Tremendous Potential in NE States for Development of the Horticulture Sector says Radha Mohan Sigh

Consultative Committee of Ministry of Agriculture on Horticulture Development in India held in Shillong

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh has said that there exists tremendous potential in NE states for development of the horticulture sector and we need to ensure focused attention for harnessing available potential through scaling up ongoing interventions under various schemes. Addressing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Horticulture Development in India held in Shillong today he said the challenge is to complement the sector with food processing, agro logistics, agri-business, input related services and agricultural lending. Referring to the challenges faced by horticulture crops the Minister suggested that grower associations and farmer producer organisations should also be taken on board,from planting material to post harvest management and issues of logistics and price discovery.

The Minister said setting up of market infrastructure has been linked with reforms in APMC act for permitting direct marketing of horticulture produce. Shri Singh said,“ Although we have achieved a substantial breakthrough in production, the challenge lies in converting this into gains for farmer. We still have a long way to go in establishing a robust cold chain system from farm to fork. Creation of infrastructure for post harvest management and value addition therefore are a high priority area with focus on creating cold chain networks”. He said horticulture mechanization is being promoted to bring in efficiency in horticulture production and harvesting operations.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Shri MohanbhaiKundariya, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and six Members of Parliament besides the Director of ICAR NEH Region Dr.SV Ngachan.

Earlier the Minister visited the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region andinaugurated the FATE (Facility for Air Temperature Enhancement) and CTGC (Carbon dioxide Thermal Growth Chamber) at the Complex and also interacted with 250 farmers on the occasion.

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Cultivation of Oilseeds and Pulses is Important for Food and Nutritional Security of the North Eastern States- Radha Mohan Singh

For the food and nutritional security of the North Eastern States, it is important to promote the cultivation of oilseeds and pulses. This was stated by Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh was after inaugurating the academic block of College of Post-Graduate Studies, CAU, Imphal and also laying the foundation stone for the new College of Agriculture, Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya today. He said that the scientists of CAU and ICAR should develop technologies and resources for organic agriculture in the North Eastern Region.

Full text of Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister is as follows:

“Central Agricultural University is a unique agricultural university in the country, which takes care of the agricultural education, research and extension needs of six of the North Eastern Hill States. The University has played a pivotal role in the overall development of the states under its jurisdiction.

It is a matter of pleasure for me to know that the students of this university are doing exceedingly well in the national level competitive examinations. I am told that in 2014 the university obtained 2nd position in India with respect to ICAR-JRF scholarships awarded to its students. This year 17 students of this college have cleared ICAR-NET examination. For this good performance, I congratulate all the students and hope that they will give their University, their region and their country a good name.

This region has a lot of potential for agriculture and human resource development. Keeping this in mind 6 new colleges under the jurisdiction of the Central Agricultural University have been planned. I am happy to share with you that out of these - 4 new colleges have already started their fist academic session. I hope that, the other 2 colleges in Nagaland and Mizoram will be started soon.

To empower the unemployed rural youths, the university has planned 6 vocational training centres and six multi-technology testing centers, and I hope that these centers for making rural youth employment generators rather than employment seekers, would be implemented soon.

I am happy to know that scientists of CAU are whole heartedly participating in the Government’s “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” scheme. The effort by CAU to develop and distribute 2500 soil health cards to the farmers is appreciable. I hope that these efforts will continue and be beneficial for the farmers in future.

For the food and nutritional security of the North Eastern States, it is important to promote the cultivation of oilseeds and pulses. The effort by Central Agricultural University to promote Rabi mustard under zero tillage is commendable. I hope that the university will play an important role in increasing the cropping area of different pulses like lentil and lathyrus.

I also would like to advise the scientists of CAU and ICAR to develop technologies and resources for organic agriculture in the North Eastern Region. Emphasis should be given on production of farm manure from all organic waste.

To make agriculture monetarily remunerative is a challenge in front of all of us. It is my expectation from all the teachers, scientists and students to accept this challenge and work towards fulfilling the interest of the Indian farmers.”

JAI HIND

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2nd Advance Production Estimates of Major Kharif Crops During 2015-16

The 2nd Advance Estimates of production of major crops for 2015-16 have been released by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare here today.

The estimated production of major crops during 2015-16 is as under:

Ø Foodgrains – 253.16 million tonnes

· Rice – 103.61 million tonnes

· Wheat – 93.82 million tonnes

· Coarse Cereals – 38.40 million tonnes

· Maize – 21.00 million tonnes

· Pulses – 17.33 million tonnes

· Tur – 2.55 million tonnes

· Gram – 8.09 million tonnes

Ø Oilseeds – 26.34 million tonnes

· Soyabean – 9.13 million tonnes

· Groundnut – 7.18 million tonnes

· Rapeseed & Mustard – 6.84 million tonnes

Ø Cotton – 30.69 million bales (of 170 kg each)

Ø Sugarcane – 346.39 million tonnes

Despite setback in Kharif crops due to deficient monsoon rainfall and Rabi crops due to shortage of water in reservoirs and relatively warmer winter, as per the 2nd Advance Estimates for 2015-16 total foodgrains production in the country has been higher than that in the last year. Total foodgrains production during 2015-16, estimated at 253.16 million tonnes, has been higher by 1.14 million tonnes over the production of 252.02 million tonnes during 2014-15.

Total production of rice during 2015-16 is estimated at 103.61 million tonnes, which is lower by 1.87 million tonnes than its production of 105.48 million tonnes during 2014-15. Production of wheat estimated at 93.82 million tonnes is higher by 7.29 million tonnes than the production of 86.53 million tonnes of wheat during 2014-15. Wheat production in 2015-16 is also higher by 2.29 million tonnes than its 5 years’ average production.

Total production of coarse cereals is estimated at 38.40 million tonnes which is lower by 4.47 million tonnes as compared to their production of 42.86 million tonnes during 2014-15. Total pulses production of 17.33 million tonnes during 2015-16 is marginally higher than the previous year’s production of 17.15 million tonnes. With a decline of 1.17 million tonnes over the previous year’s production’s total oilseeds production in the country during 2015-16 is estimated at 26.34 million tonnes.

Production of sugarcane estimated at 346.39 million tones, is lower by 15.95 million tonnes than its production during 2014-15. Production of Cotton estimated at 30.69 million bales (of 170 kg each) is also lower by 4.11 million bales than its production of 34.81 million bales during 2014-15. Production of jute is estimated at 9.89 million bales (of 180 kg each) which is marginally lower than its production of 10.62 million bales during 2014-15.