(a) whether the Government has any scheme/schemes to give financial assistance to the State Governments for the
development of horticulture;
(b) if so,the names of the schemes available with respect to various plantation/crops;
(c) the essential features of each of the schemes;and
(d) the details of the financial assistance given to the Government of Kerala and Meghalaya for the purpose during the
last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE(SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a): Yes,Sir.
(b)&(c): The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is implementing two Centrally Sponsored Scheme on
(i)
Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North-Eastern States (TMNE) including Sikkim since 2001-02
which was extended to Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the year 2003-04 and
(ii) the National
Horticulture Mission (NHM) in the remaining States and Union Territories from 2005-06, for the holistic development of
horticulture.
The objective of both the schemes are to promote the holistic growth of the horticulture sector through area based
regionally differentiated strategies; to enhance horticulture production, improve nutritional security and income support
to farm households and others; to establish convergence and synergy among multiple on going and planned programmes for
horticulture development; to promote, develop and disseminate technologies; to generate employment for skilled and unskilled
persons, especially unemployed youth.
The thrust of both the Missions is on area based regionally differentiated cluster approach for development of
horticultural crops, having comparative advantage by adopting an end-to-end approach.
Under these schemes,assistance is provided for production and distribution of quality planting material of elite cultivars,
area expansion,adoption of new technologies, integrated pest and disease management, human resource development post
harvest management,value addition and marketing.
(d): During the last three years (2005-06 to 2007-08) an assistance of Rs. 17641.24 lakhs was provided to State Horticulture
Mission,Kerala under NHM Scheme and an assistance of Rs.5428.00 lakhs was provided to Government of Meghalaya under TMNE
Scheme.