National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in India: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

Horticulture plays a pivotal role in India’s agricultural landscape, contributing significantly to nutrition, employment, and rural income. India is blessed with diverse agro-climatic zones suitable for a wide range of fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops. Despite this potential, the horticulture sector faced challenges such as fragmented farms, post-harvest losses, inadequate irrigation, and limited access to modern technology.

To address these challenges and promote holistic growth in horticulture, the Government of India launched the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) under the National Mission for Horticulture Development. The mission is designed to boost productivity, improve quality, and enhance market access for horticultural produce, thereby contributing to national food and nutritional security.

Background and History

• The horticulture sector in India was largely fragmented and traditional, with small-scale farmers unable to access modern inputs and technologies.
  
  
• The Planning Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture identified horticulture as a high-potential sector for rural development and employment.
  
  
• NHM was launched in 2005–06 during the 10th Five Year Plan as a centrally sponsored scheme, integrating ongoing horticulture development schemes for greater efficiency and impact.
  
  
• The mission focuses on state-specific strategies to harness regional strengths and promote diversified horticultural development.

Objectives of NHM

The primary objectives of the National Horticulture Mission are:

1. Enhance Horticultural Production, Productivity, and Quality
   • Increase production of fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops.
   • Promote high-yielding varieties and improved management practices.
     
     
2. Reduce Post-Harvest Losses
   • Strengthen storage, grading, and cold chain infrastructure.
   • Promote processing, value addition, and packaging solutions.
     
     
3. Promote Research, Technology, and Extension Services
   • Encourage adoption of modern horticultural technologies.
   • Provide training and capacity-building programs for farmers.
     
     
4. Market Development and Export Promotion
   • Develop marketing infrastructure, including rural markets and e-NAM integration.
   • Support branding, packaging, and export-oriented production.
     
     
5. Employment and Livelihood Generation
   • Create opportunities for rural youth and women in horticulture-related activities.
     
     
6. Regional Diversification and Balanced Growth
   • Promote horticulture in backward and underdeveloped regions.
     
     
7. Sustainable Horticultural Practices
   • Encourage organic farming, integrated pest management, and water-efficient technologies.

Components of NHM

The National Horticulture Mission is implemented through multiple components to address the full value chain of horticulture development:

1. Production and Productivity Enhancement

• Distribution of high-quality planting materials, improved varieties, and hybrid seeds.
• Soil health improvement and balanced nutrient management.
• Mechanization support for planting, pruning, and harvesting.

2. Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition

• Establishment of pack houses, cold storage, and cold chains.
• Promotion of grading, packaging, and primary processing units.
• Financial support for food processing and value addition infrastructure.

3. Technology Promotion and Extension

• Adoption of protected cultivation (greenhouses, polyhouses).
• Promotion of micro-irrigation, fertigation, and integrated pest management.
• Capacity-building programs for farmers, cooperatives, and extension officers.

4. Marketing Development

• Establishment of rural horticulture markets and linkages to urban markets.
• Support for brand promotion and export facilitation.
• Integration with National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for digital trading.

5. Infrastructure Development

• Construction of nurseries, tissue culture labs, cold storage facilities, and pack houses.
• Development of rural roads and transport networks to reduce post-harvest losses.

6. Human Resource Development

• Training programs for farmers, entrepreneurs, and women self-help groups.
• Skill development in agri-business, food processing, and marketing.

Implementation Mechanism

1. Central-State Collaboration
   • NHM is a centrally sponsored scheme with a 60:40 funding ratio (central: state), promoting joint ownership and accountability.
     
     
2. State Horticulture Missions (SHMs)
   • Each state has a State Horticulture Mission to develop annual action plans, implement projects, and monitor progress.
     
     
3. District-Level Coordination
   • District horticulture officers coordinate with farmers, cooperatives, and local bodies for implementation.
     
