Question : HORTICULTURE CROPS

(a) the area under horticulture crops and its productivity during each of the last three years State/UT-wise and crop-wise;

(b) the details of the targets fixed and achieved under National Horticulture Mission during each of the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has reviewed the working of National Horticulture Mission in the country and if so, the outcome thereof;

(d) whether several proposals/requests have been received from various States including Chhatisgarh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu to include more districts under the Mission and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen the marketing facilities for horticultural produce and augmenting employment generation in the sector?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a): The details of area under horticulture crops and its productivity during 2011-12 to 2013-14, State/UT wise and crop-wise is given at Annexure-I and II.

(b): Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented during XII Plan 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 and bamboo. Mission subsumes National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB) and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland. All States and UTs are covered under MIDH. State/UT wise details of targets fixed and achieved under National Horticulture Mission during each of the last three years are at Annexure-III to V.

(c): The evaluation study of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) programme was conducted by Andhra Pradesh Productivity Council (APPC) during 2012-13. Findings of the report indicate positive impact on production enhancement, rational and judicious fund utilization, good collaboration with State Horticulture Missions and increase in farmer’s income by 50%.

(d): Some States, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, have requested for inclusion of more districts under NHM. The National Horticulture Mission (NHM) envisages a cluster approach for development of horticultural crops, in accordance with their comparative advantage based on agro climatic conditions, potential for development and marketing opportunities. Inclusion of more districts under this programme would lead to diffusion of scarce resources. States have been advised to utilize funds from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for horticulture development in Non-NHM districts.

(e): Under MIDH assistance is being provided for development of Market Infrastructure. The component of Market Infrastructure includes rural primary markets, wholesale markets and terminal market complexes. For rural primary markets credit linked back ended subsidy @ 40% in general areas and @ 55% in hilly and tribal areas of the maximum project cost of Rs. 25.00 lakh is available. For wholesale markets credit linked back ended subsidy for @ 25% in general areas and @ 33.33% in hilly and tribal areas of the maximum project cost of Rs. 100.00 crore/project is available. For terminal market complex, under PPP mode, assistance @ 25% to 40% (limited to Rs. 50.00 crore) of project cost of Rs. 150.00 crore per project, which includes 25% as floor subsidy plus 15% as subsidy on bidding is available.