Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

  • 29 Oct 2024

In News:

  • The Union Government has decided to introduce four new components under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), aimed at promoting modern farming techniques:Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming&Precision Agriculture

Key Features of MIDH:

  • MIDH is a Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) aimed at the integrated development of various horticulture crops, including:
    • Fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa, and bamboo.
  • The scheme focuses on pre-production, production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing activities.

Revision of Operational Guidelines and Cost Norms:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is revising the MIDH operational guidelines and cost norms, which were last updated in April 2014.
  • The revised guidelines are expected to be released within one month.
  • Cost norms are likely to increase by 20% compared to the existing rates, addressing concerns from various states about outdated guidelines.

Reason for Revision:

  • Several states, including Odisha, have raised concerns over the old rates under MIDH. For example, Odisha’s Agriculture Minister highlighted that the state was still using 10-year-old rates.
  • The Union Cabinet had already approved the rationalization of all CSS operating under the Ministry into two umbrella schemes:
    • Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY)
    • Krishonnati Yojana (KY)

Growth in India's Horticulture Sector:

  • India’s horticulture production has significantly increased in recent years:
    • Total production reached 334.60 million metric tonnes in 2020-21, up from 240.53 million metric tonnes in 2010-11.
  • India is now the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, surpassing food grain production.
  • MIDH Annual Budget:The annual allocation for MIDH in the current financial year (2024-25) is ?2,000 crore.

National Workshop on SATHI Portal

  • 25 Oct 2024

In News:

Recently, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) organised a National Workshop on the SATHI (Seed Authentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory) Portal in New Delhi.

Key Highlights:

Purpose & Focus

  • SATHI Portal: Focuses on Seed Authentication, Traceability, and Holistic Inventory to enhance seed certification, improve seed traceability, and streamline the seed supply chain.
  • Primary Objective: Ensure availability of high-quality seeds to farmers through a transparent and efficient seed management system.

Key Features of the SATHI Portal

  • Seed Certification: Aims to streamline seed certification processes across states for faster and more accurate seed certifications.
  • Seed Traceability: Enhances transparency and traceability of seeds to ensure quality and authenticity.
  • Inventory Management: The portal facilitates seed inventory management, helping farmers and stakeholders access reliable and transparent seed information.
  • Technological Integration: Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the portal incorporates technology-driven solutions to minimize transactional time for registrations, approvals, and certifications.

Phase-II Rollout

  • Focus on seed inventory management, with the objective of offering farmers reliable access to certified seed varieties.
  • It aims to integrate state-specific seed processes into the national framework for greater standardization and efficiency.

Workshops & Technical Sessions

  • NIC and ICAR Presentations: Covered the core components of the SATHI Portal, including:
    • Seed Law Enforcement
    • DNA Fingerprinting for ensuring seed authenticity.
    • Seed Laboratory Processes to uphold quality control.
  • Review of Phase-I: Discussions on achievements of Phase-I, focusing on improvements in seed certification processes across states.
  • State Experiences: 10 state representatives shared insights on their experiences with the portal, discussing both benefits and challenges in the implementation phase.

Role of NIC & Technology

  • The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is the technology partner behind the SATHI Portal, which is designed to enhance the efficiency of seed certification and inventory management.
  • The portal contributes to larger digital initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission and Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP), which aim to support agricultural development through technology.