Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture- NHM and HMNEH

Description
MIDH covers horticulture items such as, fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. It is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme covering all states and UTs. MIDH also provides technical advice and administrative support to State Governments/ State Horticulture Missions SHMs for the other horticulture related activities. Area of Operation & Funding pattern: S. No.Sub-schemeArea of OperationFunding pattern1National Horticulture Mission NHM All states and Union territories except NE and Himalayan states/UTs60:402Horticulture Mission for North-East & Himalayan States HMNEH NE and Himalayan states/UTs90:10 National Horticulture Mission NHM was launched in the year 2005-06 and aims at the holistic development of the horticulture sector by ensuring forward and backward linkage through a cluster approach with the active participation of all stakeholders. Major interventions under NHM include, supply of quality planting material through establishment of nurseries and tissue culture units, production and productivity improvement programmes through area expansion and rejuvenation, technology promotion, technology dissemination, human resource development, creation of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing in consonance with the comparative advantages of each State/region and their diverse agro-climatic conditions. Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States HMNEH aims to achieve overall development of Horticulture in NE and Himalayan states. The mission covers all NE States including Sikkim and three Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Executive Committee of MIDH decides the annual outlay to various implementing agencies SHMs and NLAs . Accordingly, implementing agencies submit an Annual Action Plan AAP for the approval supported with data/write up on outcome of past interventions and also covering the details of various interventions proposed to be taken up during the current financial year. While finalizing the AAPs, due attention is paid for earmarking specific targets for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women beneficiaries. As an inbuilt provision under MIDH scheme, higher rates of subsidy have been envisaged for taking up activities like creation of infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing of horticulture produce along with area expansion by beneficiaries in the North Eastern States, Himalayan States, Tribal Sub Plan areas, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. The key objectives of the Mission are as follows: • Promote holistic growth of horticulture sector, including bamboo and coconut through area based regionally differentiated strategies, which includes research, technology promotion, extension, post-harvest management, processing and marketing, in consonance with comparative advantage of each State/region and its diverse agro-climatic features • Encourage aggregation of farmers into farmer groups like FIGs/FPOs and FPCs to bring economy of scale and scope. • Enhance horticulture production, augment farmers, income and strengthen nutritional security; • Improve productivity by way of quality germplasm, planting material and water use efficiency through Micro Irrigation. • Support skill development and create employment generation opportunities for rural youth in horticulture and post-harvest management, especially in the cold chain sector. Under MIDH, financial assistance is provided 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. • Beekeeping for pollination. • Horticulture Mechanization. • Creation of Post-Harvest Management and Marketing infrastructure.

Benefits
• The scheme targets to provide following benefits:
• 1) Increase in productivity of crops through diversification, from traditional crops to plantations, orchards, vineyards, flowers, vegetable gardens and bamboo plantations; and extension of appropriate technology to farmers.
• 2) Promotion of R&D technologies for cultivation, production, post-harvest management and processing with special focus on cold chain infrastructure for extending the shelf life of perishables
• 3) Improvement in post harvest management, processing for value addition and marketing infrastructure.

Eligibility Criteria
1. All farmers / registered societies / state governments are eligible for the scheme

Application Process
Step 1: Step 01: Interested beneficiary can get in touch with District Horticulture Officer / Block Horticulture Officer to apply for the scheme.
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Step 01: Interested beneficiary can get in touch with District Horticulture Officer / Block Horticulture Officer to apply for the scheme.

Step 2: Step 02: District Horticulture Officer / Block Horticulture Officer will submit applicant’s details and project plan to State Horticulture Mission.
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Step 02: District Horticulture Officer / Block Horticulture Officer will submit applicant’s details and project plan to State Horticulture Mission.

Step 3: Step 03: State Horticulture Mission will finalise the entrepreneur’s proposals received from the District Horticulture Mission
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Step 03: State Horticulture Mission will finalise the entrepreneur’s proposals received from the District Horticulture Mission

Step 4: Step 04: Applicant’s proposal will be appraised based on MIDH’s guidelines
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Step 04: Applicant’s proposal will be appraised based on MIDH’s guidelines

Step 5: Step 05: If approved, financial assistance will be released to beneficiary
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Step 05: If approved, financial assistance will be released to beneficiary

Required Documents
• 1) Aadhaar number
• 2) Land documents
• 3) Caste certificate
• 4) Bank details
• 5) Photographs
• The specific documents for availing the benefits of the program may vary depending on the type of intervention and the state. It is recommended to consult with the relevant authorities for detailed information on documents to be submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a beneficiary avail assistance for similar activity from two sub schemes of MIDH, like for cold storage?
A: No. As a general principle subsidy assistance for similar activity cannot be availed from two different schemes. Moreover, there is distinct demarcation of crops and cut off level for availing assistance under different sub schemes of MIDH. In the case of cold storages, assistance will be available under NHM, HMNEH schemes for storage capacity upto 5000 MT and for cold storages above 5000 MT NHB would provide the assistance.

Q: What is the pattern of Assistance under MIDH for organizing Seminars, Workshops and other HRD activities?
A: Provision exists under MIDH for organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, Kisan Melas, horticulture shows etc for creating awareness among farmers. Assistance is provided for organizing event at international level @100% of the cost to the maximum of Rs. 7.50 lakh per event of 4 days. At national level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 5.00 lakh per event of two days, at State level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 3.00 lakh per event of two days and at district level, assistance is provided @ 100% of cost to the maximum of Rs 2.00 lakh per event of two days.

Q: Can a beneficiary avail assistance for different crops, say mango, bamboo and coconut through different sub schemes?
A: Yes, however, application will have to be submitted to the concerned nodal agencies.

Q: What is the pattern of Assistance under MIDH for promoting Women Farmers in Horticulture?
A: All categories of farmers, including women beneficiaries, are covered under MIDH. As per directives of Planning Commission, implementing agencies viz. State Horticulture Missions have been directed to ensure that at least 30% of annual budget allocation is earmarked for women beneficiaries/ farmers. Activities such as floriculture including protected cultivation of flowers, mushroom production and beekeeping are some of the activities which are attractive to women farmers. Besides, under training and capacity building on horticulture, women beneficiaries are also covered.

Q: Can a nursery be set up in less than one hectare?
A: No. NHM scheme envisages a minimum area of one hectare for setting up a viable nursery to produce quality planting material.

Q: Can a beneficiary with more than 4ha land apply for NHM?
A: No, for NHM and HMNEH, beneficiary must have less than 4 ha land.

Q: Can I apply for the scheme online?
A: In some states, beneficiary can apply online. Please check respective state website for application link and process

Q: What documents are required for application?
A: Aadhaar number, land documents, caste certificate, bank account details, and photographs may be required for the application. The specific documents for availing the benefits of the program may vary depending on the type of intervention and the state. It is recommended to consult with the relevant authorities for detailed information on documents to be submitted.