Imphal, June 14 2009: The government of Manipur has requested the Union ministry of Agriculture for additional funds for setting up of seven more processing units of horticulture products under the Technology Mission for Development of Horticulture in North Eastern Region citing that four units have been set up under the mission so far in Manipur.

An official source said that the Union ministry of Agriculture has been requested for additional allocation of Rs 948.15 lakh including Rs 520.15 lakhs for development of organic farming under the mission.

Union Ministry of Agriculture had allocated Rs 25 crores for the state of Manipur under the Technology Mission for Development of Horticulture in North Eastern Region which covers Sikkim also during the year 2008-09 .

The state government has so far utilised Rs 18.50 crores.

So far with the fund, a processing unit set up at Kachai in Ukhrul district for processing of lemons and four units set up under mini-mission programme through the state industries department.

The proposal for allocation for additional seven processing units has been submitted under the mini-mission-IV which would be taken up under Farm Handling Component of the mission, the source said.

Technology Mission for Development of Horticulture in North Eastern Region including Sikkim is a Central sector project which aims at establishing convergence and synergy among numerous ongoing governmental programme in the field of horticulture development to achieve horizontal and vertical integration of these programmes in the region among others.

Ensure adequate, appropriate, timely and concurrent attention to all the links in the production, post harvest and consumption chain, maximise economic, ecological and social benefits from the existing investment and infrastructure created for horticulture development, promote ecologically sustainable intensification, economically desirable diversification and skilled employment are also among the objective of the mission.

Generate value addition to promote the development and dissemination of eco- technologies based on the blending of the traditional wisdom and technology with frontier knowledge such as bio-technology, information technology and space technology; and to provide the missing links in ongoing horticulture development projects also included in objective.

Silent features of the mission includes: The Technology Mission comprise of four Mini Missions viz.

Mini Mission-I (MM-I), Research, Mini Mission-II (MM�II), Production and Productivity, Mini Mission�III (MM-III), Post harvest management, marketing and export and Mini Mission-IV (MM-IV), Processing.

Pattern of Assistance Area expansion: Fruits, vegetables including root & tuber crops, spices, cashewnut and medicinal plants @ 50% of the cost limited to RS.13,000/- per ha.

Aromatic plants @ 50% of the cost limited to Rs.5,000/- per ha.

Floriculture @ 50% of the cost limited to Rs.13,000/- per unit of 0.2 ha.

Modal Floriculture Centre @ Rs 70.00 lakhs per centre.

Integrated mushroom unit @ Rs.50.00 lakhs per centre.

Transfer of technology through training front line demonstration , publicity and training of trainers :Farmers Training-Rs.1500/ per farmer for 7 days; Training outside the state � Rs.2500/ per farmer, Training of trainers �Actual cost limited to Rs.50,000 per trainee, Supervisor Level Training centre � Supervisory-Rs.20.00 lakhs, Gardener- Rs.2.0 lakhs.

Organic farming is also a part of the mission.

It aimed at integration of existing schemes of fertilizer division by earthworm multiplication farm-Rs.30,000 per unit; Incentive for adopting organic farming-Rs.10000/.Assistance for obtaining certification-90% of the cost limited to Rs.5 lakhs for group of farmer.

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