Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) :

What is the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented w.e.f. 2014-15 for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa. MIDH subsumed ongoing missions/schemes of the Ministry- National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB) and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland. All States including North Eastern States and UTs are covered under MIDH. Main objectives of Mission are 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, encourage aggregation of farmers into farmers groups like FIGs/FPOs and FPCs to bring economy of scale and scope, enhance horticulture production, augment farmer’s income, strengthen nutritional security, improve productivity by way of quality germ-plasm, planting material and water use efficiency through Micro Irrigation, support skill development and create employment generation opportunities for rural youth in horticulture and post harvest management, especially in the cold chain sector. Capacity buildings of farmers and technicians is also supported for adopting improved technologies through existing institutions like State Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Institutes with Department of Horticulture in States.

What are the schemes of MIDH?

Mission has the following sub-schemes as its component: • National Horticulture Mission (NHM) • Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) • National Horticulture Board (NHB) • Coconut Development Board (CDB) • Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland.

What is the Strategy of the Mission?

To achieve the objectives of the Mission, the broad strategy comprise the following: a. Adopt an end-to-end holistic approach covering production, post harvest management, processing and marketing to assure appropriate returns to growers/producers; b. Promote R&D technologies for production, post-harvest management and processing; c. Enhance acreage, coverage, and productivity through:- i. Diversification, from traditional crops to plantations, orchards, vineyards, flower and vegetable gardens. ii. Extension of appropriate technology to farmers for high-tech horticulture cultivation and precision farming. d. Improve post harvest management, processing for value addition and marketing infrastructure. e. 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; f. Promote capacity-building and Human Resource Development at all levels, including, if need be, change in syllabus and curriculum of graduation courses at Colleges and Universities.

What is the Structure of the Mission?

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.

What is the mechanism for implementation of MIDH scheme?

MIDH is Centrally Sponsored Scheme wherein the implementing agencies are State Horticulture Mission (SHM). In the total outlay of SHM, centre contributes 60% for general States and 90% for NE and Himalayan States whereas general States contribute 40 % and NE and Himalayan States contribute 10%. Government of India contributes 100% for UTs and National Level Agencies (NLAs). Executive Committee of MIDH decides the annual outlay to various implementing agencies (SHMs and NLAs). Accordingly, implementing agencies submit a Annual Action Plan (AAP) for the approval supported with data/write up on outcome of past interventions and also covering the details of various interventions proposed to be taken up during the current financial year. While finalizing the AAPs, due attention is paid for earmarking specific targets for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women beneficiaries. As an inbuilt provision under MIDH scheme, higher rates of subsidy have been envisaged for taking up activities like creation of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing of horticulture produce along with area expansion by beneficiaries in the North Eastern States, Himalayan States, Tribal Sub Plan areas, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

What is the Monitoring Mechanism of the Scheme?

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. The Joint Inspection Teams (JITs), comprising officers from DAC & FW , State Agricultural Universities and Precision Farming Development Centers undertake regular visits to States for on –the-spot monitoring of the Mission.

What are the Major Interventions of MIDH?

Under MIDH, financial assistance is provided for following major interventions/activities: • Setting up of nurseries, tissue culture units for production of quality seed and planting material. • Area expansion i.e. Establishment of new orchards and gardens for fruits, vegetables, and flowers. • Rejuvenation of unproductive, old, and senile orchards. • Protected cultivation, i.e. poly-house, green-house, etc, to improve the productivity & grow off season high value vegetables and flowers. • Organic farming and certification. • Creation of water resources structures and watershed management. • Bee-keeping for pollination. • Horticulture Mechanization. • Creation of Post Harvest Management and Marketing infrastructure.

How many districts are covered under the MIDH, across the country?

A total of 384 districts from 23 States & UTs have been identified for implementation of NHM. All 117 districts of North East and Himalayan States (11) are covered under HMNEH (Thus. 501 districts are covered under NHM & HMNEH).

S.No. Name of States/UTs No. of Districts
1. Andaman & Nicobar Two (2)
2. Andhra Pradesh Eleven (11)
3. Bihar Twenty Three (23)
4. Chhattisgarh Nineteen (19)
5. Dadra & Nagar Haveli One (1)
6. Delhi One (1)
7. Goa Two (2)
8. Gujarat Fifteen (15)
9. Haryana Eighteen (18)
10. Jharkhand Seventeen (17)
11. Karnataka Thirty (30)
12. Kerala Fourteen (14)
13. Lakshadweep One (1)
14. Maharashtra Thirty Three (33)
15. Madhya Pradesh Thirty Nine (39)
16. Odisha Twenty Four (24)
17. Punjab Eighteen (18)
18. Puducherry Four (4)
19. Rajasthan Twenty Four (24)
20. Tamil Nadu Twenty (20)
21. Telengana Nine (9)
22. Uttar Pradesh Forty Five (45)
23. West Bengal Fourteen (14)
Total 384
Note: Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) : All the districts of North-Eastern and three Himalayan States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir are covered under HMNEH scheme.

