The National Horticulture Board (NHB), Gangtok, organized a Stakeholders' Meet on NHB Schemes at its office premises in Gangtok, with the objective of creating awareness and facilitating investment in the horticulture sector through various credit-linked and entrepreneurship-oriented schemes of the Board.

The programme was attended by Shri Padam Sharma, Chairman, Farmers Welfare Board, Government of Sikkim, Members of the Board of Directors of SIMFED, prospective horticulture entrepreneurs, progressive growers, and other stakeholders representing different districts of the State.

During the event, Shri Sansar Ahmed, Joint Director, NHB, delivered a detailed technical presentation on the various flagship schemes of the National Horticulture Board, highlighting the opportunities available for the establishment of commercially viable horticulture projects across the State. Special emphasis was laid on protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables under naturally ventilated polyhouses and other protected structures, open-field cultivation of high-value horticultural crops such as Avocado, Sikkim Orange, Lime, Guava, and Kiwi, establishment of Integrated Mushroom Production Units, Retail Marketing Outlets, Pre-Cooling Units, Cold Storage facilities for fruits and vegetables, and projects under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).

The participants were also sensitized on the scope for convergence of NHB schemes with the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and other relevant Central Sector Schemes (CSS) to maximize investment support and improve project viability. Detailed information was shared regarding eligibility criteria, pattern of assistance, institutional credit linkage, project financing, post-harvest management, value addition, supply-chain development, and market access mechanisms available to eligible beneficiaries, particularly in the North Eastern Region and the State of Sikkim.

The interactive session generated significant interest among aspiring entrepreneurs and growers, who actively participated in discussions relating to project formulation, access to institutional finance, adoption of modern production technologies, and creation of post-harvest infrastructure. The programme emphasized the importance of developing commercially sustainable, climate-resilient, and market-oriented horticulture enterprises capable of enhancing farmers' income, generating rural employment, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening the horticultural value chain in the organic State of Sikkim.

Addressing the participants, NHB officials reiterated the Board's commitment towards promoting scientific horticulture, entrepreneurship development, and infrastructure creation through its various schemes and interventions. The participants were assured of continuous technical guidance, project facilitation, and handholding support by NHB, Gangtok, right from project conceptualization and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to credit linkage, implementation, and successful completion of projects.

The programme concluded with an appeal to interested entrepreneurs, farmer producer organizations, cooperatives, agri-startups, and progressive growers to actively avail themselves of the opportunities provided under NHB schemes and contribute towards the sustainable and holistic development of the horticulture sector in Sikkim.

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