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
RFP document for agritech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) scheme
Executive Summary of the report on Terms of Trade between Agriculture and Non- agriculture sectors
Guidelines for the Implementation of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for Facilitated Access under Multilateral System.
Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change vide its notification No. S.O. 3232 ") dated 17.12.2014 has, in consultation with the National Biodiversity Authority, declared that the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation may, from time to time specify such crops as it considers necessary from amongst the crops listed in the Annex-I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic resources for Fo d and Agriculture (lTPGRFA), being food crops and forages covered under the multilateral system thereof; and aq;orclingty exempt them from section 3& 4 of the said act, for the purpose of utilization and conservation for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture
Assessment of Soil Health and Preparation of Soil Health Card
Annual Report 2013-2014 of the Central Sector Scheme"Monitoring of Pesticides Residues at National Level"
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture had started a central sector scheme, “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” in food commodities and environmental samples during 2005-06 with the participation of various laboratories representing Ministry of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizer, Ministry of Commerce and State Agricultural Universities across the country.
Comments are Invited on Draft Operational Guidelines of Price Stabilization Fund(PSF) From State Government/Agencies and other Stakeholders by 02.02.2015
Horticulture Area and Production Information System - HAPIS.
This is a software for online data submission at district and block level in respect of Area and Production of all the horticulture crops by the states .
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 .
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.
