The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare aimed at promoting the holistic development of the horticulture sector. It was launched in 2014-15 by integrating earlier schemes such as the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Bamboo Mission, National Horticulture Board and others. In most states, including Uttar Pradesh, the funding pattern is 60:40 between the Centre and the State. The scheme was further restructured in 2025 with revised operational guidelines, higher cost norms, wider district coverage and support for high-value and exotic crops. MIDH aims to increase production and productivity of horticultural crops, promote crop diversification towards high-value fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and medicinal plants, encourage protected cultivation such as polyhouses and shade-net houses, develop post-harvest infrastructure, cold chains and pack houses, improve irrigation efficiency through micro-irrigation, strengthen value addition, marketing and exports and enhance farmers’ incomes through modern technologies and quality planting material. Uttar Pradesh government, under MIDH, provides financial assistance for:
- New orchards of mango, guava, amla, banana and citrus.
- Vegetable cultivation and nurseries.
- Protected cultivation (polyhouses, greenhouses and shade-net houses).
- Precision farming and drip irrigation.
- Mushroom cultivation and beekeeping.
- Floriculture.
- Spice cultivation (turmeric, chilli, onion and garlic).
- Cold storage, pack houses and post-harvest management.
- Farm mechanisation including power tillers and horticultural equipment. Subsidies are generally transferred directly to farmers through DBT.
Progress in Uttar Pradesh (2017–2026)The scheme was launched in 2014-15 but it gained momemntum 2017 onwards when Yogi government came into being in Uttar Pradesh. Over the past nine years, UP government has used MIDH to expand commercial horticulture and promote crop diversification.Some notable initiatives include:
- Rapid expansion of protected cultivation for high-value vegetables and flowers.
- Establishment and strengthening of Centres of Excellence with Indo-Israeli and Indo-Dutch collaboration in districts such as Basti, Kannauj, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Barabanki and Mirzapur for advanced horticultural technologies.
- Promotion of new crops such as dragon fruit and date palm. Commercial date cultivation has been introduced with a 40% subsidy under MIDH in suitable regions like Mirzapur and Bundelkhand.
- Support for fruit bagging technology, pack houses and export-oriented mango cultivation, helping districts such as Pratapgarh expand exports to Gulf countries.
MIDH has contributed to:
- Diversification from traditional cereal crops to high-value horticulture.
- Higher farm incomes through cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices.
- Better post-harvest management and reduced losses.
- Increased exports of horticultural products, especially mangoes.
- Greater adoption of modern technologies such as protected cultivation and precision farming.
- Employment generation in nurseries, food processing, cold-chain logistics and agri-entrepreneurship.
MIDH has become one of the key drivers of horticultural growth in Uttar Pradesh. By promoting modern cultivation practices, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure, encouraging export-oriented production and supporting diversification into high-value crops, the scheme has helped improve farmer incomes and contributed to the state’s broader agricultural transformation over the last nine years.
