(a) whether the Government intends to develop potential horticulture crops by
adopting crop cluster approach;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government intends to set up a Horticulture Crops Planting
Material Authority for ensuring quality of planting material;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government proposes to set up separate missions for the
development of fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD
PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) & (b): Yes. Madam. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is
implementing two Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz (i) Horticulture Mission for
North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) and (ii) National Horticulture Mission
(NHM) in remaining States and Union Territories for the holistic development of
horticulture sector in the country by adopting an area based regionally
differentiated cluster approach by ensuring an end-to-end approach covering
production, post harvest management and marketing.
Development of horticulture clusters are aimed at developing production
base for providing raw material not only for fresh consumption but also for setting
up of infrastructure for post harvest management, processing and marketing.
(c) & (d): There is no proposal to set up a Horticulture Crops Planting Material
Authority. Under the NHM and HMNEH, assistance is provided for setting up of
Nurseries in public and private sector. State Governments ensure supply of quality
planting materials for fruit crops by enactment of Fruit Plant Nursery (Regulation)
Act and enforcement of its provisions through licensing of Horticulture Nurseries.
Further, in order to put in place a system of recognition of Horticulture Nurseries,
National Horticulture Board under the Ministry of Agriculture is implementing the
programme of voluntary system of recognition of Horticulture Nurseries which is a
system of graded certification of production system and procedure in respect of a
candidate Horticulture Nursery.
(e) & (f): Under the NHM and HMNEH, all the horticulture crops such as fruits,
vegetables, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, plantation crops of cashew and
cocoa are covered. Therefore, there is no proposal to set up separate Missions for
the development of individual horticulture crops. For medicinal plants, there is a
separate mission in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani,
Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).