Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses questions regarding the commercialization of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables. The government supports CoEs under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to improve farmer income and productivity through knowledge transfer, training, and market linkage. As of July 31, 2025, 58 CoEs have been approved across India. There is no current proposal to establish a CoE in Mangaluru.
Key Points / Main Content:
Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Horticulture:
* CoEs aim to demonstrate and disseminate the latest horticultural technologies.
* They promote capacity building, planting material production, and the adoption of new technologies.
* The primary objective is to transfer knowledge and skills to farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension workers.
* CoEs bridge the gap between research and field-level adoption.
Establishment and Collaboration:
* The Government of India collaborates with various stakeholders, including bilateral partners like Israel, Netherlands, and New Zealand, to establish CoEs.
* CoEs are also established with technical assistance from Indian Research Institutes.
Number and Location of CoEs:
* 58 CoEs have been approved across various states as of July 31, 2025.
* A state-wise list is provided, detailing the number of CoEs in each state, including Himachal Pradesh which has 1 CoE.
Bilateral Partnership with Israel:
* India has a bilateral agreement with Israel for cooperation in agriculture, including horticulture development and fruit production.
* The Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP) facilitates the establishment of CoEs incorporating Israeli technology to enhance productivity, improve water use efficiency, and ensure quality produce.
Mangaluru CoE Proposal:
* There is no proposal under consideration to establish a Centre of Excellence for horticulture in the Mangaluru region of Karnataka.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers, Entrepreneurs, and Extension Workers:
* Impact: Enhanced productivity, quality, and sustainability in the horticulture sector through knowledge and practical skills gained from CoEs.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs and adopt new technologies demonstrated by the CoEs.
State Governments:
* Impact: Collaboration with the Union Government in establishing and supporting CoEs within their respective states.
* Action Required: Continue to support and facilitate the operation of existing CoEs and explore opportunities for establishing new ones.
Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare):
* Impact: Fulfillment of objectives under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
* Action Required: Continue to provide support for setting up and maintaining Centres of Excellence, and monitor their effectiveness in achieving the intended outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture MIDH: A government initiative to develop the horticulture sector.
Centres of Excellence CoEs: Facilities established to demonstrate, train, and disseminate the latest technologies in horticultural production.
SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: Member of Parliament who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
Government of Israel: A bilateral partner with the Government of India for horticulture development and fruit production.
Himachal Pradesh: A state in India where Centres of Excellence are approved under the MIDH scheme.
Coastal Karnataka: A region in Karnataka, specifically the Mangaluru region, where the establishment of a Centre of Excellence was proposed.
Indo-Israel Agricultural Project IIAP: A collaborative project between India and Israel to establish Centres of Excellence using Israeli technology.
Mangaluru, Karnataka: A city in the state of Karnataka, where the establishment of a Centre of Excellence was proposed but not under consideration.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2630
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05TH AUGUST, 2025
COMMERCIALISATION OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCES FOR FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES
2630. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
MS KANGNA RANAUT:
DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:
SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has formulated any plan for the commercialisation of
Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables with the objective of improving the
income and productivity of farmers;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the mechanisms adopted for knowledge transfer,
training and market linkage;
(c) the number of CoEs approved and operational across the country since the
inception of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), State-wise and
year-wise including Himachal Pradesh;
(d) whether the Government of India has entered into any bilateral partnership with the
Government of Israel for horticulture development and fruit production and if so, the details
thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to establish a Centre of Excellence for fruits or
vegetables in Mangaluru to serve farmers in the Coastal Karnataka region and if so, the
status of such a proposal?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): The Union Government, under the Mission for Integrated Development of
Horticulture (MIDH), provides support for setting up of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for
fruits and vegetables in collaboration with various stakeholders including bilateral partners.
The Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in horticulture are established with the aim of serving as
hubs for demonstration, training, and dissemination of the latest technologies in
horticultural production by promoting capacity building, production of planting material and
adoption of new technologies in horticulture sector. The primary objective of CoEs is to
transfer knowledge and practical skills to farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension workers,
thereby enhancing productivity, quality, and sustainability in the horticulture sector. By
showcasing modern innovations and providing hands-on training, CoEs play a vital role in
bridging the gap between research and field-level adoption. Government of India hasentered into bilateral cooperation agreement with Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand for
establishment of CoEs. Besides, CoEs are also established with technical assistance from
Indian Research Institutes.
(c): Under MIDH, a total of 58 Centres of Excellence have been approved across various
States in the country. The state-wise details of CoEs approved as on 31.07.2025 including
for Himachal Pradesh are as under:
S. No. State No. of CoE
1. Andhra Pradesh 2
2. Assam 1
3. Bihar 2
4. Goa 1
5. Gujarat 4
6. Haryana 6
7. Himachal Pradesh 1
8. Jammu & Kashmir (UT) 2
9. Karnataka 5
10. Kerala 1
11. Ladakh (UT) 1
12. Maharashtra 7
13. Madhya Pradesh 2
14. Meghalaya 1
15. Mizoram 1
16. Odisha 1
17. Punjab 6
18. Rajasthan 3
19. Tamil Nadu 2
20. Telangana 1
21. Tripura 2
22. Uttarakhand 1
23. Uttar Pradesh 4
24. West Bengal 1
Total 58
(d): The Government of India has entered into a bilateral agreement with the
Government of Israel for cooperation in agriculture, which includes horticulture
development and fruit production. Under this collaboration, the Indo-Israel Agricultural
Project (IIAP) has facilitated the establishment of Centres of Excellence across various
States. These CoEs incorporate Israeli technology and know-how to enhance productivity,
improve water use efficiency and ensure quality produce.
(e): There is no proposal for establishment of a Centre of Excellence for horticulture in
the Mangaluru region of Karnataka, under consideration of the Government.
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