Despite the numerous constraints faced by the horticulture sector, there are several opportunities for improvement. One such opportunity is the Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index, launched by the NITI Aayog. The Index ranks states and union territories based on their implementation of provisions proposed under the model APMC Act, joining the e-NAM initiative, providing special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing, and tax levies in mandis.
The federal government is also working on reducing crop losses through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which provides comprehensive crop insurance coverage from pre-sowing to post-harvest losses against non-preventable natural risks. Another key initiative is the Centre's Cluster Development Programme which has the potential to revolutionize the value chain by enhancing its scale. The program aims to promote the integrated and market-led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding, and marketing activities by leveraging the geographical specialization of horticulture clusters.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
