Question : Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture

(a) the salient features of the Mission for integrated development of horticulture along with the facilities being provided under this scheme;

(b) the criteria being adopted to include a district/development block under the Mission;

(c) the number of districts/blocks included under the Mission, State-wise including Rajasthan;

(d) the details of the horticulture crops likely to be included under the said Mission along with the details of the guidelines issued regarding producer-consumer relations, State-wise;

(e) whether any infrastructural units have been set up for crop management after harvesting in various States of the country under the Mission and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to bring innovation and variation in respect of growing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other horticultural crops in non-conventional areas in view of change in climate; and

(g) if so, the details thereof along with the achievements made under the Mission, State-wise including Rajasthan?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which is implemented w.e.f. 2014-15. Main aim of MIDH is holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. MIDH subsumed ongoing Missions/schemes of the Ministry- National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Agro-forestry Bamboo Mission (NABM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB) and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland. All States/UTs are covered under MIDH.

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Under MIDH, 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.

• 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): For inclusion of district under MIDH, a cluster approach for developing potential horticultural crops for 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 and potential for developing marketing opportunities.

(c): State-wise details of the total number of districts included under MIDH (including Rajasthan) are at Annexure I.

(d): Under MIDH scheme, assistance is provided for promotion of fruit crops like Almond, Aonla, Apple, Apricot, Banana, Ber, Cherry, Citrus, Custard Apple, Fig, Grapes, Guava, Kiwi, Litchi, Mango, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Pomegranate, Sapota, Strawberry, Walnut. Assistance is also provided for promotion of hybrid vegetables and flowers under the mission. The detailed guidelines of the scheme are available on website i.e. www.midh.gov.in.

The producer consumer relationship is driven by demand and supply principle and there are no specific guidelines in this regard.

(e): Under MIDH, credit linked back ended subsidy is available for creation of post harvest infrastructures like Cold Storage, Pack Houses, ripening chamber, onion storage etc. The State wise details of these infrastructures units are at Annexure II.

(f) & (g): In order to face the challenges in the wake of climate change; Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) has taken steps to mitigate the effect of climate change on crops and has implemented a project name National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). The major objectives of NICRA are as under:

(i) To enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies.

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(ii) To demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current climate risks.

(iii) To enhance the capacity of scientists and other stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural research and its application.

The Major achievements of the NICRA are as under:

(i) Selection of promising crop genotypes and livestock breeds with greater tolerance to climatic stress.

(ii) Existing best practices for climate resilience demonstrated in 100 vulnerable districts.

(iii) Infrastructure at key research institutes for climatic change research strengthened. Adequately trained scientific man power to take up climate change research in the country and empowered farmers to cope up with climate variability.

Major achievements made under the Mission, State-wise including Rajasthan is at Annexure III.