     
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
   • MoA & FW monitors overall progress.
   • Use of MIS, satellite imagery, and field surveys for evaluation.
     
     
5. Financial Support and Incentives
   • Subsidies for planting materials, protected cultivation, irrigation, and post-harvest infrastructure.
     
     
   • Incentives for organic certification, export-oriented production, and entrepreneurship.

Target Crops under NHM

NHM targets a diverse range of horticultural crops to ensure nutrition, income, and market viability:

1. Fruits – Mango, Banana, Citrus, Papaya, Guava, and Pomegranate.
2. Vegetables – Tomato, Onion, Potato, Capsicum, and Leafy Vegetables.
3. Flowers – Rose, Marigold, Gladiolus, and Orchids.
4. Spices – Turmeric, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Pepper, and Chili.
5. Plantation Crops – Coconut, Arecanut, Cashew, and Oil Palm.
6. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Aloe Vera, Stevia, and Tulsi.

Achievements and Impact

1. Increase in Production and Productivity
   • Significant increase in fruit and vegetable yields in priority states.
   • Introduction of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties.
     
     
2. Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
   • Establishment of cold storage chains and pack houses reduces wastage.
   • Improved packaging, grading, and primary processing.
     
     
3. Employment and Livelihood Creation
   • Thousands of jobs created in nurseries, plantations, processing units, and marketing.
   • Women and youth empowered through horticulture-based micro-enterprises.
     
     
4. Export Promotion
   • Enhanced competitiveness of Indian horticultural exports through quality and packaging improvements.
     
     
5. Technology Adoption
   • Widespread adoption of protected cultivation, drip irrigation, fertigation, and pest management.
     
     
6. Nutrition and Food Security
   • Increased availability of fruits and vegetables, contributing to better nutrition.

Challenges in NHM Implementation

1. Fragmented Landholdings
   • Small and marginal farmers face difficulties in mechanization and scale-based adoption.
     
     
2. Infrastructure Gaps
   • Inadequate cold storage, processing, and transport facilities in many regions.
     
     
3. Climate Vulnerability
   • Horticultural crops are sensitive to temperature, rainfall, and pests.
     
     
4. Awareness and Training
   • Limited knowledge among farmers about modern techniques and market opportunities.
     
     
5. Market Linkages
   • Weak linkages between producers, processors, and urban markets.
     
     
6. Financial Constraints
   • High cost of technology adoption, irrigation, and infrastructure limits participation.

Future Prospects of NHM

1. Digital and Precision Horticulture
   • Use of IoT, sensors, drones, and GIS for crop monitoring and precision farming.
     
     
2. Expansion of Protected Cultivation
   • Greater adoption of polyhouses, greenhouses, and shade nets for high-value crops.
     
     
3. Organic and Sustainable Horticulture
   • Promotion of organic certification and eco-friendly farming.
     
     
4. Market Development
   • Strengthening rural-urban supply chains, e-NAM integration, and cold chain networks.
     
     
5. Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
   • Training rural youth and women in horticulture processing, marketing, and agri-business.
     
     
6. Research and Innovation
   • Development of climate-resilient, high-yielding varieties and mechanized solutions.
     
     
7. Global Competitiveness
   • Enhancing India’s position in international horticultural markets through quality, standardization, and export promotion.

Conclusion

The National Horticulture Mission (NHM) is a cornerstone initiative in India’s efforts to transform horticulture into a modern, sustainable, and profitable sector. By focusing on productivity enhancement, post-harvest management, market development, and technology adoption, NHM addresses the full horticultural value chain.

The mission has significantly contributed to higher production, reduced losses, improved farmer income, and enhanced nutrition. Its long-term success depends on integration of technology, climate-resilient practices, efficient market linkages, and skill development.

With sustained investment, policy support, and collaboration among central and state governments, private sector, and research institutions, NHM has the potential to strengthen India’s horticulture sector, create employment, and contribute to national food and nutritional security.