Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which runs under the names NHM and HMNEH, is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It helps farmers grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, mushrooms, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo by giving money help and technical support for better farming, post-harvest handling, processing and marketing. The scheme is open to individual farmers, registered societies and government bodies, and its 2025 operational guidelines are now in force across all states and union territories.
Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture - NHM and HMNEH
MIDH was launched in 2014-15 by bringing together the earlier National Horticulture Mission (NHM), the Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH), the National Bamboo Mission, the National Horticulture Board, the Coconut Development Board and the Central Institute for Horticulture, Nagaland. It covers the full chain of horticulture, from production to consumption, through backward and forward linkages.
The scheme is run by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. State governments and State Horticulture Missions carry out the work at the state and district level. Every year the executive committee fixes the budget, and states send their annual action plans with targets for women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes so that growth stays inclusive.
Funding follows a fixed pattern. For most states the central government gives 60% and the state gives 40%. For the North East and Himalayan states the centre gives 90% and the state gives 10%. For programmes of the National Horticulture Board, Coconut Development Board, Central Institute for Horticulture and union territories without a legislature, the centre gives the full 100%.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture - NHM and HMNEH |
| Level | Central |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Nodal Department | Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Implementing Agency | State / UT Horticulture Department |
| Beneficiary States | All states and union territories |
| Funding Pattern | 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual farmers, registered societies, government organisations |
| Official Website | midh.gov.in |
Benefits
The scheme gives strong support to raise farm output and reach. The main benefits are listed below.
- Higher productivity: Farmers can shift from traditional crops to high-value orchards, plantations, vineyards, flower gardens, medicinal plants and bamboo, with access to modern technology and better planting material.
- Protected and precision farming: Support is available for polyhouses, greenhouses, drip and micro irrigation, which helps save water and raise yield even on small plots.
- Post-harvest and cold chain: The scheme helps build cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure to cut wastage of perishable produce, along with processing and value addition support.
Eligibility
Individual farmers, registered societies and government organisations can apply. The exact land holding and project rules are set by the state horticulture missions, so the limits can differ from state to state. In general the NHM and HMNEH sub-schemes are meant for small and marginal farmers, typically those holding less than 4 hectares of land. A farmer wanting to set up a polyhouse or nursery should first check the state-specific criteria with the local horticulture office.
Application Process
Application is mostly done through the state horticulture mission, and the steps are given below.
STEP 1 - Contact the local District Horticulture Officer or Block Horticulture Officer and share the interest and the project idea.
STEP 2 - The officer helps prepare the project plan and sends the details to the State Horticulture Mission.
STEP 3 - The State Horticulture Mission reviews the proposal and finalises it as per the project requirements.
STEP 4 - The proposal goes through appraisal following the official 2025 operational guidelines of the scheme.
STEP 5 - Once approved, the financial support is released and transferred to the beneficiary.
Documents
Keep the following documents ready for the application, though the exact list can vary by state and project type.
- Aadhaar number
- Up-to-date land documents
- Caste certificate, if applicable
- Active bank account details
- Recent photographs
References
MIDH Operational Guidelines 2025 | MIDH Official Website | HMNEH Official Website
FAQ's
Can a beneficiary get support for the same activity from two sub-schemes?
No. Subsidy support cannot be taken for the same activity from two different sources. Crops and support levels are clearly separated. For example, cold storage up to 5000 MT capacity is taken up under NHM or HMNEH, while capacity above 5000 MT is handled by the National Horticulture Board.
What is the support for organising seminars and workshops?
The scheme supports awareness programmes at 100% of the cost, subject to caps. These are ₹7.50 lakh for international events of four days, ₹5.00 lakh for national events of two days, ₹3.00 lakh for state-level events of two days and ₹2.00 lakh for district-level events of two days.
Can a beneficiary apply for different crops through different sub-schemes?
Yes. Separate applications can be made for different crops, but each must go to the respective nodal agency following the rules of that sub-scheme.
What is the support for women farmers?
State horticulture missions are required to keep at least 30% of their annual budget for women beneficiaries. Activities like floriculture, mushroom production and beekeeping are strongly encouraged for women farmers.
Can a nursery be set up in less than one hectare?
No. The NHM guidelines require a minimum area of one hectare so that the nursery is viable for good quality seed and planting material production.
Can a beneficiary with more than 4 hectares apply?
No. NHM and HMNEH are meant for small and marginal farmers, typically those holding less than 4 hectares of land.
Can I apply online?
Yes. Many states run an online application process through the State Horticulture Mission. Check the official website of the state horticulture mission or the MIDH portal at midh.gov.in for the application link.
What documents are needed?
Generally Aadhaar card, land ownership proof, caste certificate and bank account details are needed. Since project requirements differ, confirm the final list with the district-level horticulture officer.