AGRICULTURAL INPUT SUBSIDY FOR HORTICULTURE CROPS

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare revised the operational guidelines of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in 2025, raising cost norms and subsidies for horticultural crops such as orange, kinnow, cumin and isabgol. Under the new guidelines, cost norms for fruit crops increased to ₹1.25‑₹3.00 lakh per hectare with subsidies of 40‑50 %, and seed spice (cumin) norms rose to ₹50,000 per hectare. Medicinal and aromatic plants, previously excluded, now receive a subsidy of ₹1.5 lakh per hectare at 40‑50 % support. The changes respond to stakeholder requests and rising input prices, aiming to enhance adoption of advanced technologies and improve post‑harvest infrastructure.