NEWS: The Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare received a subsidy for commercial farming under a sub-scheme of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

ABOUT MIDH

• A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) launched in 2014–15.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Aims to promote holistic development of the horticulture sector through production, post-harvest infrastructure, technology adoption, and market linkages.

BENEFICIARIES & CROPS COVERED

• Beneficiaries: Individual farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), cooperative societies, agricultural entrepreneurs, and State government agencies.
• Crops Covered: Fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa, and bamboo.

FUNDING PATTERN

• 60:40 – Centre: State (General States)
• 90:10 – North Eastern & Himalayan States
• 100% Central Funding – National agencies such as NHB, CDB, and CIH

MAJOR SUB-SCHEMES

• National Horticulture Mission (NHM): Horticulture development in all States/UTs (except NE & Himalayan States).
• Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH): Focused support for 11 NE & Himalayan States.
• National Bamboo Mission (NBM): Develops the bamboo value chain and promotes rural livelihoods.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB): Supports cold storage, commercial horticulture, and nurseries.
• Coconut Development Board (CDB): Promotes coconut cultivation, processing, and value addition.
• Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland: Provides training, research, and technical support in the North East.

OTHER INITIATIVES UNDER MIDH

• CHAMAN: Uses Remote Sensing and GIS for horticulture crop assessment.
• Cluster Development Programme (CDP): Promotes export-oriented horticulture clusters.
• HORTNET: Web-based e-governance platform for online applications and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).