GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINSITRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.127
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-11-2007

STRENGTHENING OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR THROUGH SCIENCE

127. SHRI SUBRATA BOSE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
be pleased to state:

(a) whether his Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences has formulated an ambitious scheme for strengthening and encouraging agriculture sector to achieve four per cent growth rate in the country; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) & (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2007 RAISED BY SHRI SUBRATA BOSE

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Science and Technology in association with the Ministry of Earth Sciences have initiated action to explore possibilities where S&T interventions in agriculture can raise the rate of growth in agriculture to the targeted 4% during the 11th Plan Period. The Department of Science and Technology have developed an algorithm to delineate crops right upto the village level using a GIS platform. Capability has been tested in the State of Haryana to assess per hectare production in a village and at present has been extended, for the current crop season to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab & Orissa. This information will provide guidance to the Government to locate areas of low productivity and provide timely inputs in cases of crop stress. The two Ministries will integrate the crop information and medium-range weather forecasts upto the district level, to provide advisories to the farmers through a web portal.
The Task Force set up in the Ministry of Science & Technology is conceptualizing programmes in key areas such as:
(i) Propagation of biopesticides for agriculture.
(ii) Developing a composite package of practices & inputs based on soil quality and water availability mapping.
(iii) Propagation of Tissue Culture Quality Planting material mainly for horticulture in the North-Eastern region.
(iv) Mounting of Potash, an important input in agriculture, from seaweeds.