The Hindu : National : Norms to be revised

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Sunday, Mar 23, 2008
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Norms to be revised

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The norms of the National Horticulture Mission will be recast, particularly with regard to the costs and the pattern of assistance for some of the major components.

Giving this information after reviewing the functioning of the Mission and its Board, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said a committee constituted by the Ministry had gone into the matter, and given recommendations, which were under consideration.

At the same time, the guidelines for setting up wholesale markets had been revised and those for terminal markets would be re-worked.

New component

A new component of terminal markets, which was included under the Mission 2006-07 in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, had not taken off due to operational difficulties.

The guidelines for the terminal markets, therefore, are proposed to be revised in consultation with the Planning Commission and the Ministries concerned.

The guidelines for setting up wholesale markets had been revised to facilitate establishment of collection centres alongside wholesale markets.

Active participation

The Minister said the active participation of States in horticulture-sector schemes and the convergence of various schemes of different Ministries would result in high growth in this sector from 2008-09. An amount of Rs. 8,809 crore had been earmarked for the Mission in the XI Plan.

The Board has assisted 7035 projects for area expansion and 209 for cold storages in 2006-07.The districts covered under the mission have been expanded to 340.

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