MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)
(a) Yes. In order to enhance the food production and exploring the new areas, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as an apex scientific organization at national level is having a strong agricultural research system with a wide network of institutes spread throughout the country and well established institutional linkages with the State Agricultural Universities, other Departments of the Central and State Governments and international agencies. The Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) provides government linkages to the ICAR. As a whole the goal of ICAR is to promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth and development in the country by interfacing education, research and extension initiatives complemented with efficient and effective institutional, infrastructure and policy support, for ensuring livelihood and environmental security.
(b) Yes.
1. The Government of India is implementing sugarcane developmental programme under the National Food Security Mission (Commercial Crops) in major sugarcane growing States by following cropping system approach to encourage farmers to improve productivity of sugarcane. This encompasses use of proper crop rotation, multiple cropping systems, intercropping etc. Under the NFSM-CC the total allocation during 2016-17 is Rs. 1253.50 lakh for sugarcane including Central share & State share, 60:40 basis. The major growing states & strategies for development of Sugarcane under NFSM-Commercial crops are as follows:
Sugarcane Growing States-
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarkhand & Uttar Pradesh.
Strategies:
• Demonstration on intercropping with Pulses, Oilseed and Cereals with Sugarcane.
• Demonstration on use of Tissue Culture Seedlings/Plantlets.
• Demonstration on Single Bud Technology.
• Strengthening /Establishment of tissue culture and bio-agent laboratories.
• Capacity building of extension officials and farmers in sugarcane production.
• Sugarcane Breeder Seed Production through ICAR/SAUs & Sugarcane Research Institute.
Besides, NFSM, States can support sugarcane development programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with approval of State level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of the State.
2. ICAR-NRC for Banana, Tiruchirapalli has identified new potential areas for banana cultivation in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chattisgadh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and all the states in North Eastern Region.
In these states and NER, the area (in Ha) under banana were 1,03,000 ha during the year 2011-12 and gradually the area has increased to 1,05,000 ha during 2014-15. Area is expected to increase.
North Eastern regions have been traditionally growing banana as a backyard crop has now taken up in a commercial way realising its importance.
(c) Yes. With the coordination of ICAR-NRC for banana, AICRP-Fruits and through ICAR-ATARI, the banana cultivation is being expanded in a newer places of these states by transferring the technologies developed at ICAR institutes, especially from NRCB through KVK and AICRP-Centres.
AICRP has agreed to provide a new center for Chattisgarh where banana research and extension will be adopted in an effective way.
In UP, in and around Lucknow where at higher pH and EC, the soil is not actually suitable for banana, with an effort of ICAR-CSSRI, ICAR-NRCB, ICAR-CISH, have introduced various banana germplasm and identified varieties suitable for UP conditions with high pH soil. Package of practices and introduction of new technologies like use of bioprimed plants tissue culture plants, microbial consortia, etc. are being developed to obtain a good yield of banana in those marginal lands to increase the farmers income.
ICAR- NRCB has intervened and made many visits to Lucknow, Kushinagar to support the expansion of banana in those regions of UP. Three sensitization programmes have been conducted on application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) especially to overcome the problems like extreme temperatures, high pH, flooding during monsoons and to control diseases like Fusarium wilt, Sigatoka leaf spot, pests like pseudostem borers and weevils etc.
Similar attempts are being made in Punjab also. ICAR- NRCB has taken up a trial to identify suitable varieties for this state in collaboration with PAU, Ludhiana under AICRP- Fruits. More than 25 varieties have been supplied to NABI- Mohali, in a DBT funded project to see the feasibility of cultivation. The results are awaited. Already, cultivation of cv. Grand Naine is in vogue and introduction of low temperature tolerant varieties will be identified for cultivation in Punjab.
Sugarcane: ICAR is working to enhance the sugarcane productivity in the sugarcane growing States (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu). Also institutes of ICAR like Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) at Lucknow and Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI) at Coimbatore are carrying out basic, applied, strategic and adaptive research to cater to the needs of increasing productivity of sugarcane.
(d) India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Despite vagaries of nature, there has been continuous improvement in the production of horticultural crop during the last four years. It has been possible due to concerted R&D efforts by all the stakeholders. The Horticultural Science Division under ICAR comprising 12 Institutes, five Directorates and six National Research Centres (NRCs), 11 All India Coordinated Research Projects and 2 All India Network Research Projects, has developed a number of varieties/technologies and value added products during, 2013-14 to 2015-16, which may play significant role in enhancing the profitability and have significant impact on horticulture sector. These horticultural Institutes/Directorates/NRCs are working on different vegetables and fruit crops in all the states of India and many new areas like Flagship programmes, platform projects, Extramural projects, consortia programmes are already in operation to carry out basic, applied and strategic research work.
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