The NHM was a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2005-06 to promote the holistic development of the horticulture sector through area-based, regionally differentiated strategies.
Key Pillars of NHM
Cluster based approach
Supply of quality planting material through nurseries and tissue culture units.
Improving production and productivity through area expansion and rejuvenation.
Promoting and spreading modern technologies.
Focussing on training and skill development.
Infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing.
Role of NHM in boosting
Production
Horticulture production increased from 280.70 MT (2013-14) to 367.72 MT (2024-25) (Fruits: 114.51 MT, Vegetables: 219.67 MT)
Fruit production increased by ~30%, and vegetable production increased by ~22%.
Establishment of nurseries and tissue culture units ensured healthy, disease-free plants.
Area-focused interventions increased scale and concentration of production.
Crop diversification – Promotion of high-value and short-duration crops.
Boost in Productivity
The productivity has risen from 12.10 MT per hectare in 2019 to 12.56 MT per hectare in 2024
Distribution of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties increased output per unit area.
Technology dissemination – Promotion of drip irrigation, mulching, protected cultivation (polyhouse, net house).
Farmers trained in scientific cultivation, pest control and nutrient management – improved efficiency.
Reduced crop loss through improved plant health and management practices.
Boost in Farmer Income
Horticulture now contributes about 33% to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) in Agriculture.
High-value crops – Fruits, spices and flowers generate more income per hectare than cereals.
Multiple cropping cycles of Vegetables and floriculture ensure regular cash flow.
Post-harvest infrastructure – Cold storage, pack houses, grading and processing units reduce wastage and increase price realisation.
Export potential –
Employment generation – Jobs in nurseries, processing, transport and storage supplement household income.
Challenges
Uneven regional performance – Benefits concentrated in better-developed states/regions
Low Exports – India ranks 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits, and its share in the global horticultural market is a mere 1%.
Input issues –
less than 5% of Indian soils have sufficient nitrogen
Only 55% area irrigated.
Seed replacement rate is 35-45% (over 90% in USA)
Inadequate cold-chain and logistics – Around 15-20% of the fruits and vegetables in India are wasted
Climate vulnerability – Sensitive to droughts, floods, heat waves, pests. Eg- Locust Attack
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) barriers – Eg- rejection of consignments by EU due to pesticide residue detection.
Way Forward
Agro-ecological approach – District-Level Climate-Contingent Crop Planning Cells
Rural Agri-Logistics Nodes under Gati Shakti Framework to develop cold chains, aggregation centers
Strengthening FPOs to enhance collective bargaining and direct market access for farmers. Eg- Sahyadri FPO in Maharashtra – increased incomes by 30%
Raising R&D Investment to 1% of GDP
Legal Reforms – Simplify land leasing laws, Adopt model contract farming Act
Budget 2025-26 emphasised Agriculture as the ‘first engine’ for India’s development journey. Horticulture can be the key pillar of this journey.