National Horticulture Mission (N H M)
Recognizing the importance of horticulture sector in the growth of Indian agriculture, Honourable Finance Minister announced launching of National Horticulture Mission in his budget speech on July 8, 2004. The horticulture sector includes fruit, vegetables, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, flowers, mushroom and a variety of plantation crops like coconut, areca nut, cashew nut and cocoa which has been contributing significantly to the GDP in agriculture (28.5 per cent form 8.5 per cent area). National Horticulture Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme in which Government of India provide 100% assistance to the state mission during the year 2005-06 (During XI plan, the assistance form Government of India will be 85% with 15% contribution by the State Government.
Objectives:
To develop horticulture to the maximum potential available in the State and to augment production of all horticultural production of all horticultural products (Fruits, Vegetable, flowers, Plantation crops, Spices, Medicinal Aromatic plants) in the state.
1. To provide holistic growth of the horticulture sector through an area based regionally differentiated strategies
2. To enhance horticulture production, improve nutritional security and income support to farm households;
3. To establish convergence and synergy among multiple on-going and planned programmes for horticulture development;
4. To promote, develop and disseminate technologies, through a seamless blend of traditional wisdom and modern scientific knowledge.
5. To create opportunities for employment generation for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youth;
In pursuance of the above goals, the National Horticulture Mission will focus in the areas of horticultural research, development, post harvest management,, processing and marketing.
The programmes under horticulture research will concentrate on technology generation appropriate to each region/state keep in in view their specific agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions. Emphasis will be given for effective transfer of technologies in production, which are already available in India and abroad. The Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with State Agriculture Universities (SAU’s) and other research institutes /organizations in the public and private sector having capabilities will be involved in the research programme.
The programme under the horticultural development aims at increasing the production and productivity of all horticultural crops through adoption of improved technologies in crop production. Under this programme, special emphasis will be given for regionally differentiated crops, which are most suitable for the state /region. This programme will be implemented by the Horticultural Departments of the State Government, which may also include cooperative organizations, self-help group, NGOs and economically organizations for achieving the targeted production and productivity of identified crops. Risk management in the form of crop insurance is also proposed
Post harvest management would include creating suitable infrastructure for efficient post harvest management and marketing of horticulture produce such as handling, transfer, storage and markets etc. besides taking up market promotional activities such as dissemination of market information to the farmers, processors, traders, and consumers. Special trust would be provided to promote the export of horticultural produce through establishment of AEZs, for which there is potential global market. National Horticulture Board, Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, National Cooperative Development Corporation, NERAMAC, TRIFED and Agriculture and Processed Food Products export Development authority will be involved for the purpose. It is proposed to make use of the existing schemes of the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DME) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to maximum possible extent.
The Mission will also focus on promoting processing of horticultural produce and value addition buy providing incentives for setting up of horticulture processing industries and food parks in potential areas and to encourage linkages between the markets for the horticulture produce and processing industry. This activity will be supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MFPI) and implemented through agencies under the administrative control of MFPI and other organizations and the concerned departments of the State Governments. These programmes would be credit-linked through NABARD/IDBI/State Financial Corporations.