Lok Sabha Question No. 2630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Commercialisation of Centres of Excellences for Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut, Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2630

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## COMMERCIALISATION OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCES FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

2630.  SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: MS KANGNA RANAUT: DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND: SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

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

- (a) whether the Union Government has formulated any plan for the commercialisation of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables with the objective of improving the income and productivity of farmers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the mechanisms adopted for knowledge transfer, training and market linkage;
- (c) the  number  of  CoEs  approved  and  operational  across  the  country  since  the inception of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), State-wise and year-wise including Himachal Pradesh;
- (d) whether the Government of India has entered into any bilateral partnership with the Government of Israel for horticulture development and fruit production and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to establish a Centre of Excellence for fruits or vegetables in Mangaluru to serve farmers in the Coastal Karnataka region and if so, the status of such a proposal?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी

(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) & (b): The  Union  Government,  under  the  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of Horticulture  (MIDH),  provides  support  for  setting  up  of  Centres  of  Excellence  (CoEs)  for fruits and vegetables in collaboration with various stakeholders including bilateral partners. The Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in horticulture are established with the aim of serving as hubs for demonstration, training, and dissemination of the latest technologies in horticultural production by promoting capacity building, production of planting material and adoption  of  new  technologies  in  horticulture  sector.  The  primary  objective  of  CoEs  is  to transfer knowledge and practical skills to farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension workers, thereby  enhancing  productivity,  quality,  and  sustainability  in  the  horticulture  sector.  By showcasing modern innovations and providing hands-on training, CoEs play a vital role in bridging  the  gap  between  research  and  field-level  adoption.  Government  of  India  has

entered  into  bilateral  cooperation  agreement  with  Israel,  Netherlands,  New  Zealand  for establishment of CoEs. Besides, CoEs are also established with technical assistance from Indian Research Institutes.

- (c): Under MIDH, a total of 58 Centres of Excellence have been approved across various States in the country. The state-wise details of CoEs approved as on 31.07.2025 including for Himachal Pradesh are as under:
- (d): The Government  of India has entered into a bilateral agreement with the Government of Israel for cooperation in agriculture, which includes horticulture development  and  fruit  production.  Under  this  collaboration,  the  Indo-Israel  Agricultural Project  (IIAP)  has  facilitated  the  establishment  of  Centres  of  Excellence  across  various States. These CoEs incorporate Israeli technology and know-how to enhance productivity, improve water use efficiency and ensure quality produce.
- (e): There is no proposal for establishment of a Centre of Excellence for horticulture in the Mangaluru region of Karnataka, under consideration of the Government.

| S. No.   | State                |   No. of CoE |
|----------|----------------------|--------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh       |            2 |
| 2.       | Assam                |            1 |
| 3.       | Bihar                |            2 |
| 4.       | Goa                  |            1 |
| 5.       | Gujarat              |            4 |
| 6.       | Haryana              |            6 |
| 7.       | Himachal Pradesh     |            1 |
| 8.       | Jammu & Kashmir (UT) |            2 |
| 9.       | Karnataka            |            5 |
| 10.      | Kerala               |            1 |
| 11.      | Ladakh (UT)          |            1 |
| 12.      | Maharashtra          |            7 |
| 13.      | Madhya Pradesh       |            2 |
| 14.      | Meghalaya            |            1 |
| 15.      | Mizoram              |            1 |
| 16.      | Odisha               |            1 |
| 17.      | Punjab               |            6 |
| 18.      | Rajasthan            |            3 |
| 19.      | Tamil Nadu           |            2 |
| 20.      | Telangana            |            1 |
| 21.      | Tripura              |            2 |
| 22.      | Uttarakhand          |            1 |
| 23.      | Uttar Pradesh        |            4 |
| 24.      | West Bengal          |            1 |
|          | Total                |           58 |

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