Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture - Objectives and Features

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture - Objectives and Features

Question - Governmental schemes are only effective if they are well implemented. Discuss the objectives and features of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture/MIDH: Objectives and Features

• MIDH is a centrally sponsored scheme for the holistic development of horticulture in the nation during the XIIth Plan

• The scheme has been implemented from 2014-2015

• It integrated the following 6 schemes/ scheme implementing agencies:

- National Horticulture Mission,
- Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States,
- National Bamboo Mission,
- National Horticulture Board,
- Coconut Development Board and
- Central Institute for Horticulture, Nagaland

MIDH: Objectives

• It seeks to provide technical advise and administrative support to state governments/ SHM/ state horticultural missions for programmes such as Saffron Mission and Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters

• The mission aims to promote holistic growth of horticulture including bamboo and coconut through regionally differentiated strategies like:

- R&D promotion
- Extension
- Post harvest management
- Processing and marketing

• It also aims to encourage the aggregation of farmers into groups such as FIGs/FPOs and FPCs to facilitate economy of scale and scope

• Aim is also to enhance horticulture production, augment the income of farmers and strengthen food security

• Support job creation, especially in cold chain sector and boost productivity

MIDH: Features

• The mission adopts an end to end holistic approach which covers:

- Pre-production
- Production
- Post harvest management
- Processing and marketing

• Promote R&D in the above fields with special focus on cold chain infrastructure for extension of shelf life of perishables

• Enhance productivity via diversification from traditional crops to plantations, orchards, vineyards etc

• Extending appropriate technology for high tech horticulture including cultivation and precision farming

• Enhance acreage of orchards and plantation crops

• Improve post harvest management, processing for value addition and boosting marketing infrastructure

• Use a coordinated approach to promote partnership and synergy in R&D

• Promote FPOs and tie up with market aggregators and financial institutions

• Capacity building and HRD at all levels

The following sub-schemes are under the MIDH

• National Horticulture Mission: This is implemented by the SHM in 18 States and 4 UTs

• NHM was launched in 2005-2006 as a Centrally sponsored scheme and it has been placed under MIDH during 2014-2015

• HMNEH/Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States: This is being implemented by SHM in NE and Himalayan states

• NBM/National Bamboo Mission: This MIDH scheme is being implemented by State Bamboo Development Agencies/Forest Development Agencies in states and UTs

• It aims to increase area of bamboo under cultivation and promote regionally differentiated marketing strategy

• NHB/National Horticulture Board: It is implementing the following schemes under MIDH”

• Commercial horticultural scheme
- Cold storage scheme
- Technology development transfer scheme
- Nursery rating system
- National cold storage databases

• CDB/ Coconut Development Board: Implementing the following schemes under MIDH:

- Production and distribution of planting material
- Expansion of area under coconut
- Integrated farming for productivity improvement
- Technology demonstration
- Market promotion and statistics
- Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme
- Information and Information Technology
- Human Resource Development
- Technology Mission on Coconut
- Replanting and Rejuvenation of Coconut Gardens

• CIH/Central Institute for Horticulture: It was formed in 2006-2007 in Nagaland and it involves straightening horticulture through schemes for capacity building and training of farmers/field functionaries

Mission Interventions

• Research & development (R & D): Research in the area of seed and planting material, technology standardisation and acquisition

• Production and productivity improvement: through technologies for quality including genetic up gradation of horticultural crops and challenges of climate change and cluster approach for development

• Production and distribution of planting material: through network of hi-tech nurseries and tissue culture units

• Vegetable seed production is another area where this scheme envisages assistance

• Import of planting material and development of seed infrastructure such as drying platforms and storage bins is stressed

• Mission also works for increase in area under cultivation through number of gardens and mushroom production

• It also emphasizes rejuvenation of senile plantations through canopy management

• Creation of water sources and area under protected cultivation are also important parts of this scheme

• The mission also works for precision farming development and extension via PFDCs

• Promotion of INM/Integrated Nutrient Management and IPM/Integrated Pest Management

• Organic farming for perennial and non perennial crops

• Promotion of good agriculture practices and centre for excellence for horticulture

• HRD in horticulture sector

• Pollination support through bee-keeping and horticulture mechanisation are also stressed

• Integrated post harvest management and development of cold chain infrastructure is another focus on the scheme

• Creation of marketing infrastructure as well as processing and value addition through product promotion and market intelligence services

Facts and Stats

• India is currently the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, according to NHM.