Government Strengthens Horticulture Ecosystem with 61 Centres of Excellence, Polyhouse Support and Capacity Building Under MIDH

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) continues to strengthen India’s horticulture sector by providing farmers with technical, institutional and financial support for adopting modern cultivation practices, including protected farming technologies.

According to information shared in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme supports farmers through a nationwide network of Centres of Excellence (CoEs), Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs), ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the National Horticulture Board (NHB).

Key Highlights

• MIDH supports the holistic development of India’s horticulture sector.
• 61 crop-specific Centres of Excellence (CoEs) established under international collaborations.
• Technical support provided through ICAR institutes, SAUs, KVKs, PFDCs and State Horticulture Missions.
• Financial assistance available for polyhouses, shade net houses, walk-in tunnels and protected cultivation infrastructure.
• NHB promotes commercial horticulture projects under the Clean Plant Programme and Horticulture Cluster Development Programme.
• Capacity building and farmer training supported under the Human Resource Development (HRD) component.
• No specific provision for NGO or private sector engagement under MIDH guidelines.

Modern Horticulture Support for Farmers

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) provides farmers with institutional and technical assistance to adopt advanced horticulture practices that improve productivity, quality and resource efficiency.

Support is delivered through:

• State Horticulture Missions
• Technical Support Groups (TSGs)
• Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs)
• Centres of Excellence (CoEs)
• ICAR Institutes
• State Agricultural Universities
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras
• Other recognised institutions

These organisations assist farmers in adopting protected cultivation technologies and modern horticultural practices.

61 Centres of Excellence Established

A major feature of MIDH is the establishment of 61 crop-specific Centres of Excellence developed through:

• Indo-Israel Cooperation
• Indo-Dutch Cooperation
• Research Institutions

These centres function as:

• Demonstration facilities
• Farmer training centres
• Sources of elite planting material
• Suppliers of quality vegetable seedlings for protected cultivation

The initiative is designed to accelerate adoption of high-value horticulture technologies across India.

Financial Assistance for Protected Cultivation

MIDH provides financial and technical assistance for constructing protected cultivation infrastructure, including:

• Polyhouses
• Shade net houses
• Plastic tunnels
• Non-woven cloth tunnels
• Walk-in tunnels

These technologies enable year-round cultivation, improve crop quality and enhance productivity while protecting crops from adverse weather conditions.

National Horticulture Board Strengthens Commercial Horticulture

The National Horticulture Board (NHB) complements MIDH by implementing programmes such as:

• Clean Plant Programme
• Horticulture Cluster Development Programme

NHB also supports integrated commercial horticulture projects covering:

• Plantation development
• Quality planting material
• Irrigation systems
• Fertigation
• Farm mechanisation
• Processing infrastructure

Focus on Farmer Capacity Building

Beyond infrastructure, MIDH invests in knowledge development through its Human Resource Development (HRD) component.

The programme supports:

• Farmer demonstrations
• Skill development
• Technical training
• Capacity building of field functionaries

The objective is to improve adoption of scientific horticulture practices across states.

No Specific NGO Provision Under MIDH

The government clarified that the current MIDH Operational Guidelines do not include any specific provision for engagement of NGOs or private sector entities.

However, 2.5% of the annual allocation under the Mission Management component is provided to State Horticulture Missions for managing programme activities at the state and district levels.

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Impact

The expansion of horticulture infrastructure under MIDH offers several indirect benefits for India’s hospitality and tourism industries.

Improved Farm-to-Hotel Supply Chains

Protected cultivation enables year-round production of premium vegetables, fruits and herbs, ensuring more consistent supplies for hotels, restaurants and catering businesses.

Boost for Culinary Tourism

Higher-quality horticultural produce supports regional cuisines, farm-to-table dining experiences and destination-based food tourism that increasingly attracts domestic and international travellers.

Support for Luxury Hospitality

Reliable availability of premium horticultural products benefits luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants that require consistent quality, specialty vegetables and fresh ingredients.

Growth in Agri-Tourism

Centres of Excellence, protected farms and horticulture clusters can become demonstration sites for educational tourism, agri-tourism and experiential rural travel.

Strengthened Food Processing Ecosystem

Improved horticultural production complements food processing initiatives by ensuring a stable supply of fruits and vegetables for value-added products served across India’s HoReCa sector.

Why It Matters

The continued expansion of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture reflects the government’s focus on increasing productivity, improving crop quality and promoting modern farming technologies. By strengthening protected cultivation, farmer training and institutional support, MIDH not only enhances farm incomes but also builds stronger supply chains for India’s food processing, hospitality and tourism sectors. Better availability of high-quality horticultural produce will support restaurants, hotels and culinary tourism while contributing to a more resilient agricultural economy.