Chief Minister Floriculture Mission

Chief Minister Floriculture Mission is a state-level scheme launched by the Assam government during 2014-15 to give a steady push to the floriculture sector. It supports farmers with planting material, technical training and market links so that flower farming moves from a household activity to a profitable commercial venture. The scheme gives special attention to small and marginal farmers, women SHGs and unemployed youth through Gerbera cultivation under shade net houses.

Assam has natural strength in orchids and many flower species, yet its market still depends on flower imports from neighbouring states. This scheme helps local flower production grow so that more money stays within the state and new work opportunities open up. Any eligible farmer who wants to run a commercial flower unit can apply through the agriculture department and get both material and guidance.

Chief Minister Floriculture Mission overview

The mission is run by the Agriculture Department of Assam and is handled at the ground level by the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing. It covers cultivation, marketing and training together so that a farmer does not just grow flowers but also finds a proper way to sell them. For the year 2015-16 the focus was fixed on growing Gerbera in a shade net house of 200 square metre using tissue cultured planting material per unit.

Each selected farmer gets a fixed responsibility split. The government provides the planting material, the required quantity of shade net and one garden tool kit. The farmer has to put up the bamboo or steel structure and also bear the cost of bed preparation and fertilizers. Departmental officers give complete technical support through the whole season so the unit runs well.

Selection is carried out in a clear manner by the District Level Beneficiaries Selection Committee after wide publicity in mass media. Proper representation of SC and ST farmers is ensured during selection. The committee also keeps monitoring the work while the District Agriculture Officer and District Nodal Officer report progress to head office every fortnight.

Key information

Benefits

The government shares the main production cost so that starting a flower unit becomes easier for a small farmer. Here is how the responsibility is divided.

• Government share: planting material, required quantity of shade net and one garden tool kit are given to the farmer.
• Beneficiary share: the bamboo or steel structure has to be erected by the farmer under the observation of departmental officers.
• Running cost: bed preparation, fertilizers and other day to day expenses are borne by the farmer.

Along with this material support, departmental officers give complete technical help so that the 200 square metre Gerbera unit lives through the season and gives a good yield. Modern cultivation methods are shared through training and skill teaching sessions.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to farmers who meet a simple set of conditions. The component can be taken up in both rural and urban areas of the state.

• The applicant must be a small or marginal farmer living in a rural or urban area.
• Women Self Help Groups and talented unemployed youth get preference during selection.
• The farmer must own the land at the site or hold it on a long term lease.
• One person can avail only one unit of 200 square metre.
• Selection is finalized by the District Level Beneficiaries Selection Committee and represents SC and ST farmers fairly.

Application process

Applications are accepted in offline process through the offices of the Assam Agriculture Department. Candidates prepare their documents and submit them at the office nearest to them. Here are the steps to apply.

STEP 1 - Collect all required documents including Aadhaar card, bank account details, residence proof and proof of land ownership or long term lease for the 200 square metre unit area.

STEP 2 - Visit the nearest district agriculture office (DAO) or the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Assam, and request the application form for Chief Minister Floriculture Mission.

STEP 3 - Fill the form with correct land and personal details, attach the photocopies of the documents and submit it to the concerned office before the closing date announced for the year.

STEP 4 - Applications sent by post can also be addressed to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Assam, Agriculture Department, Dispur, Guwahati-6, or the Director of Horticulture and Food Processing Assam, Khanapara, Guwahati-22.

STEP 5 - After submission, the District Level Beneficiaries Selection Committee checks the applications and announces the selected farmers through mass media publicity.

Documents required

Keep the following documents ready while applying for the scheme.

• Aadhaar Card
• Voter Card
• Bank account details
• Land ownership proof or long term lease proof for the 200 square metre unit area

References

Chief Minister Floriculture Mission official page

FAQ's

What is the objective of Chief Minister Floriculture Mission?

The main aim is to give farmers a steady income source through flower farming. It generates work and cuts the state's dependence on flower imports by encouraging local cultivation with material support, training and market help.

When was the National Horticulture Mission launched?

The National Horticulture Mission was launched under the 10th five year plan during 2005-06 by the Government of India.

Who is recognized as the Father of Indian Horticulture?

Dr. Chadha is widely recognized as the Father of Modern Horticulture in India for his work in horticulture development.

Which state currently leads in floriculture?

Karnataka is the leading state in floriculture in India, contributing about 75 percent of the total flower production in the country.

What is the full form of CSIR?

CSIR stands for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a leading organisation focused on research and development across many scientific fields.