(a) whether there has been a decline in the productivity of wheat and rice and cash crops including sugarcane and cotton in the country during each of the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken to increase the productivity of these crops?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): State-wise details of productivity of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, jute
and mesta during the years 2006-07 to 2008-09 are given in the Annexure. The productivity
of rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute and mesta has shown a decline and that of wheat has shown
an increase during the last three years.
(c): Government is implementing a number of schemes to enhance the production and
productivity of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, jute and mesta in the country. Major
schemes being implemented by the Government include National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
which, inter-alia, aims at enhancing the productivity of rice and wheat, Integrated Cereals
Development Programmes (ICDP), Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sustainable Development of
Sugarcane Based Cropping System (SUBACS) and Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Mini Mission-II
on Cotton and Jute etc. subsumed under Macro Management of Agriculture. The Central Institute
for Cotton Research, Nagpur and all India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton are engaged
in developing suitable varieties/hybrids, technologies for disease and pest management
and production technologies for increasing productivity of the cotton in the country. The
Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore and Indian Institute for Sugarcane Research, Lucknow
are devoted for developing high yielding varieties of sugarcane. All-India coordinated
research project on sugarcane through its coordinating centres involving State Agricultural
Universities located in different agro-climatic zones of the country are also developing high
yielding varieties of sugarcane. Central Research Institute for Jute & allied Fibres,
Barrackpore and all India Network Project on Jute & allied fibres are working for improving
productivity of jute and allied fibres in the country. Besides, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas
Yojana (RKVY) launched during 2007-08 envisages creation of infrastructure for enhancing
production and productivity of agricultural crops in the country.