Question : ONION PRODUCTION

(a) whether the Government provides several incentives to increase onion production in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the schemes under which these incentives are provided during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) the production of onion during the said period alongwith the breakup of kharif and rabi crops share therein;

(d) whether the Government proposes to encourage/provide incentives to the farmers to grow seasonal crops like vegetables and fruits; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI ARUN YADAV)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. 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) in remaining States and Union Territories for the holistic development of horticulture crops including onion by adopting an area based regionally differentiated cluster approach. Under these schemes, financial assistance is available for production of vegetable seeds, integrated pest & nutrient management, organic farming, technology dissemination through demonstration, human resource development, mechanization, primary/mobile processing units, development of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing. Assistance for cultivation of onion is also provided under the HMNEH Scheme. The statement giving details of incentives provided under NHM and HMNEH are annexed at Annexures I and II.

(c): A statement giving production of onion during 2007-08 to 2010-11 alongwith the breakup of kharif, late kharif and rabi crops share is annexed at Annexure III.

(d) & (e): The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation provides incentives to the farmers under both the missions for taking up various activities related to horticulture development such as production of quality planting material, establishment of scion blocks for mass multiplication of quality planting material, area coverage through high yielding varieties, high density planting and canopy management, vegetable seed production, rejuvenation/replanting of old and senile orchards, creation of water resources, protected cultivation, organic farming, promotion of integrated nutrient management/integrated pest management, pollination support through bee keeping, horticulture mechanization, technology dissemination through demonstration, human resource development, exposure visit of farmers, integrated post harvest management and establishment of marketing infrastructure.