Question : National Horticulture Fair 2020

(a) whether Indian Institute of Horticulture Research has organized National Horticulture Fair-2020;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of farmers and other stakeholders who participated in the fair along with the achievements of organizing such a fair;

(d) the number of horticulture colleges which participated in the said fair, State/UT-wise; and

(e) whether the Union Government has received a request for setting up Horticulture colleges in the country including Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government on it; and

(f) the other steps taken by the Government to carry out more research activity in the field of horticulture to make optimum utilization of resources and boost the horticulture production?

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) Yes, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bengaluru has organized National Horticulture Fair -2020.
(b) ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bengaluru has organized a four-day National Horticulture Fair during 5 - 8, February, 2020 at IIHR, Bengaluru. The details of activities held included the following:-

a. Live demonstrations on farm on improved varieties, disease and pest resistant varieties of different horticulture crops were organized,
b. Organised live demonstrations on farming system, grafting technology, organic and soilless cultivation, polyhouse cultivation,
c. Workshop and seminars were also organised,
d. Launched Apps and Seed portal,
e. Distributed seed and planting materials.

(c) 70,000 farmers, 6 start-ups, 30 Farmer producer organizations and 200 different input agencies related to horticulture participated in the fair.
The main Achievements were:
a. Two hundred and sixty three improved/disease and pest resistant varieties and technologies developed by institute in various vegetables, fruits, flowers and medicinal crops were demonstrated on farm.

b. Live demonstrations on following were organised:


• Mango-based Integrated Farming Systems,
• Mixed Cropping System,
• Vegetable grafting technology in chilli and tomato,
• Organic and soilless cultivation of vegetables,
• Polyhouse cultivation of high value vegetables and ornamental crops,
• A work shop on urban horticulture was organized during the event in which 200 members participated.

c. A seminar was organised on Recent Advances in Cultivation of Betel vine, Black pepper, Chilli and Garcinia in which 1000 farmers participated.

d. The ‘ICAR-IIHR Seed Portal’ and a trilingual mobile app ‘Arka Bagwani’ was launched and Arka solar-powered vending tricycles were inaugurated during the fair.

e. Seeds and planting materials of ICAR-IIHR developed varieties were sold during the fair.
(d) The following Horticulture Colleges from various States participated in the fair:
a. One Horticulture college from Odisha
b. Two Horticulture colleges from Tamil Nadu
c. Five Horticulture colleges from Karnataka

(e) No such proposal has been received by the Council.
(f) The steps taken up by 23 Research Institutes/Directorates/NRCs and 12 AICRPs under Horticultural Science Division of ICAR to make optimum utilization of resources and boost the horticulture production are at Annexure-I.
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