                                                             | 0.32                                                               | 2.10                                                               |

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