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Friday, May 20, 2005

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National Horticulture Mission approved

Gargi Parsai

The scheme is meant to encourage diversification to horticulture products and up-gradation of technology for post-harvest management, processing and marketing through private-public partnership.

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved the launch of the National Horticulture Mission under the Ministry of Agriculture with an outlay of Rs. 2,300 crores for the remaining period of the Tenth Plan. It would be a centrally sponsored scheme with different rates of subsidies up to 75 per cent to different categories.

The CCEA, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also gave `in-principle' approval for continuing the mission through the Eleventh Plan. The Mission, for which the Ministry had sought over Rs. 15,000 crores after launch, is meant to encourage diversification to horticulture products and up-gradation of technology for post-harvest management, processing and marketing through private-public partnership.

Announcing the approval after the meeting here, Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram said the Centre would bear all fund requirements of the mission. After a review, the mode of fund raising for it in the Eleventh Plan would be decided. A view would be taken subsequently to ask State Governments to contribute 15 per cent of the funds required for the mission in Eleventh Plan.

The CCEA also gave clearance to the Ministry's proposal for appointment of a Mission Director of the level of a Joint Secretary ``from within the government or outside'' and for creation of seven additional posts, involving an annual recurring expenditure of Rs. 17 lakhs. It also approved constitution of three-tier structures at national, State and district levels to promote the holistic growth of horticulture in the country.

At the national-level the General Council, headed by the Agriculture Minister and with members from the CII, the FICCI, growers and processors, would make policy . The Executive Committee would be chaired by the Agriculture Secretary. It would be responsible for overseeing activities of the mission and approving State Action Plans. Mr. Chidambaram said in the Tenth Plan, 5.45 lakh hectares of additional land would be brought under horticultural crops and one lakh hectares of land already under these crops would be rejuvenated. By the end of Eleventh Plan, 33 lakh hectares of additional land would be brought under horticultural crops and 16 lakh hectares rejuvenated.

The mission proposes to plug the wastage of horticulture produce of the order of eight to 37 per cent, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, coconut, cocoa and medicinal plants. Only 0.8 per cent of the horticulture produce is processed for lack of inadequate storage, processing and marketing.

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