Lok Sabha Question No. 2990 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Encouraging Kinnow Growers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2990

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  MARCH, 2025

## ENCOURAGING KINNOW GROWERS

2990. Shri Kuldeep Indora:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  encourage  Kinnow  growers  to adopt new techniques for enhancing the quality and production of Kinnow in the country; (b) if so, the details of the research being done so far; (c) whether the Government has any plan to extend necessary technical help to the Kinnow growers in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan; and (d) if so, the details thereof in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): Kinnow, a high-yielding citrus fruit grown  in India particularly in of  packaging technologies, enhancement  of  shelf life, integrated diseases &

Punjab, Rajasthan  and  Haryana.  Punjab  Agriculture  University  (PAU),  Ludhiana  (Punjab)  has developed various technologies to boost Kinnow production in the country through release of  improved varieties  like  PAU Kinnow-1  along  with  root  stock  breeding  for  diseases  and salinity  tolerance.  In  addition  to  these,  techniques  for  standardization  of  containerized nursery production technology, bud forcing technique, high density planting, standardization pests management and development of fruit fly trap etc. have been developed.

The  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  Citrus,  Swami  Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU)Agricultural Research Station at Sriganganagar,  Rajasthan  standardized  the  insect  pest  management  schedule,  fertilizer schedule  based  on  soil  and  leaf  nutrient  status,  drip  irrigation  schedule  for  water management, plastic mulching (100 micron) for weed control, conservation of soil moisture and organic package of practices for Kinnow mandarin for the state of Rajasthan.

Department of Horticulture, Punjab established Center of Excellence for only citrus fruits  with  the  collaboration  of  Israel  Government  (Indo-Israel  Project)  where  transfer  of new  technologies  has  been  done  for  quality  citrus  production.  Similarly,  the  State Government of Haryana has also established a Centre of Excellence at Sirsa for quality planting materials, crop technology demonstration and training.

(c) & (d): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the National Horticulture Board (NHB), provides financial and technical support for citrus cultivation including Kinnow for planting material production,  area  expansion,  high-density  planting,  post-harvest  management,  trainings, exposure  visit,  demonstration  and  awareness  programs  etc.  in  the  country  including Rajasthan.

Citri  Hub,  the  Agri-Business  Incubation  Centre  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research  (ICAR)-Central  Citrus  Research  Institute,  Nagpur,  organized  an  incubation programme in Rajasthan focusing on citrus nursery management and nursery entrepreneurship in the year 2024. During the incubation, they received in-depth training in crucial aspects of citrus nursery management, including the establishment and maintenance of mother blocks, traditional budding methods, micro-budding, containerized nursery techniques, nursery accreditation, marketing strategy and business plan development.

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