Government allocates Rs 1,360 crore for horticulture in FY'13

NEW DELHI: The government has allocated Rs 1,360 crore to the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), that covers 372 districts, for this fiscal.

In 2011-12, the government had released Rs 975 crore as financial assistance under the programme, aims to give impetus to encourage cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices.

"Budgetary allocation for NHM has been pegged at Rs 1,360 crore in the current financial year. Rs 975 crore was released in the last financial year," an official release said today.

It added that 372 districts in 17 states and union territories of Delhi, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry are covered under the programme.

The north-eastern and hilly states are covered under another scheme, Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH), it said.

"Rs 5,840.47 crore have been released to states as financial assistance under NHM from 2005-2012," it added.

The central government contributes 85 per cent of total outlay while the rest 15 per cent is contributed by the state governments.