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Introduction

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a centrally sponsored initiative launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. It aims to spur growth across the horticulture sector—including fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and more—through an integrated, end‑to‑end approach. With strategic investments in production, post‑harvest management, value addition, marketing, research, and training, MIDH seeks to enhance farmer income, nutrition security, rural employment, and sustainability

Objectives & Strategies

At its core, MIDH focuses on:

1. Holistic Development: Integrating pre‑ and post‑harvest practices, processing, and marketing in area‑based strategies tailored to local agro‑climates .
2. Productivity Enhancement: Promoting quality germplasm, micro‑irrigation, protected cultivation (greenhouses, poly‑houses), rejuvenation of old orchards, and high‑density plantings
3. Value‑chain Infrastructure: Establishing nurseries, tissue culture units, pack‑houses, ripening chambers, cold storage facilities, seed and seedling production units, and marketing hubs
4. Processing & Mechanisation: Supporting primary and commercial processing units, mechanisation tools, and post‑harvest infrastructure to reduce waste and add value
5. Research & Capacity Building: Investing in R&D, promoting good agricultural practices, updating curricula, training farmers and youth, and strengthening state mission bodies
6. Institutional Support and Convergence: Encouraging FPOs, FIGs, FPCs, and partnerships with financial and marketing aggregators; coordinating among ministries, NABARD, ICAR, NHB, State Horticulture Missions, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras

MIDH in Karnataka: Highlights & Progress

1. Centres of Excellence (CoEs)

Under MIDH’s CoE component, Karnataka was chosen for a Dragon Fruit (Kamalam) Centre of Excellence at the IIHR experimental farm in Hirehalli (Tumkur district), under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. Launched in March 2023, this CoE aims to:

• Develop international‑standard production and off‑season cultivation methods
• Introduce high‑yield, nutrient‑efficient, and stress‑tolerant dragon‑fruit varieties
• Standardize propagation, post‑harvest handling, and storage protocols
• Provide planting material to growers
• Facilitate export‑quality produce and value‑addition
• Train farmers via demos, field visits, and digital learning

Dragon fruit farming in India is relatively new, covering ~3,000 ha, with imports worth ~₹100 crore in 2021. MIDH aims to expand commercial cultivation to ~50,000 ha by 2028, enhancing self‑reliance and farmer profitability

2. Strengthening Institutional Support

Karnataka’s Department of Horticulture plays a vital role in state‑level implementation. It oversees:

• Facilitating subsidies for nurseries, poly‑houses, tissue culture, agro‑mechanisation, bee‑keeping, organic farming, and marketing infrastructure
• Promoting HOPCOMS—the state’s flagship marketing cooperative founded by Dr M.H. Marigowda (“father of horticulture in Karnataka”)—to streamline produce aggregation, cold storage, and retail
• Collaborating with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (e.g., Hirehalli KVK) for farmer training and technology transfer .
• Encouraging FPOs and development of rural youth entrepreneurship

3. Impact and Reach

• Farmer Empowerment: Improved yields, higher incomes, and crop diversification. New crops like dragon fruit provide lucrative returns and reduce dependency on imports
• Nutrition & Rural Employment: Increased availability of nutrient‑rich produce with job creation in cultivation, processing, cold-chain operations, and retail.
• Technology Diffusion and Market Linkages: High‑tech systems (protected cultivation, fertigation, mechanisation) are being demonstrated under MIDH‑supported CoEs and nurseries, enabling adoption across districts.
• Exports and Value‑Addition: CoE focus on post‑harvest standards and processing helps tap domestic retail and international markets.

Challenges & the Way Forward

While Karnataka has made substantial strides, several hurdles persist:

• Small‑farmer Reach: Ensuring subsidies and infrastructure reach marginal farmers evenly.
• Post‑harvest Losses: Continued need for cold‑chain investment and local processing units.
• Scaling Emerging Crops: Expanding dragon‑fruit cultivation sustainably beyond model farms.
• Market Integration: Strengthening farmer‑to‑market linkages, especially for exports.

Future efforts should focus on expanding CoEs, boosting FPOs, enhancing data‑driven monitoring, and leveraging digital tools to sustain momentum.

Conclusion

The MIDH in Karnataka presents a forward‑looking vision for transforming the horticulture landscape through integrated support—right from high‑quality planting material and modern infrastructure to research and market access. The Dragon Fruit Centre of Excellence at IIHR Hirehalli is a flagship example. Coupled with institutional support from HOPCOMS and KVKs, MIDH is helping farmers adopt high‑value crops, increase incomes, enhance nutrition, and generate rural employment. With improved reach and sustained investments, Karnataka is well‑on its way to becoming a powerhouse in integrated, quality‑led horticulture in India.