(a) whether it is a fact that seven different types of vegetables can be grown in a single farm within a gap of seven days through organic farming techniques;
(b) if so, the time by which the said project is likely to be launched in various States including Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat; and
(c) the details of the measures being taken by the Government to enhance the fertility of soil in various States of the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) & (b): Government of India is implementing the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) , Centrally Scheme during XII Plan w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetable, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa etc. All States and UTs are covered under MIDH. The Mission envisages production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops including fruits and vegetables through various interventions. Activities such as production of planning material, vegetable seed production, coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources, adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), organic farming including insitu generation of organic inputs are taken up for development of fruits and vegetables.
For production of vegetable, Mission provides assistance for seed production in open pollinated crops and for hybrid seed. It provides assistance for hybrid vegetable cultivation. For production of planting material, assistance is available for Hi-tech nursery, small nursery, setting up of new tissue culture units, import of planning material and seed infrastructure for handling processing, packing storage of seed material used for cultivation of horticultural crops including, vegetable. The Mission also, provides assistance for construction cost of Greenhouse, Shads net house, Plastic tunnels, Walk in tunnels and also supports for cost of planning material &
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cultivation of high value vegetable grown in Polyhouse. Also, the Mission, through its Centres of Excellence for Horticulture and Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs), provides requisite information to farmers, so that they are in a position to apply necessary inputs for vegetable cultivation. The details of assistance provided under MIDH for vegetable seed production, hybrid vegetable cultivation, protected structure etc, is given at Annexure l.
(c): Government is implementing Soil Health Management under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Soil Health Management (SHM) is one of the components under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). SHM aims at promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and biofertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity; upgradation of skill and knowledge of soil testing laboratory staff, extension staff and farmers through training and demonstrations.
Besides, “Soil Health Card” Scheme is under implementation in the country since February 2015 to provide Soil Health Card to all farmers in the country. Soil Health Card will provide information to farmers on soil nutrient status of their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrient to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. Soil Health card will be issued every 2 years for all land holdings in the country.