Amendments to National Horticulture Mission guidelines

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved amendments to the National Horticulture Mission guidelines.

The amendments will modify the pattern of assistance involving credit linked bank-ended subsidy for production of seeds and material, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, post harvest management and marketing infrastructure, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the CCEA meeting.

The projects relating to these activities will mostly be enterpreneur driven, through commercial ventures, for which the Centre's assistance for individual entreprenuer will be credit linked back-ended subsidy of 25 per cent of the total project cost in general areas and 33.33 per cent in tribal and hilly areas.

The State Government agencies will also be entitled for assistance in respect of such activities.

The modification in pattern of assistance by de-linking the subsidy from bank credit for State Government agencies would result in more efficient use of available funds and attract more players in the implementation of the programme.

UNI