MIDH, RKVY and Beej Gram Yojana: Three Central Agriculture Schemes Explained

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

• Launched: 2014-15 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, subsuming the National Horticulture Mission, the Horticulture Mission for North-East and Himalayan States, the National Bamboo Mission and the programmes of the National Horticulture Board, the Coconut Development Board and the Central Institute of Horticulture, Nagaland.
• Coverage: fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.
• Funding: Centrally Sponsored, 60:40 between the Centre and the states (90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states; 100% Central for UTs and national-level agencies).
• What it funds: planting material and nurseries, area expansion, rejuvenation of old orchards, protected cultivation, pollination support through bee-keeping, post-harvest management, cold storage and markets, and training.
• India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables; horticulture output (about 350 million tonnes) now exceeds foodgrain output.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

• Launched: 2007-08 after the National Development Council resolved to raise agricultural growth to 4% a year during the 11th Plan; run by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Idea: incentivise states to increase public investment in agriculture and allied sectors through district and state agriculture plans, with flexibility to choose projects.
• RKVY-RAFTAAR (2017-18): Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation – added agri-startups, value addition and infrastructure; since 2022-23 the scheme runs as RKVY Cafeteria, merging sub-schemes such as soil health, rainfed area development, crop diversification, per-drop-more-crop and farm mechanisation so that states pick from a menu.
• Funding: 60:40 between the Centre and the states (90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states).

Beej Gram Yojana (Seed Village Programme)

• Part of the Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP) launched on 1 April 2014 under the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology, now under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission umbrella.
• Aim: replace farm-saved seed with quality seed by making villages produce their own certified or foundation seed.
• Assistance: 50% of the seed cost for cereals and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green-manure crops, for up to one acre per farmer; three training sessions per crop season and help with seed storage bins.
• A seed village raises the seed replacement rate and reduces dependence on distant markets.

Related: Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL)

• A multi-state cooperative society set up in 2023 under the Ministry of Cooperation to produce, certify and market quality seeds through primary agricultural cooperatives.

FAQs

What is the seed replacement rate?

The share of area sown with certified or quality seed rather than farm-saved seed; Beej Gram villages raise it.

Is horticulture covered by MSP?

No. Horticultural crops have no MSP; MIDH supports production and post-harvest infrastructure, and the Market Intervention Scheme handles price crashes.

Why are these schemes asked in NABARD Grade A?

Horticulture, seeds and state agricultural investment are ARD staples; the launch years, funding ratios and subsidy percentages are the usual questions.