15.66 Lakh Hectares Brought Under Horticulture Since 2014 Under MIDH Scheme: Agriculture Ministry
New Delhi, July 29, 2025 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has reported significant progress in horticulture development under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), a sub-scheme of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), with an additional 15.66 lakh hectares brought under horticulture cultivation since its inception in 2014.
Sharing the data in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Minister of State Ramnath Thakur stated that the scheme—being implemented across states since 2014—aims at the holistic development of horticulture, including fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops, irrespective of their varieties.
The Ministry noted a steady increase in productivity, attributing it to scheme components like quality planting material and micro-irrigation support. Productivity has risen from 12.10 metric tonnes per hectare in 2019–20 to 12.56 MT/ha in 2024–25 (based on second advance estimates), reflecting improved crop yields.
In terms of infrastructure development, the Ministry highlighted the establishment of 55,748 post-harvest management units over the past five years. These include cold storages, pack houses, ripening chambers, reefer vehicles, processing units, and other preservation facilities aimed at minimizing losses and improving the shelf life of perishable produce.
Additionally, 11,140 marketing infrastructure projects have been completed, ranging from static and mobile vending platforms to rural markets and terminal wholesale markets under the MIDH scheme. These efforts are aimed at strengthening the farm-to-market linkages and improving farmer incomes.
While detailed beneficiary-level employment data is maintained at the state level, the Ministry emphasized that implementation and monitoring are being actively handled by state governments under the centrally supported scheme.
The MIDH initiative, by enhancing both the production and market access for horticulture growers, continues to be a key contributor to India’s goal of diversifying agriculture and doubling farmers’ income.
