Govt set to expand horticulture mission with hydroponics, aquaponics and more to boost modern farming techniques

The cost norms and guidelines were last fixed in April 2014. Since then, the Centre has not revised MIDH guidelines. The Centre supports pre-production, production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing activities under the MIDH.

The move to revise guidelines comes after several states raised the issue of old rates under the MIDH. For instance, during a recently held conference, Odisha Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said, “We are still giving 10-year-old rates.”

On earlier occasions, too, state government officials have raised the issue of non-revision of the MIDH guidelines and cost norms, said a source.

According to sources, the Agriculture Ministry has already taken in-principal approval for the revision of guidelines and cost norms when the Union Cabinet approved the rationalisation of all CSS operating under the ministry into two-umbrella schemes – Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY). Now, these will be notified within a month, said the sources.

The horticulture sector in India has seen a big jump in production in recent years. India’s total horticulture production increased to 334.60 million metric tonnes in 2020-21 from 240.53 million metric tonnes in 2010-11. In fact, the horticulture production is higher than the production of food grains in the country. India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. The annual allocation of the MIDH is Rs 2,000 crore for the current financial year (2024-25).