MINISTER AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a): The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing two Centrally
Sponsored Schemes, viz (i) Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States
(HMNEH) and (ii) National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in remaining States and Union
Territories for the holistic development of horticulture sector in the country by adopting
an area based regionally differentiated cluster approach by ensuring an end- to -end
approach covering production, post harvest management and marketing. Besides, the
National Horticulture Board is also implementing the Scheme of `Development of
Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post Harvest Management`.
(b): Under NHM, eighteen States including Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra and
three Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry
are covered.
(c) & (d): Most of the States have been requesting to cover some more districts
under National Horticulture Mission (NHM). However, NHM envisages a cluster
approach for developing potential horticulture crops duly ensuring backward and
forward linkages. While selecting the districts and clusters, comparative advantage of
crops based on agro-climate conditions, potential for development and marketing
opportunities are taken into consideration. Accordingly, 372 districts have been
covered under NHM.
The General Council of NHM had decided that in order to avoid thin distribution
of resources, efforts should be made to consolidate the implementation of the NHM
programme rather than expand it. Non-NHM districts are eligible for assistance for
creation of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing. These districts
can avail assistance for horticulture development from schemes like Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojana and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
(e): State-wise details of financial assistance provided under NHM from 2005-06 to
2011-12 (16th March, 2012) are given at Annexure.
(f) and (g): Yes, Madam. Desired success has been achieved in implementing the
NHM in the country. Under NHM, from 2005-06 to 20011-12 (up to February, 2012),
2289 new nurseries were setup, additional area of about 21.15 lakh hectare was
brought under new gardens of various horticulture crops and 3.86 lakh hectare of old
and senile orchards was rejuvenated. An area of 1.39 lakh hectare was covered under
organic farming. An area of 20134 hectare was covered under protected cultivation
(green house/shade net house cultivation, mulching etc) Integrated Nutrient
Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was adopted in an area of
9.46 lakh hectare apart from setting up of 386 INM/IPM infrastructure like disease
forecasting units, bio control labs, plant health clinics and leaf/tissue analysis labs.
Total 23889 community tanks were created for providing critical irrigation to horticulture
crops. Under post harvest management component, 7675 units have been set up viz
pack houses, cold storage/ CA /MA storage units, pre-cooling units, ripening chambers,
refrigerated vans, mobile/primary processing units. To ensure proper handling and
marketing of horticulture produce, 387 market infrastructure viz whole sale markets
rural markets and infrastructure for collection, sorting grading and packing have been
created.
Under HMNEH, from 2001-02 to 20011-12 (up to February, 2012), 1243 new
nurseries and 27 tissue culture units were setup, additional area of about 6.80 lakh
hectare was brought under new gardens of various horticulture crops and 0.645 lakh
hectare of old and senile orchards was rejuvenated. Total 1135 community tanks were
created for providing critical irrigation to horticulture crops. An area of 1030 hectare was
covered under protected cultivation (green house/shade net house cultivation). Total
40 disease forecasting units and 53 mushroom units were also set up. Under post
harvest management component, 35 cold storage units and 88 processing units were
set up. To ensure proper handling and marketing of horticulture produce, 48 whole
sale markets, 306 rural markets/apni mandies and 18 state grading laboratories were
set up.
