Parliament Question: Projects Sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh under NHM

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2631 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04th AUGUST, 2026 PROJECTS SANCTIONED TO ANDHRA PRADESH UNDER NHM 2631. DR. D. PURANDESWARI: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has implemented specific projects under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) during 2025-2026 in Andhra Pradesh, with particular reference to the Rajahmundry Lok Sabha Constituency; (b) if so, the details of the total financial assistance provided for expanding the cultivation of high-value crops like oil palm, coconut and citrus fruits in the Rajahmundry region; (c) the number of integrated post-harvest management units and cold storage facilities set up in the East Godavari district under this scheme during the last one year; (d) whether the Ministry has received any proposals from horticulture growers in Rajahmundry regarding the establishment of specialized processing hubs for value addition; and (e) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to supply disease- resistant planting materials to small farmers in Rajahmundry? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) throughout the country including in the State of Andhra Pradesh, under which financial assistance is provided for establishment of various horticulture activities such as Establishment of New Gardens, Creation of Water Resources, Protected Cultivation, Integrated Post- Harvest Management, Centre of Excellence (CoE), Marketing, Beekeeping, and Horticulture Mechanization. Further, Government is implementing various interventions through Coconut Development Board for the integrated development of coconut sector in the country wherein financial assistance is provided @ Rs. 56000 per hectare for new coconut plantation.In addition, National Mission on Edible-Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) is being implemented in 15 States including Rajahmundry region of Andhra Pradesh to promote oil palm cultivation and achieve Aatmanirbhar Bharat in edible oils. The Mission provides comprehensive support to farmers, including assistance for high- quality planting material, inputs for intercropping, and maintenance during the four- year gestation period, as well as replanting of old and unproductive plantations. Additional inputs such as farm machinery and irrigation facilities are also supported. Furthermore, the scheme promotes the establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, and custom hiring centres, while North-Eastern States receive additional support for setting up oil palm processing mills. During 2025-26, an amount of Rs. 179.82 Lakhs was utilized in Andhra Pradesh under CDB scheme, out of which Rs. 2.94 Lakhs was utilized in Rajahmundry region covering 10.50 ha of coconut plantation. Under Oil Palm scheme, an amount of Rs. 9.42 crore has been distributed for expanding oil palm cultivation in Rajahmundry region. Under MIDH, an amount of Rs. 13.31 Lakhs has been utilized for area expansion of citrus and dragon fruit in Rajahmundry region. (c): Under the Post Harvest Management (PHM) component of MIDH scheme, during 2025-26, two (02) Pack houses have been established in East Godavari District. Further, Government is implementing Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme across the country to mobilize a medium to long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects relating to post harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support. Under AIF, there is provision for collateral free term loan upto Rs. 2.00 crore and interest subvention of 3% on the term loan availed for creation of post-harvest infrastructure, including establishment of cold storages. Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a total of 111 projects have been approved in East Godavari district, with a cumulative approved amount of ₹232.39 crore against a total project cost of ₹425.19 crore. The projects include 44 Primary Processing Centres, 30 Warehouses, 11 Sorting & Grading Units, 10 Assaying Units, 7 Silos, 7 Post-Harvest Management (PHM) Activities, 1 Integrated Primary and Secondary Processing Unit, and 1 Packaging Unit.(d): Under MIDH scheme, assistance is provided to horticulture growers @35% to 50% of the maximum eligible cost for setting up of primary and secondary processing units which is entrepreneur based demand driven activity. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has not received any proposals from horticulture growers in Rajahmundry regarding the establishment of specialized processing hubs for value addition. (e): Under MIDH scheme, for ensuring availability of the disease-free planting material to the farmers, assistance is provided for production and distribution of good quality seeds and planting material of horticulture crops through setting up nurseries, and Tissue Culture (TC) units. Financial assistance is provided @ 40% of the eligible cost for private sector and 100% of eligible cost in case of public sector. Since inception of MIDH scheme i.e. from 2014-15 onwards, a total of 1184 nurseries have been established throughout the country. *****