Is there any provision for assistance to the Districts not covered under NHM?

On this issue consistent view of the department is that while finalizing/identifying districts for inclusion under NHM, a cluster approaches for developing potential horticultural crops while ensuring backward and forwarded linkages was adopted. The selection of the District was decided on the comparative advantage of crops based on agro climatic conditions, potential for developing marketing opportunities were taken into consideration. No new districts are being added as this may result in thinning out of already limited resources.

However, there is a provision under NHM scheme for setting up of infrastructure units relating to post harvest management, marketing and other project based activities in non NHM districts, provided there is a clear linkage of the units with the horticulture produce. Apart from this, activities for development of horticulture in non-NHM districts can be carried out under other Government schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) etc.

What are the other steps being taken under MIDH for promotion of horticulture in the country?

Apart from providing assistance to the States for holistic development of horticulture, there are National Level Agencies (NLAs) like DCCD, DASD, NHRDF, NBB, Spices Board etc. for which 100% grant is provided under MIDH for carrying out various interventions like Research & Development, capacity building, Skill development leading to overall development of horticulture in the country.

What is the pattern of Assistance under MIDH for organizing Seminars, Workshops and other HRD activities?

Provision exists under MIDH for organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, Kisan Melas, horticulture shows etc for creating awareness among farmers. Assistance is provided for organizing event at international level @100% of the cost to the maximum of Rs. 7.50 lakh per event of 4 days. At national level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 5.00 lakh per event of two days, at State level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 3.00 lakh per event of two days and at district level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 2.00 lakh per event of two days.

What is the pattern of Assistance under MIDH for promotion of FPOs?

Promotion and strengthening of Farmer Interest Groups (FIG), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and Growers Associations have been included as a component under MIDH. Assistance is provided to such groups, as per the norms specified by SFAC, for taking up of innovative projects in the area of horticulture development, post harvest management, processing and marketing.

What is the pattern of Assistance under MIDH for promoting Women Farmers in Horticulture?

All categories of farmers, including women beneficiaries, are covered under MIDH. As per directives of Planning Commission, implementing agencies viz. State Horticulture Missions have been directed to ensure that at least 30% of annual budget allocation is earmarked for women beneficiaries/ farmers. Activities such as floriculture including protected cultivation of flowers, mushroom production and beekeeping are some of the activities which are attractive to women farmers. Besides, under training and capacity building on horticulture, women beneficiaries are also covered. However, since the scheme is mainly area oriented for development of horticulture, gender wise and beneficiary wise information is not being maintained in the horticulture division.

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

The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had launched a project called Coordinated Programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics (CHAMAN) under Mission 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. Duration of project was 2014- 2017 which was later extended to 2018. However, the CHAMAN Phase II has been launched on 20.09.2018.

What is 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 Horticulture Area Production Information System (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. It was launched in 2015.

What is HORTNET?

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. Web enabled work flow based system for providing financial assistance under MIDH.

What is the fund flow mechanism in MIDH scheme?

Under MIDH scheme, while ongoing schemes of NHM, HMNEH, NHB, CDB and CIH will have distinct identity as sub-schemes of MIDH, fund flow for NHM and HMNEH beneficiaries will be routed through the State Horticulture Missions. However, release of funds from DAC to the SHMs will be routed through the State Government. In other words, in the case of NHM scheme, which involves 40% contribution by the State Government, GOI share of 60% will be released to the State Government. Thereafter, State Govt. will release 100% funds to the SHMs along with State share. In the case of HMNEH schemes, 90% funds will be released to the State Governments, who turn will make available funds to the SHMs / Implementing Agencies. In the case of NHB, CDB, CIH and NLAs, funds will be released directly to the respective Agencies.

What is the effective date of implementation of MIDH scheme?

The scheme becomes operational from 1st April, 2014. New cost norms and pattern of assistance are applicable from 01.04.2014. However, assistance for spill over works of previous year and maintenance of area expansion activities taken up during 2012-13 and 2013-14 will be in accordance with pre-revised norms.

Can a beneficiary avail assistance for similar activity from two sub schemes of MIDH, like for cold storage?

No. As a general principle subsidy assistance for similar activity cannot be availed from two different schemes. Moreover, there is distinct demarcation of crops and cut off level for availing assistance under different sub schemes of MIDH. In the case of cold storages, assistance will be available under NHM, HMNEH schemes for storage capacity upto 5000 MT and for cold storages above 5000 MT NHB would provide the assistance.

