HORTICULTURE BLOOMING IN MIZORAM

Mizoram’s horticulture department has seen tremendous growth during the last decade, with many transformations seen in the form of introducing hybrid seeds with better adaptability and higher yields; as well as in infrastructure developments.

- Ezrela Dalidia Fanai

The people of the state have taken up horticulture not only as a means of livelihood but also as a source of entrepreneurship.

 The state of Mizoram was even awarded the Best Horticulture State in 2019 organized by Agriculture Today for its excellent contribution to the development of Horticulture.

It is worth mentioning that the State is self-sufficient in oranges, squash, ginger, turmeric, birds’ eye chilly and flowers such as Anthurium and exports such items every year. The state even has an annual Anthurium festival organised by the tourism industry.

The horticultural scene in the State was transformed with the introduction of Central Sponsored Schemes viz Technology Mission, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Technical Cooperation under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Article 275(1), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), North Eastern Council (NEC),

State Flagship programme- SocioEconomic Development Policy (SEDP), and other interventions made by the government for the interest of the farming communities (Horticulture e-book).