Question : LOSSES TO POMEGRANATE GROWERS

(a) whether the pomegranate growers are suffering huge losses as the crop failed due to the vagaries of nature in the country including in Karnataka;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware that the number of affected pomegranate growers is on the rise every year;

(d) if so, the number of affected growers in the country including Karnataka during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(e) the financial and other assistance provided by the Government to these growers for pomegranate cultivation during the above-said period?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) to (d): No State Government has reported suffering of pomegranate growers in the country including Karnataka due to failure of crop on account of vagaries of nature this year. In Maharashtra, an area of 14,648 hectares of pomegranate crop involving 21,134 growers was reported to be affected due to heavy rainfall in the year 2010. However, the pomegranate fields were affected by the Bacterial Blight Disease (BBD) in the State of Karnataka and Maharashtra during 2007-08, too. Total number of farmers affected by BBD in Karnataka was 7, 800 and 5, 7654 in Maharashtra during that year. Except for these two instances, no report was received from any State on damage to pomegranate crop due to BBD.

(e): Under National Horticulture Mission, subsidy is being provided to the farmers @ 75% of cost of cultivation of Rs.40,000/- per hectare. Besides, in order to control the BBD, a Good Management Practices (GMP) package was sanctioned under NHM during 2007-08 to the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra. The package was approved @ Rs.50,000/- per hectare, out of which 50% assistance was provided under NHM, 25% by the State Government and remaining 25% was borne by the Farmers. Under the GMP package to control BBD, based on the area affected, the Government of Karnataka have provided an assistance of Rs.25.64 crore, while Government of Maharashtra have provided an assistance of Rs.161.03 crore to affected farmers, including Government of India share.