Thursday, May 19 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today (May 19,2005) approved launch of the National Horticulture Mission with an outlay of Rs 2,300 crore for the remaining period of the Tenth Plan.

The CCEA, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also gave in-principle approval for continuing the mission, which was announced in the Budget, during the Eleventh Plan.

During the Tenth Plan, Centre will bear all fund requirements of the mission and after review, the mode of fundraising for it in the Eleventh Plan will be decided, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said after the meeting.

State Governments could be asked to contribute 15 per cent of the funds required for the mission in Eleventh Plan.

In the Tenth Plan, 5.45 lakh hectares of additional land would be brought under horticultural crops and one-lakh hectares of land already under these crops would be rejuvenated, he said.

Chidambaram said that the end of Eleventh Plan would bring 33 lakh hectares of additional land brought under horticultural crops and 16 lakh hectares rejuvenated.

The mission will have three-tier structure at the National, State and District level. At the National level, the General Council headed by the Agriculture Minister will make the policy.

The Executive Committee at the Central Level would be headed by secretary (Agriculture and Cooperation) to oversee the activities of the mission and approve individual State action plans.