Lok Sabha Question No. 1255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Environment-Friendly Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1255

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY CROPS

1255.  Dr. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a)  whether the Government has taken cognizance of the effort made by the women from the Uraali Kuruma tribe in Kerala to revive 180 traditional environmentally-friendly varieties of tubers that have been closely associated with their culture but were ignored in the favour of commercial crops; if so, the details thereof; (b)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  assist  these  women  in  their  attempt  to  revive  a culturally significant sustainable alternative to commercial crops, if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor; (c)  whether the Government has identified similar attempts to revive environment-friendly crops and cropping patterns across the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and (d)  whether the Government plans to introduce a policy to disseminate indigenous farm produce of this kind to a wider audience, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons

- therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष ए ं व िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): The Government has taken cognizance of the effort made by the women from the Uraali Kuruma tribe in Kerala to revive 180 traditional environment friendly varieties of tubers. Further,  'Noorang'  a  women Self Help Group (SHG) of Thirunelly Panchayat of Wayanad  District  Comprising  of  Vettakuruma  Scheduled  Caste  community  has  been formed under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) which is involved in cultivation & conservation  of  more  than  180  varieties  of  tuber  crops.    State  Government  of  Kerala awards Rs. 1,00,000/- for conservation of traditional tuber crops. During 2022-23, State

- has  also  provided  assistance  of  Rs.  16,000  @  Rs.  2000/-  per  member  for  germplasm

conservation  center  per  micro  cluster  under  Bhartiya  Prakrithi  Krishi  Padhathi  (BPKP). Tribal  farmers  were  also  trained  under  Agriculture  Technology  Management  Agency (ATMA) Farmers Field School.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  -  Central  Tuber  Crops  Research Institute  (CTCRI),  Kerala  has  collected  and  maintained  31  various  tuber  crops  from Wayanad region comprising cassava, chinese potato, curcuma aromatic, canna, greater yam, xanthosoma, elephant foot yam, taro, sweet potato, potato yam, wild turmeric, arrow root are being maintained in ICAR-CTCRI.

The Government of India has initiated 'Plant Genome Savior Community' award through the 'Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer's Right Authority (PPV & FRA), Delhi, under  which  prominent  tuber  crop  grower  of  Wayanad,  Kerala  have  received  'Plant Genome Saviour Farmer' award for conservation of tuber crops. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is also implemented in the country for holistic development of the horticulture crops including root and tuber crops.

(c) & (d): ICAR-CTCRI, under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and North Eastern and Himalayan (NEH) programme has conducted large number of demonstrations on tuber crop cultivation during  rainy season  and  rice-based cropping  system.  Under TSP programme,  planting materials of greater yam, elephant foot yam, taro, cassava stems, sweet potato vines and tubers are distributed to tribal farmers of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh since 2012 and trainings were also organized benefitting farmers. Under NEH programme, trainings were also organized for Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram farmers. ICAR-CTCRI is also popularizing tuber crops based integrated farming systems in tribal areas of various agro-climatic zones.

The ICAR-CTCRI has documented the production systems and indigenous knowledge associated with Mudali crop in Karnataka and also studied the environment friendly crops which are very well in the practice by many of the tribes in Kerala and other parts of the country. ICAR-CTCRI is implementing various programmes for popularizing the crops / farm produce to wider audience through Krishi Melas, exhibitions, developing entrepreneurs, commercializing of minor tuber crop etc.

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