Question : CREATION OF SPECIAL HORTICULTURE ZONES

(a) whether the Government proposes to create special Horticulture Zones in various parts of the country to boost the production of Horticultural products;

(b) if so, whether the Government has identified such potential areas where fruits and flowers are grown in abundance;

(c) if so, the details and location thereof, State-wise;

(d) the rank of India in global scenario in the production of Horticultural products;

(e) whether Indian Fruits do not withstand the International Quality norms;

(f) if so, the reasons therefor; and

(g) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote ultra modern techniques for growing fruits?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a): The government is proposing to launch a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Horticulture Mission for boosting the production of horticultural crops in various parts of the country.

(b) & (c): The scheme proposed to adopt a cluster approach for adopting an end to end approach for potential crops including fruits and flowers, which will be identified by the States and action plans prepared for development.

(d): India is second in the production of fruits and vegetables in the world. It is first in the production of fruits like banana, mango, papaya and sapota. India is also first in the production of vegetables like peas and okra and second in production of onion. India is also first in the production of arecanut while it is third in the production of coconut.

(e) & (f): Many of the fruits like apple, mango, grape, pomegranate, sapota, litchi are being exported from India after meeting the quality norms.

(g): Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Macro Management in Agriculture- Supplementation/Complementation of State Efforts through Work Plan, assistance is being provided for adopting modern hi-tech measures such as drip irrigation, green house cultivation, plastic mulching creation of infrastructure for disease forecasting units, plant health clinics for horticultural crops including fruits.