Meeting of Regional Group North Eastern Region on Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) was organised by the Horticulture Department, Government of Mizoram today at Aijal Club. The Chief Minister of Mizoram, who is also the Minister in charge of Horticulture Department graced the function as Chief Guest. 

The Chief Minister of Mizoram Pu Zoramthanga elaborated on requirement of holistic approach for promotion of horticulture crops and integration of technologies for increased production and sustaining quality of produce. He said that the North Eastern States are most suited for development in primary sector which includes produce of the land. Emphasis should be made on large scale production, transportation, processing and marketing, he said. Stating that the North East States including Mizoram has sufficient land which is suitable to feed its own people Pu Zoramthanga opines that Mizoram and all the other States of the North East can revolutionize and transform the economy of their own respective states and thereby improving the economy of India as a whole through large scale production and marketing of bamboo and other horticulture crops. 

In the inaugural programme chaired by Pu Rodney L. Ralte, the Secretary, Horticulture Department, Mizoram, Dr Namita Bhuyan, Horticulture Consultant, Govt. of India gave a power point presentation on MIDH. Mr S.K. Paul, Asst. Commissioner, MIDH, Govt. of India presided over the technical session in which deliberation was made on working difficulties of MIDH programme, suggestion of new components, cost norms and innovative ideas to be incorporated in the Revamp MIDH beyond 31.03.2020 focusing on the 8 states of the North East – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.  Representatives from each states of the North East India attended the one day meeting on MIDH. 

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the growth of horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. Under MIDH, Government of India (GOI) contributes 60%, of total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states except states in North East and Himalayas, 40% share is contributed by State Governments. In the case of North Eastern States and Himalayan States, GOI contributes 90%.