(a) whether the Government has implemented a number of schemes to promote horticulture across the country including Uttar Pradesh and Tripura and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the funds provided to North Eastern States for development of horticulture during the last three years and the current financial year; and
(c) the steps taken to promote horticulture products, its exports and improve infrastructure in North Eastern States?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a): Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a centrally sponsored scheme is being implemented for the holistic development of horticulture in the country covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, coconut, cashew and cocoa through various interventions. All States/UTs (including Uttar Pradesh & Tripura) are covered under MIDH.
Under MIDH, for promotion of horticulture throughout the country, financial & technical assistance is provided to States/UTs 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.
Contd….2/-
-2-
• 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.
(b): Details of the funds allocated and released (GoI Share) to North Eastern States under MIDH for development of horticulture during the last three years and the current financial year is as under:
Rs. in Crore
Year 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Allocation 264.30 320.00 320.00 240.00
Release 180.60 208.50 216.28 130.60*
* as on 28.01.2021
(c): Under MIDH, assistance is also extended for setting up of infrastructure and logistic support viz. pre-cooling units, on farm pack houses, mobile pre-cooling units, staging cold rooms, refrigerated vans etc. throughout the country (including North Eastern States). Government is also promoting technologies for cultivation of horticulture crops through various demonstrations and trainings under Centre of Excellence throughout the country (including North Eastern States).
Under MIDH, higher rate of assistance is provided to North Eastern and Hilly States i.e. up to 50% of the cost as compared to 35% of the cost in other States.
Apart from the above, under APEDA, Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme, financial assistance is also provided for the establishment of post harvest infrastructure for fresh horticulture produce, purchase of insulated, reefer transport/mobile pre-cooling units with financial assistance upto 40% of the total cost subject to the ceiling of Rs. 100 Lakhs for each of the activities.
*******