Parliament Question: Regional Offices of NHB

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 138 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28TH JULY, 2026 REGIONAL OFFICES OF NHB *138. SHRI G. LAKSHMINARAYANA: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken cognisance of the significant contribution of Anantapur district to horticulture production in Andhra Pradesh and nationally, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has received any proposal for establishment of a regional office of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) in Anantapur, if so, the details regarding the status thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes to establish a regional office of the National Horticulture Board in Anantapur to support horticulture farmers, promote value addition and improve implementation of NHB schemes, if so, the details thereof and the proposed timeline and financial outlay; (d) if not, the reasons therefor, including the criteria adopted by the Government for establishing regional offices of the National Horticulture Board; and (e) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen horticulture infrastructure and institutional support in Anantapur district in view of its importance as a major horticulture producing region? ANSWER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 138 DUE FOR REPLY ON 28TH JULY, 2026 REGARDING ‘REGIONAL OFFICES OF NHB’. (a): Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh is one of the major horticulture-producing districts in the country. Despite its arid agro-climatic conditions and low rainfall, the district has emerged as an important horticulture hub owing to the adoption of improved production technologies, micro-irrigation and scientific horticulture practices. Recognizing its horticultural potential, the Government of India is supporting the development of the horticulture sector through schemes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), while the Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing complementary schemes such as the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) and Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS). With the implementation of these interventions, the area under horticulture crops in Anantapur district has increased from 75,000 Ha in 2014-15 to 1,72,833 hectares in 2025- 26. The production in the district has also increased from 14,25,000 MTs in 2014-15 to 32,63,251 MTs during 2025-26. Further, the State Government has informed that, during 2026-27, a budget allocation of ₹153.82 crore has been made under APMIP for micro- irrigation and automation, ₹1,568.56 lakh under MIDH for area expansion, post-harvest management and infrastructure development, and ₹201.60 lakh under RKVY for horticulture development in the district. (b) to (d): At present, NHB has 29 field offices strategically located across the country to cater to different States and regions. The schemes of NHB is demand driven and the NHB Regional Office at Vijayawada caters to the entire State of Andhra Pradesh. All schemes and activities of the Board are implemented uniformly throughout the State, including Anantapur district. Establishment of NHB field offices is based on functional requirements, workload, project volume and administrative necessity. The Government has no proposal for establishment of a Regional Office of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) at Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. (e): The Government is implementing the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to strengthen horticulture infrastructure and institutional support for whole India including Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh. Under the Mission, assistance is available for production of quality planting material through nurseries and tissue culture units, area expansion under fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal & aromatic plants, rejuvenation of old and unproductive orchards, protected cultivation, creation of waterresources and water harvesting structures, promotion of bee keeping for pollination support; horticulture mechanization, capacity building of farmers through training, exposure visits and awareness programmes, creation of post-harvest management infrastructure including pack houses, cold storages, ripening chambers, processing units and reefer vehicles; and development of marketing infrastructure such as rural markets, direct markets, retail outlets and mobile vending platforms. Under the scheme, the State has to prioritize areas and interventions and submit an Annual Action Plan (AAP) annually. In addition, the Government of India is implementing several flagship schemes to strengthen the agriculture sector and enhance farmers' resilience. These include Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) providing affordable crop insurance to protect farmers against crop losses. During the current Kharif season, 26,158 farmers in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, have insured 43,100 hectares of cultivated area under the scheme; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Component aims to improve irrigation coverage and promote efficient water use through micro-irrigation. Since 2015–16, a total area of 2,20,074 hectares has been brought under micro-irrigation in Anantapur district through the PDMC component; Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) facilitates access to affordable institutional credit through Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs). During FY 2025–26, Anantapur district had 6.32 lakh KCC beneficiary accounts under MISS, and an interest subsidy of ₹215.82 crore was released to these accounts; Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme provides medium- to long-term financing for post-harvest management infrastructure, including storage facilities, primary processing units, and supply chain logistics. Under the AIF, 375 projects have been sanctioned in Anantapur district with a total financial outlay of ₹73.86 crore and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme provides financial assistance to States for implementing need-based projects aimed at the development of the agriculture and horticulture sectors, in accordance with local priorities and requirements. Apart from above, the National Horticulture Board is also implementing schemes viz. ‘Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management of Horticulture Crops’ and ‘Capital Investment Subsidy for Construction/ Expansion/ Modernization of Cold Storages and Storages for Horticulture Products’ across the country for development of horticulture sector. Under these Schemes, NHB has sanctioned 51 projects relating to open field & protected cultivation and cold storage during the last 5 years, out of which 9 projects are from Anantapur District. ********