MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a): The area under apple cultivation in the country during the year 2016-17 was 3.05 lakh hectare.
As per information available on FAOSTAT website, India ranks fourth in apple production in the world.
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(b): Apple production in various states of the country during the last three years and the current year, State/Union Territory-wise, is given at the Annexure-I.
(c): Several steps taken by the Government to transform and modernize the horticulture sector, which includes apple cultivation, are as under:
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented during XII Plan w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering all the horticulture crops including apple.
• The Mission envisages production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops including apple through increased 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. Capacity buildings of farmers and technicians is also provided for adopting improved technologies.
(d): Yes, Madam. Due to unfavourable weather conditions such as prolonged winter, unseasonal rain, snow in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, the apple production in the country has been greatly reduced during the last three years. In accordance to the norms the preliminary damage report due to unseasonal rains is being assessed by the Government. Based on the final enumeration reports the assistance will be provided to the affected farmers as per SDRF norms.
(e): Government has taken several corrective steps to boost the production and export of apples and to prevent crop loss from pests and natural calamities and also to protect the farmers from suicides some of which are as under:-
• To boost horticulture production including apples, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, is being implemented during XII Plan w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth and improvement in productivity.
• The Mission envisages production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops including apple through increased coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of water resources etc.
• To boost exports, Government has launched a scheme namely “Merchandize Exports from India (MEIS)” under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, wherein the exporters/farmers are incentivized for export of their goods/products including fruits and vegetables to specified markets.
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• The phytosanitary control system for export of fresh fruits has been strengthened in India to provide assurance of pest- free exports to the European Union(EU).
• For prevention of crop loss from pests and natural calamities, Mission encourages and supports adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), organic farming, including insitu generation of organic inputs.
• To protect farmers from committing suicide Capacity buildings of farmers is being provided for adopting improved technologies thereby helping them to increase their income.
• Providing market information to farmers on prices and arrivals of agricultural commodities in regulated markets on AGMARKNET portal to enable the farmers to get better remunerative prices.
• To minimize post production losses for horticulture crops including those for exports, assistance is provided for development of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing such as storages, wholesale markets, rural primary market, Kisan Mandis, etc., thereby increasing farmers’ income.
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