Can a beneficiary avail assistance for different crops, say mango, bamboo and coconut through different sub schemes?

Yes. However, application will have to be submitted to the concerned nodal agencies.

Can a nursery be set up in less than one hectare?

No. NHM scheme envisages a minimum area of one hectare for setting up a viable nursery to produce quality planting material.

What is credit linked back ended subsidy and how is it administered?

Assistance for a number of components under sub scheme of MIDH, particularly for the private sector, involving infrastructure development such on nurseries, establishment of lab & clincs, post harvest management and marketing is in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy. It implies that the beneficiary has to avail term loan from the Nationalized Banks / Financial Institution (FI) such as NABARD, IDBI, SIDBI, ICICI, State Financial Corporations, State Industrial Development Corporations, NBFCs, NEDFI, National SCST/minorities/ Backward- Classes Financial and Development Corporation, other designated loaning institutions of the State / UTs, Commercial/ Cooperative Banks, etc. Concerned banks/ State FIs may adhere to their own appraisal norms while sanctioning projects under the scheme. The appraisal note provided by FIs for sanction/ Claim of subsidy should invariably be the same which formed the basis for sanction of term loan. The project should be implemented within a period of two years from the date of sanction of loan. The payment of back-ended subsidy will be made after the project has been successfully completed according to the terms and conditions of the loan/or as per the approved feasibility cum project report, as the case may be. Upon completion of the project, the concerned Bank/FI/would inform SHM that the project had been completed (in accordance with) the guidelines of NHM and shall make a request to SHM for joint inspection of project the point inspection will be conducted in the presence of promoter. The payment of back ended subsidy will be made to the beneficiary after project has been successfully completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the loan or as per the approved feasibility-cum-project report, as the case may be. Bank /FI/NCDC, as the case may be, would submit to SHM the Utilization Certificate of the subsidy released by SHM The subsidy assistance released by SHM to Bank/FI on behalf of the individual units which are sanctioned, will be kept in the separate account. The adjustment of subsidy will be on the pattern of back-ended subsidy wherein the full project cost including the subsidy amount but excluding the margin money contribution from beneficiary would be disbursed as loan by the banks. The repayment schedule will be drawn on the loan amount in such a way that the subsidy amount is adjusted after the bank loan portion (excluding subsidy) is liquidated. The subsidy admissible to the borrower under the scheme will be kept in the Subsidy Reserve Fund A/c, borrower-wise in the books of the financing Banks. No interest will be applied on subsidy portion by the Bank. The balance lying to the credit of the Subsidy Reserve Fund A/c will not form part of Demand and Time Liabilities for the purpose of SLR/CRR. Suitable instructions issued in this regard by the RBI from time to time would be followed.

Is there any relationship between term loan and subsidy assistance under MIDH?

Assistance under MIDH for credit linked back-ended components will be limited to the loan amount sanctioned by the Bank.

Is assistance available under MIDH for setting up food processing units?

Under MIDH Scheme, assistance is available for setting up primary / mobile processing unit costing upto Rs. 25.00 lakh/unit. For bigger units, assistance will be available only in the Himalyan States of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttrakhand.

Centre of Excellence (CoE)

Centre of Excellence (CoE) is an approved component under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to be established for different horticulture crops which will serve as demonstration and training centre as well as source of quality planting material and vegetable seedlings for farmers. Maximum eligible cost for setting up of CoE is Rs. 1000.00 lakh per centre with 100% assistance to be established only in public sector. The CoE can be established through bilateral Cooperation also.

What is the role of MIDH in the improvement of production and productivity?

Focus of Mission is primarily on increasing both production and productivity through adoption of improved and appropriate technologies for ensuring quality, including genetic upgradation of all horticultural crops and addressing challenges of climate change. Special emphasis is also given for adoption of area based cluster approach towards developing regionally differentiated crops, which are agro-climatically most suitable for the State/region. Cluster approach is also helpful in aggregation of farmers into FPOs/FPCs. Attention is given to the availability of good quality planting material and establishment and upgradation of nurseries and TC Units. It is supplemented through plantation development programmes through addition of new areas under improved varieties to meet market demand. Planting material of seed origin for fruit crops which can be vegetatively propagated is not qualified for subsidy assistance.

What is the role of MIDH in production and distribution of planting material?

Production and distribution of good quality seeds and planting material is on top priority. States have a network of nurseries for producing planting material, which were established through Central or State assistance. To meet the requirement of planting material (for bringing additional area under improved varieties of horticultural crops and for rejuvenation programme for old/senile plantations), assistance is provided for setting up new hi-tech & small nurseries under the Public as well as Private sector, establishment of new Tissue Culture (TC) units, strengthening of existing TC units, vegetable seed production, import of planting material and establishment of seed infrastructure.