58 Centres of Excellence in Horticulture Approved Under MIDH; to Drive Training, Planting Material and Technology Adoption
New Delhi, August 9: The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) said on Friday the Union government is supporting the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), positioning them as hubs for demonstration, training and technology transfer to farmers.
According to the ministry, CoEs aim to bridge the gap between research and field adoption by building capacity, supplying quality planting material and promoting new technologies, with a stated focus on enhancing productivity, quality and sustainability in the horticulture sector. The initiative also seeks to make CoEs more self-reliant and spur innovation with economic benefits for farming communities.
MoA&FW noted that CoEs are being set up in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including through bilateral cooperation with Israel, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and with technical assistance from Indian research institutes.
As of 31 July 2025, 58 CoEs have been approved across states and Union territories. States with the highest approved numbers include Maharashtra (7), Haryana (6) and Punjab (6); others include Karnataka (5); Gujarat (4); Uttar Pradesh (4); Rajasthan (3); Andhra Pradesh (2); Bihar (2); Tamil Nadu (2); Tripura (2); Jammu & Kashmir (UT) (2); and single CoEs in Assam, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Ladakh (UT), Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
