Lok Sabha Question No. 893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Adverse Effect of Sugarcane and Rose Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DILIP PATEL, RAJESH PANDEY

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.893 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  1 ST  MARCH, 2016

## ADVERSE EFFECT OF SUGARCANE AND ROSE CULTIVATION

893.   SHRI DILIP PATEL: SHRI RAJESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that sugarcane crop and rose plants consume a lot of water and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the cultivation of these crops regularly is one of the reasons  for  drought  situation  in  various  parts  of  the  country  including  Gujarat  where these crops are grown;
- (c)  whether it  has been made mandatory for sugarcane growers to use drip irrigation system for sugarcane crops in some States including Gujarat, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  encourage  drip  irrigation  system across the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to address the problems being faced by the sugarcane growers in the country including Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã

एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA )

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.  Sugarcane  &  rose  consumes  relatively  more  water  for realizing optimum crop yields as compared to many other crops like wheat, pulses and coarse cereals. Various parts of the country including Gujarat have witnessed drought situation  mostly  due  to  deficit  rainfall.  There  is  no  empirical  evidence  to  suggest  that drought situation in various parts of the country including Gujarat is due to cultivation of sugarcane and rose.

(c) & (d):   For judicious use of water, Government of India  is promoting implementation of  drip  and  sprinkler  irrigation  system  for  both  horticulture  and  agriculture  crops including sugarcane  and  rose  in  the  country, including Gujarat under  Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

(e):      Government  of  India  is  implementing  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM) under which support is given for enhancing the production and productivity of sugarcane in 13 major sugarcane growing States including Uttar Pradesh.  Under NFSM,  thrust is given  on  transfer  of  technology  through  frontline  demonstrations  and  training  besides support on breeder seed production, production of tissue culture plantlets/seedlings & establishment of bio-agent/tissue culture laboratories. The States also support sugarcane development under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution provides soft loan to sugar mills from Sugar Development Fund (SDF) for cane development in mill areas for popularization of new high yielding varieties, drip irrigation system, etc. Apart from the above Government fixes Fair and Remunerative Prices (FRP) of sugarcane.

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