MISSION FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE (MIDH)

ABOUT MIDH: Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa.

The Mission aims to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector, including coconut through area based regionally differentiated strategies which include research, technology promotion, extension, post harvest management, processing and marketing in consonance with comparative advantage of each State/region and its diverse agri-climatic features.

STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION:

1. Adopt an end-to-end holistic approach covering production, post harvest management, processing and marketing to assure appropriate returns to growers/producers;

2. Promote R&D technologies for production, post-harvest management and processing;

3. Enhance acreage, coverage, and productivity through Diversification, from traditional crops to plantations, orchards, vineyards, flower and vegetable gardens and extension of appropriate technology to farmers for high-tech horticulture cultivation and precision farming.

4. Improve post harvest management, processing for value addition and marketing infrastructure.

5. Adopt a coordinated approach and promote partnership, convergence and synergy among R&D, processing and marketing agencies in public as well as private sectors at the national, regional, State and sub-State levels;

6. Promote capacity-building and Human Resource Development at all levels, including, if need be, change in syllabus and curriculum of graduation courses.

SIX SUB-SCHEMES UNDER THE MISSION:

SALIENT FEATURES:

• • Three tier structure: The Mission has a three tier structure – National, State and District levels.
  • At the National level, there is a General Council (GC) and an Executive Committee (EC). The GC, which provides overall direction, is chaired by the Union Agriculture Minister. The Executive Committee (EC) headed by the Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation) oversees the activities of the Mission, approves the Annual Action (AAPs) of the States and National Level Agencies and reviews the progress.
  • Similarly, at the State level, an Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Agriculture Production Commissioner, or Secretary Horticulture /Agriculture oversees the implementation of the Mission.
  • At the District level, the District Mission Committee (DMC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zila Parishad / CEO of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) is responsible for project formulation and monitoring.
  • Monitoring mechanism: The Executive Committee headed by Secretary (DAC&FW) monitors the progress of Mission. The Empowered Committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary (DAC& FW) also monitors the progress while approving project based proposals of State Governments on a quarterly basis.
  • Fund sharing: 90:10 for north-east and Himalayan states ; 60:40 for other states
  • Crops covered: Fruits, Vegetables, Root and tuber, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa, bamboo.

OTHER INITIATIVES:

Coordinated Programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics (CHAMAN)

• • By the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • For Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) with an objective to develop and firm up scientific methodology for estimation of area and production under Horticulture crops.
  • The programme also uses GIS (Geographical Information System) tools along with remote sensing data for generating action plans for horticultural development (site suitability, infrastructure development, crop intensification, orchard rejuvenation, aqua-horticulture, etc.).
  • Another component of CHAMAN is to carry out research activities on horticultural crop condition studies, diseases assessment and precision farming.

Horticulture Area Production Information System (HAPIS)

• • Horticulture Statistics Division of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has introduced a web enabled work flow based system namely (HAPIS) for ensuring the timely availability of relevant and latest data on horticulture crops at sub-national level.
  • The system provides online interface enabling data flow from Districts to States and thereon to the centre. It is accessible within the NIC network. Web enabled work flow based system for monitoring area and production of horticultural crops.

HORNET

• • HORTNET project is a unique intervention to accomplish e-Governance in NHM where-in total transparency has been envisaged in all the processes of workflow i.e., online application filing, authentication, processing and online payment to the beneficiary’s bank account through DBT.

SIGNIFICANCE:

• • The horticulture sectorin India produces around 320.48 million tons of products and contributes about 33% of Gross Value Addition (GVA).
  • It is a labor-intensive sector and thus provides a lot of employment opportunities, especially for the people of rural regions.
  • It is important for ensuring nutritional security of the nation.
  • It promotes diversification in farm activities and enhanced income to farmers.

CHALLENGES:

• • Standing Committee observed that there is no clarity about the number of interventions permissible or implemented under the sub-schemes.   This causes difficulties in evaluation and appraisal.
  • The Committee noted that only half the target for producing quality planting material has been achieved so far.

ACHIEVEMENT:

• • Launch of National Horticulture Mission has spurred the production and productivity of horticultural crops. Productivity of horticulture crops has increased by about 38.5% between 2004-05 and 2021-22.
  • India has emerged as world leader in the production of a variety of fruits like mango, banana, guava, papaya, sapota, pomegranate, Lime & aonla and is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables.
  • India has maintained its dominance in the production of spices, coconut and cashewnut.
  • The new crops, kiwi, gherkins, kinnow, date palm and oil palm have been successfully introduced for commercial cultivation in the country.

STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:

• • The Committee recommended that all sub-schemes under the MIDH be implemented as centrally sponsored schemes.
  • The structure of the Integrated Mission including its interventions and sub-schemes be revisited and rationalized to avoid confusion.
  • National Policy on Horticulture be evolved for holistic promotion and development of horticulture.
  • Agricultural Produce Exporting Agencies be established in specific regions or districts under suitable missions to perational exports.
  • It recommended that a new scheme component may be introduced to perational states which improve productivity.
  • It recommended that a mission intervention be designed to promote production of flowers and medicinal plants.
  • The Committee noted the Ministry’s R&D initiative and recommended that an appropriate research institution be designated as national nodal agency responsible for providing technical assistance for examining the merits of project proposals submitted by MIDH beneficiaries.