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Andhra Pradesh State Horticulture Mission (APSHM) Photo: Shyamli Kashyap · Pexels License · source ↗

Andhra Pradesh State Horticulture Mission (APSHM)

The Andhra Pradesh State Horticulture Mission (APSHM) is the state-level implementing agency for the centrally sponsored Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and additional state-funded horticulture programmes. It operates under the Department of Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh and channels subsidies for area expansion, protected cultivation, drip irrigation, post-harvest infrastructure and human resource development in fruit, vegetable, spice and flower crops across all 26 districts of AP.

Scope and launch

APSHM was constituted under MIDH (see MIDH Mission Integrated Horticulture) in 2014-15 when MIDH subsumed the earlier National Horticulture Mission (NHM). The mission is the principal state vehicle for horticulture development in YSR Kadapa (citrus), Chittoor and Annamayya (mango, tomato), Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai (mango, pomegranate, custard apple, tomato), West Godavari (oil palm, banana, coconut) and Krishna and Eluru districts (banana, mango).

Eligibility

The mission supports individual farmers, FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives and registered companies. Most sub-components target small and marginal cultivators (less than 2 ha land); area expansion of fruit crops typically has a per-beneficiary cap of 4 ha (2 ha for the main beneficiary plus 2 ha for the spouse) under the MIDH financial norms. Sericulture, oil palm and bamboo are handled separately under their own central missions.

Benefit structure

  • Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:State) under MIDH, with state-only top-up for specific items
  • Mango orchard establishment: 40 percent subsidy on input cost, paid in 60:20:20 ratio over 3 years subject to plant survival audit
  • Drip irrigation: 90 percent subsidy for small/marginal/SC/ST farmers; 80 percent for others (delivered jointly with PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop, see PMKSY Micro Irrigation Subsidy)
  • Protected cultivation: 50 percent subsidy on naturally ventilated polyhouse and shade-net house up to 4000 sq m per beneficiary
  • Post-harvest: 50 percent subsidy on pack-houses, pre-cooling units, ripening chambers and reefer vans (capped per project type)
  • Farm pond, mulching, INM/IPM: 40-50 percent subsidies under state norms

Implementation

The State Mission Director is the principal officer at state level, with District Horticulture Officers as field implementers. Applications are submitted online through the APSHM portal hosted on horticulture.ap.gov.in and through the village agriculture assistants (RBKs - Rythu Bharosa Kendras). Geo-tagged plot verification, plant survival audits and DBT-style benefit transfer to the farmer's Aadhaar-seeded bank account are standard. Convergence with Rythu Bharosa (Rythu Bandhu Rythu Bharosa), FPO formation (FPO Farmer Producer Organisation) and cold-chain projects (Cold Storage and Pack House) is encouraged.

How farmers register

Farmers approach their nearest Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) or District Horticulture Officer with land records, Aadhaar, bank passbook and tentative project proposal. Online registration is through the horticulture.ap.gov.in portal under "Schemes & Subsidies". Beneficiary selection is conducted on a first-come-first-served basis subject to annual district allocation; SC/ST/women applicants get reservation as per state policy.

See also: MIDH Mission Integrated Horticulture, PMKSY Micro Irrigation Subsidy, Cold Storage and Pack House, Rythu Bandhu Rythu Bharosa, FPO Farmer Producer Organisation.

Sources

  1. Andhra Pradesh State Horticulture Mission. Department of Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
  2. MIDH Operational Guidelines. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
  3. Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Action Plan. APHorticulture.