Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 129 regarding efforts to increase productivity in the horticulture sector to meet the estimated demand for fruits and vegetables by 2033. The government is implementing schemes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Kisan Rail, and Krishi Udan Yojana. These initiatives aim to enhance production, leverage geographical advantages, promote market-driven horticulture, and improve logistics and supply chains.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Horticulture Production and Productivity:**
* Fruit production increased by 30% from 866 lakh metric tonnes (2014-15) to 1129.7 lakh metric tonnes (2023-24).
* Vegetable production increased by 22% from 1694.7 lakh metric tonnes (2014-15) to 2072 lakh metric tonnes (2023-24).
* Fruit productivity increased from 14.17 to 15.80 metric tonnes per hectare.
* Vegetable productivity increased from 17.76 to 18.40 metric tonnes per hectare.
* **Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):**
* Implemented to increase productivity using high-yielding planting material, high-density plantation, and protected cultivation.
* Includes rejuvenation of old orchards, fertigation, and reduction of post-harvest losses.
* New initiatives leverage geographical advantage and promote market-driven horticulture.
* Setting up 58 Centre of Excellence (CoEs), identified 55 clusters under Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (HCDP), 9 centres for Clean Plant Programme (CPP) and setting up of 4 Post-Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facilities.
* **Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):**
* Enhances horticulture crop production through research on high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties and climate-resilient technologies.
* Supports farmers with training, quality planting materials, and pest management.
* **Kisan Rail:**
* Launched on August 7, 2020, to transport perishables from surplus to deficit regions.
* Indian Railways operated 2364 Kisan Rail Services transporting 7.9 lakh MT of perishables across multiple states in 167 routes.
* **Krishi Udan Scheme:**
* Aims to ensure seamless, cost-effective, time-bound air transportation for agri-produce, especially from Northeast, hilly, and tribal regions.
* Convergence scheme involving multiple ministries and departments to strengthen logistics for transportation of Agri-produce.
* Covers 58 airports, focusing on 25 in North Eastern, Hilly and Tribal regions, plus 33 in other areas.
* Includes waiver of landing and parking charges for Indian freighters and P2C Aircrafts by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry of Defence at selected Krishi Udan airports.
* Route Navigation Facility Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC) are waived off at selected AAI airports.
Impact Analysis:
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from increased productivity, improved market access, reduced post-harvest losses, and enhanced income through schemes like MIDH, Kisan Rail, and Krishi Udan.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, adopt modern cultivation practices, and utilize transportation schemes to access broader markets.
* **Consumers:**
* *Impact:* Access to a greater supply of fruits and vegetables, potentially at more stable prices, due to increased production and efficient transportation.
* *Action Required:* No direct action required.
* **Indian Railways:**
* *Impact:* Increased revenue through Kisan Rail services by transporting perishable goods.
* *Action Required:* Maintain and expand Kisan Rail services to meet the growing demand for transportation of perishables.
* **Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry of Defence:**
* *Impact:* Supporting the Krishi Udan scheme through waivers on landing, parking, RNFC and TNLC charges.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide waivers and support logistics for air transportation of agri-produce.
* **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and overseeing the various schemes and initiatives to enhance horticulture productivity and market access.
* *Action Required:* Monitor the progress of MIDH, Kisan Rail, and Krishi Udan Yojana, and make necessary adjustments to maximize their effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised and answered.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): A government program for the holistic development of the horticulture sector, including increasing productivity and reducing post-harvest losses.
Baghpat Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh: A parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, specifically mentioned in the question regarding benefits from government schemes.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in India.
Kisan Rail: A train service launched to transport perishable goods, including fruits and vegetables, from surplus to deficit regions.
Krishi Udan Scheme: A scheme to ensure seamless and cost-effective air transportation of agri-produce, especially from the Northeast, hilly, and tribal regions.
Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (HCDP): A program under MIDH to promote market-driven horticulture through the identification and development of clusters.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.129
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025
IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY IN HORTICULTURE SECTOR
*129. DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to increase productivity in the horticulture
sector in order to meet the estimated demand of fruits and vegetables by the year 2033;
(b) if so, whether any special scheme is being implemented by the Government to take
advantage of geographical features and to promote market-based development;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether horticulture-agriculture sector (fruits and vegetables) has benefitted from the
Kisan Rail and Krishi Udan Yojana Schemes; and
(e) if so, the details of the benefits accrued from the said schemes, district-wise including
Baghpat Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) of LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 129 DUE FOR REPLY ON 29TH JULY, 2025.
(a) to (c): The horticulture sector has shown a remarkable growth in the last
decade wherein fruit production has increased to 1129.7 lakh metric tonnes (2023-
24) from 866 lakh metric tonnes (2014-15) with 30 percent increase. During the same
period, vegetable production has increased to 2072 lakh metric tonnes (2023-24)
from 1694.7 lakh metric tonnes (2014-15) with 22 percent increase. The productivity
of fruits has also increased from 14.17 to 15.80 metric tonnes per hectare, whereas
the productivity of vegetables has increased from 17.76 to 18.40 metric tonnes per
hectare during the same period. This growth indicates that the increase in production
and productivity of fruits and vegetables is on track to meet predicted future demand.
Government of India is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of
Horticulture (MIDH) in the country including Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh for
holistic development of horticulture which includes increasing productivity using elite
high yielding planting material, high density plantation, rejuvenation of old orchards,
fertigation, protected cultivation and reduction of post harvest losses etc. to meet the
estimated demand of fruits and vegetables.
The Government has introduced new initiatives under MIDH to leverage
geographical advantage and promote market driven horticulture through setting up
of 58 Centre of Excellence (CoEs), identified 55 clusters under Horticulture Cluster
Development Programme (HCDP), 9 centres for Clean Plant Programme (CPP) and
setting up of 4 Post-Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facilities.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its crop specific institutes
have enhanced horticulture crop production and productivity through research on
high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties, modern cultivation practices and climate-
resilient technologies. It also supports farmers via training, quality planting materials,
and efficient pest management.
(d) & (e): The Kisan Rail was launched on August 7, 2020 to enable movement
of perishables including fruits and vegetables from production of surplus region to
consumption/deficient regions in reasonable time. Since, its inception Indian
Railways operated 2364 Kisan Rail Services transporting 7.9 lakh MT of perishables,
across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu &
Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in 167 routes.The Krishi Udan Scheme aims to ensure seamless, cost effective, time-bound
air transportation and associated logistics for all Agri-produce originating especially
from Northeast, hilly and tribal regions of the country, so that it improves their value
realization. It is a convergence scheme where eight Ministries/Departments namely
Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department
of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food
Processing Industries, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry
of Development of North-Eastern Region leverage their existing schemes to
strengthen the logistics for transportation of Agri-produce. By enhancing logistics and
supply chains, the scheme aims to strengthen Indian agriculture and boosts farmers
income.
The Krishi Udan Scheme covers 58 airports in the country, primarily focusing
on 25 airports in North Eastern. Hilly and Tribal region besides 33 airports in other
regions/area. All perishable commodities are covered under Krishi Udan Scheme in
the country which includes horticulture, fishery, livestock and processed products.
For facilitating and incentivising movement of agri-produce by air transportation,
waiver of Landing charges, Parking charges are provided for Indian freighters and
P2C (Passenger-to-Cargo) Aircraft by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Ministry
of Defence at their selected Krishi Udan airports. In addition, Route Navigation
Facility Charges (RNFC) and Terminal Navigational Landing Charges (TNLC) are
waived off at the selected AAI airports.
*******