The National Horticulture Mission (NHM) has emerged as a pivotal initiative in India’s agricultural landscape, aiming to catalyze the growth of horticulture by enhancing production, productivity, and income for farmers. Launched to promote holistic development in the horticulture sector, the NHM has played a significant role in transforming traditional farming practices. By providing crucial support in the form of technological interventions, infrastructural development, and market linkages, the mission seeks to empower horticulturists across the country. Through the adoption of modern cultivation techniques, efficient water management, and the dissemination of knowledge, the NHM has endeavored to elevate overall agricultural productivity.
One of the key metrics for evaluating the success of the NHM lies in its impact on the income of farmers engaged in horticulture. Over the years, the mission has made strides in increasing the economic well-being of farmers by facilitating access to markets and ensuring fair returns for their produce. By promoting diversification, crop intensification, and value addition, the NHM aims to create a sustainable income model for horticulturists. However, assessing the extent of success requires a nuanced analysis, considering the diverse agro-climatic conditions and regional variations across the country.
Despite the commendable efforts of the NHM, challenges persist, such as inadequate infrastructure in some regions, lack of awareness among farmers, and market fluctuations. It is imperative to delve into the specific outcomes and shortcomings of the mission in different states to provide a comprehensive evaluation. In conclusion, while the National Horticulture Mission has undeniably played a pivotal role in fostering growth in the horticulture sector, a thorough examination of its success in augmenting farmers’ income necessitates a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges and achievements at the grassroots level.
Tag: Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, write a scenario of horticultural crops in India.
- In Body:
- Discuss the role played by the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting production, productivity, and income of horticultural farms.
- Also, analyse its success in increasing farmer income with use of relevant examples.
- Conclude with significance of NHM and suggestions.
Answer:
Horticulture is cultivation, production and sale of high-value crops like vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, ornamental or exotic plants. L.H. Bailey is regarded as the Father of American Horticulture, while M.H. Marigowda is regarded as the Father of Indian Horticulture.
Horticulture in India: The diverse Agro-climatic conditions and rich diversity in crops and genetic resources enable India to produce a wide range of horticultural crops round the year.
- Horticulture production in India has more than doubled approximately from 146 million tonnes in 2001-02 to 314 million tonnes in 2018-19 surpassing the food grain production 285 million tonnes in 2018-19.
- The area under horticulture crops increased to 25.5 million hectares in 2018-19, which is 20% of the total area under food grain. 
National Horticulture Mission (NHM): National Horticulture Mission (NHM) is an Indian Government scheme promoted with the objective to develop horticulture to the maximum potential available in the states and to augment production of all horticultural products. This scheme was launched under the 10th five year plan in 2005-06. Under this scheme, the central government contributes 85%, and 15% is contributed by the state government.
The role of NHM in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticultural farms can be assessed as:
- Technology adoption: The mission will focus on production and productivity through the adoption of improved technologies for ensuring the quality of all horticultural crops.
- Necessary infrastructure: Efforts will be made to generate the necessary infrastructure in the form of nurseries and improving the existing tissue culture units.
- Production and distribution: Production and distribution of planting material nurseries for producing planting material will be established through state or central assistance. The assistance would be provided for setting up of new nurseries under the Public as well as Private sector.
- Vegetable seeds production: This programme will ensure the production of seedlings in vegetables is free from a disease which is applied to the hybrid cultivars of vegetables.
- Seed infrastructure: To facilitate storage and packaging of seeds, proper handling, assistance would be provided for creating infrastructures like storage bins, drying platforms, packaging unit and 20 related types of equipment.
- Creation of water resources: Under the Mission, the grant will be provided for creating water sources through the construction of community tanks, farm reservoirs/ponds with plastic lining.
- Integrated Pest Management and Nutrient Management: Assistance for INM/IPM will be at the rate of 50% of cost subject to a maximum limit of rupees 1000 per hectare. The assistance will also be available for developing facilities like disease forecasting units, biocontrol labs, plant health clinics and leaf/tissue analysis labs.
- Organic Farming: For adopting organic farming, additional assistance will be provided at the rate of rupees 10,000 per hectare.
Role of NHM in Increasing the Income of Farmers
- Optional source of income: Fruits and vegetables, for example, can be grown alongside traditional crops such as rice and wheat. Apart from the main crop, these crops will help you earn extra money.
- Income security: The board determines crop costs under NHM. Farmers will no longer be reliant on the regular crop for their resources as a result of this.
- Credit is simple to obtain: The board is in charge of marketing as well as the needs and wants of its members. They provide credit facilities and storage for their members. This also provides financial security.
Conclusion
This form of cultivation is gathering steam across the country, even as the Centre aims to double farmer incomes by 2022. But still challenges like inadequate cold storage infrastructure, limited availability of market, limited support from government and high price fluctuation are needed to be catered to achieve the aim of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. In 2019-20, the country recorded its highest-ever horticulture production of 320.77 million tonnes from an area of 25.66 million hectares. By incorporating horticulture practices into conventional farming, NHM has played an important role in changing farming practices in our country.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
