Growing horticultural crops like orange and kinnow, or cash crops like cumin and isabgol, isn’t cheap. These crops demand quality planting material, fertilizers, proper irrigation systems, and post-harvest infrastructure, all of which add up to a fairly input- and labour-intensive process.
Various stakeholders had flagged this to the government, and with input and material costs across the horticulture sector climbing, the operational guidelines of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme were revised in 2025. The revision pushed up cost norms for several horticultural crops and brought in some of the newer technologies now used in the sector. A comparative statement laying out the enhanced support is included as an Annexure.
How Disaster Relief Fits Into the Picture
Under the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), it’s the State Government that carries primary responsibility for delivering relief on the ground once a calamity is notified. States fund these relief efforts through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), following norms and items approved by the Government of India.
When a calamity is classified as “severe,” states can also seek additional support from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), over and above SDRF, based on a memorandum submitted by the State Government and processed through established procedures. It’s worth being clear about one thing: money released under SDRF and NDRF counts as relief, not compensation. Anyone looking for the detailed items and norms can find them on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Disaster Management Division website at ndmindia.mha.gov.in.
What Changed: Old Guidelines vs New Guidelines
Here’s how the MIDH support structure for orange, kinnow, cumin, and isabgol cultivation has shifted between the 2014 guidelines and the revised 2025 version.
I. Fruit Crop (Citrus), including Orange and Kinnow
Under the old 2014 guidelines, high-density orchard establishment carried a cost norm of ₹1.00 lakh/ha without drip integration, and ₹1.50 lakh/ha with it. Subsidy support stood at 40% in general areas and 50% in NE and hilly areas, capped at 4 ha per beneficiary.
The revised 2025 guidelines raise these numbers considerably. Regular spacing (without drip) now carries a cost norm of ₹1.25 lakh/ha, high-density plantation gets ₹2.00 lakh/ha, and ultra-high-density plantation gets ₹3.00 lakh/ha. The subsidy pattern itself hasn’t changed, it stays at 40 to 50% depending on the region.
II. Seed Spice, including Cumin
The 2014 guidelines set a cost norm of ₹30,000/ha, with subsidy support of 40% in general areas and 50% in NE and hilly areas, again capped at 4 ha per beneficiary.
The 2025 revision bumps this up to ₹50,000/ha, factoring in improved seed varieties, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and scientific cultivation practices.
III. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, including Isabgol
This is where the biggest change lies: medicinal plants weren’t even part of the 2014 guidelines. They’ve now been brought in under the 2025 revision, with a cost norm of ₹1.50 lakh/ha and subsidy support ranging from 40 to 50% depending on the region, covering quality planting material, cultivation, and value-chain development.
Key Takeaway: The 2025 revision of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) reflects the government’s effort to align horticulture support with rising cultivation costs and modern farming practices by increasing cost norms, introducing assistance for ultra-high-density plantations, and extending coverage to medicinal crops such as isabgol.
While subsidy rates remain unchanged at 40% in general areas and 50% in the North East and hilly regions, the expanded financial support is intended to promote productivity, technology adoption, and value-chain development. At the same time, the disaster relief framework under the SDRF and NDRF continues to provide financial assistance for notified calamities as relief rather than compensation, reinforcing the complementary roles of agricultural development schemes and disaster management mechanisms in supporting farmers.
M.C.Q.
Question 1: Under the revised operational guidelines of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), the subsidy pattern for horticulture projects in general areas is:
- A. 25% of the cost norm
- B. 30% of the cost norm
- C. 40% of the cost norm
- D. 60% of the cost norm
Question 2: Which of the following statements regarding the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is correct?
- A. Both funds are meant to provide compensation for crop losses only.
- B. Disaster relief is the primary responsibility of the Union Government.
- C. Assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is treated as relief and not as compensation.
- D. NDRF can be accessed by individuals directly without State Government involvement.
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