(a) whether cultivation of fruits and vegetables is a profitable venture for the farmers;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the percentage profit earned therefrom;
(c) the details of facilities provided for the development of such cultivation;
(d) whether the Government is implementing any scheme to impart technological education to vegetable growers;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the details of assistance/subsidy provided during the last three years and the current year?
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): Cultivation of fruits and vegetables is a profitable venture for the farmers,
if the cultivation is taken up with suitable variety of crop by using the right type of quality
seeds and planting material, adoption of proper package of practices, followed up with proper
market tie up. The profitability would vary depending on the crop, location and season of
cultivation. Quantitative data in this regard has not been maintained.
(c): 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) for the holistic development of horticulture in the country.
Under these Schemes, assistance is being provided for production and distribution of quality
seeds for vegetable and planting material for fruit crops. Assistance for taking up area
expansion of vegetables is being provided under HMNEH. Both the Schemes provide for taking
up rejuvenation technology, protected cultivation, Integrated Pest Management, Integrated
Nutrient Management, Organic Farming, Creation of Post Harvest Management and Marketing
facilities.
(d) & (e): The HMNEH and NHM Schemes provide for Human Resource Development through
training and demonstration under which 100 percent assistance is provided for organizing
training programmes for the benefit of the farmers and field level workers for adoption of
high yielding varieties of crops and farming systems.
(f): The assistance provided to States during last three years under these schemes are as
follow:-
(Rs. in lakh) Year NHM HMNEH
2007-08 87625.01 32179.28 2008-09 94618.50 29139.57 2009-10 74211.58 32575.13 2010-11 (Allocation) 106198.00 40000.00