Recent Initiatives
Group Recommendations of Pre-Rabi DAC-ICAR Interface held in September 2014.
Pre-seasonal interfaces between Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are organized to evolve joint strategies in research and development sectors, after getting inputs from various States/ UTs. Such interfaces at the level of various Subject Matter Divisions of DAC with their counterparts in ICAR for Pre-Rabi 2014 were organized in September 2014. Group Recommendations evolved out of these interfaces were compiled by the Extension Division and circulated to all the States/UTs and Senior Level Officers of DAC and ICAR.
Handbook on Horticulture Statistics 2014 released
The establishment of a comprehensive horticulture database is crucial for ensuring effective planning to facilitate a systematic development of the horticulture sector in the country. The data also helps in exploiting the huge export potential for the sector.
The present “Hand book on Horticulture Statistics” has been divided into seven different sections dealing with Socio-Economic indicators, Outlays and Expenditure under Horticulture activities, Area and Production of Horticulture crops, Prices and Arrivals, Export and Import of Horticulture Produce, Consumption of Horticulture crops and World Scenario.
All Mobile Based Services Enabled through mKisan Portal of Ministry of Agriculture
Mobile based services for farmers and other stakeholders being delivered through organisations, departments and offices of Central & State Govts down to the Block level (including State Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agro-Meteorological Field Units) have been brought together under a single umbrella viz. mKisan portal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The URL is www.mkisan.gov.in. mKisan Portal subsumes all mobile based initiatives in the field of Agriculture & allied sectors. It brings together SMS (both Push and Pull), Interactive Voice Response System, Unstructured Supplementary Services of Data or USSD (which is essentially Interactive SMS and can facilitate data entry and query on Web Portals without internet), Mobile Apps and Services. Further details of mKsan Portal can be seen at http://mkisan.gov.in/aboutmkisan.aspx.
A presentation can be seen here
Saffron Spice Park foundation laid at Pampore, J&K By Hon'ble Agriculture Minister
Hon’ble Agriculture Minister inaugurated the Saffron Park in Pampore, J&K on 23.08.2014. The park will provide facilities for processing, packaging and E-auction of Saffron. It is estimated that Saffron production is likely to increase from 2.5 to 5 kgs/ha with these efforts.
Third Advance Estimates for Horticultural Production Released
Horticulture production in India likely to scale new heights. As per third advance estimate for the year 2013-14, the horticulture production of the country is 280.79 million tonnes. Estimates for broad categories of commodities is as under:-
(Area in ‘000 Hectare), (Production in ‘000 MT)
| Major category of Hort. Crops | 2013-14 3rd adv. est. | |
| Area | Prod. | |
| Fruits | 7186.00 | 86822.19 |
| Vegetables | 9567.23 | 168142.37 |
| Flowers | 240.91 | 2365.66 |
| Aromatic | 553.60 | 931.50 |
| Plantation Crops | 3674.32 | 16598.17 |
| Spices | 3235.90 | 5931.90 |
| TOTAL | 24457.96 | 280791.79 |
Administrative Approvals of Projects titled "Development of Surtable Technology for Increasing the Productivity of Pulses In Rice Fallows".
Administrative Approvals of Projects titled "Development of Surtable Technology for Increasing the Productivity of Pulses In Rice Fallows" and "Enzymatic pretreatment in the processing of pigeon pea" have been issued.
Click here for more Information on Pulses In Rice Fallows and Enzymatic pretreatment in the processing of pigeon pea.
What's New
Comments are Invited on Draft Operational Guidelines of Price Stabilization Fund(PSF) From State Government/Agencies and other Stakeholders by 02.02.2015
Proposed Amendments in Insecticides Rules,1971.
The Insecticides Rules, 1971 provide for the regulatory framework for pesticides in India. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has proposed significant amendments in the said Rules to improve regulatory efficiency and business environment in order to serve the farming community better. Some of the important amendments proposed in the Draft Amendments to the Rules .
Inviting Objections and suggestions to amend the Insecticides Rules,1971.
Inviting Objections and suggestions to further amend the Insecticides Rules,1971 under the Insecticides Act,1968.
Amendment in the Insecticides Rules,1971 Regarding Labels and Leaflets.
Notification Dated:13.11.2014 regarding Amendment in the Insecticides Rules,1971 with regards to changes in Label and Leaflets.
Deletion of Label Claims of Insecticides for which MRL's not fixed.
Notification Dated:24.09.2014 Regarding deletion of Crops from the label and leaflets of Insecticides for which MRL's have not been fixed.
Report on testing of fruits and vegetable samples in Delhi for Pesticide Residues.
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing a Central Sector Scheme namely “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” since 2006 to monitor pesticide residues in agricultural commodities through a network of 24 laboratories in India. Samples of vegetables, fruits, cereals, spices, pulses, milk, butter, fish, meat, tea etc are analyzed to detect and monitor presence of pesticide residues and the data generated is shared with State Governments for prompt corrective action.
