Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Horticulture Cluster Development Programme

The Horticulture Cluster Development Programme is a central sector programme that aims to grow and develop identified horticulture clusters so that they can compete globally. Cluster Development Program provides opportunities for specialization in pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing, and branding.

Farmers/producers, traders, aggregators, agribusiness enterprises, logistic players, retailers, processors, exporters, and other public and private operators benefit from these clusters' growth and development opportunities.

It is supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare's National Horticulture Board (NHB). A Horticulture cluster is a geographic or regional concentration of specific horticulture crops.

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and other states will be included in the list of 55 clusters, which will be identified by their focus/main crops.

Objectives of the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme

• The CDP aims to increase targeted crop exports by 20% and create cluster-specific brands to boost cluster crop competitiveness.

• To address all major issues confronting the Indian horticulture sector, such as pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing, and branding.

• To promote integrated and market-led development of horticulture clusters by leveraging geographical specialization.

• Converge with other government initiatives such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

• CDP will also attract significant investment in the horticulture sector.

Schemes under Horticulture Cluster Development Programme

It has five major horticulture schemes:

• National Horticulture Mission (NHM).

• Horticulture Mission for the North Eastern and Himalayan States (HMNEH).

• National Horticulture Board (NHB).

• Coconut Development Board(CDB).

• Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH).

How To Apply

• Based on the Cluster Gap Assessment Report, the CDA will issue a single Call for Proposals for all cluster verticals (CGAR). Applicants may submit proposals for the various clusters.

• Applicants will have the option of applying for financial assistance for single vertical, multiple verticals, or an integrated project covering all of the CDP's verticals.

The Cluster Development Programme has the potential to transform the entire horticulture ecosystem by establishing last-mile connectivity through the use of multimodal transportation for efficient and timely horticulture production evacuation and transportation.

Also Read:- 

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

National Horticulture Mission - A Mission for Holistic Horticultural Growth

National e-Governance Plan Agriculture (NeGP-A), Purpose & Benefits.