National Horticulture Board — commercial horticulture and cold storage subsidy

The circular cut the rate from 40%/50% (Guidelines Scheme 1, item 1(i), p.6) to 35%/45%; the Rs 100 lakh per project norm and other conditions stay. Projects must cover more than 2 ha (more than 1 ha in the NE region). Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Open Field Cultivation Projects — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

The circular replaced the earlier 50% (Guidelines Scheme 1, item 1(iii), p.7) with 35%/45%; the ceiling of subsidy, Rs 100 lakh per project, stays ("The applicable ceiling of subsidy … shall remain"). Projects must exceed 4000 sq m (1000 sq m in NE states). Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Protected Cultivation Projects, including plug-type nurseries under protected conditions — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

This is NHB Scheme 2, for cold stores of 5001 to 20,000 MT (1000 MT or more in North-Eastern states) (Guidelines p.18). The circular cut the rate from 35%/50% to 35%/45%. Ladakh is not named in this clause, so it is shown at 35%; scheduled areas and vibrant villages get 45% but cannot be told from your state alone. One-family-once rule and land cost exclusion apply (circular cl. 1, 5).

“Under the revised provisions, NHB shall provide credit-linked back-ended subsidy at: 35% of the eligible project cost in General Areas; and 45% in NER and Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas, Vibrant Villages, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. The maximum subsidy admissible from NHB for any type of cold storage project shall not exceed ₹2.00 crore.”

This is Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(ii), "Large scale Hi-Tech open field cultivation of identified high value horticulture crops in a project mode (Apple, Walnut, Almond, Cashew nut, kiwi and date palm)": Rs. 200.00 lakh per project for projects covering area over 20 ha (p.6). The circular cut its rate from 40% / 50% to 35% / 45%. Counted cost is the crop-wise per-hectare ceiling (pp.11–15) × your area, at most Rs 200 lakh. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Open Field Cultivation Projects — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(iv), "Hi-tech Plug Type Nursery under controlled conditions in project mode": project based as per MIDH cost norms, for area above 4000 sq m (1000 sq m in NE states), maximum subsidy Rs 100 lakh per project (p.7). We apply the 4,000 sq m limit everywhere, so a smaller NE project may still qualify. The circular cut the rate from 50% to 35% / 45%. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Protected Cultivation Projects, including plug-type nurseries under protected conditions — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(v), "Setting up of new Tissue Culture Unit": Max Rs. 250 Lakhs/Unit; the unit must produce at least 10 lakh hardened plants a year (up to 25 lakh) and be accredited within 18 months of the last instalment (p.7). The circular replaced the earlier 40% with 35% / 45%. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“New Tissue Culture Units – Private Sector — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(vi): "As per NHB norms for a minimum installed capacity above 50 MT and upto 300 MT in controlled conditions @ Rs. 75000/MT without canning and @ Rs. 85000/ MT with Canning including Production Unit + Compost making Unit" (p.7). The circular cut the rate from 40% / 50% to 35% / 45%. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Integrated Mushroom Units — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(vii): "All Post Harvest Management Components(C1 to C6 as per MIDH guidelines) — As per MIDH Cost Norms" (p.7); built to NCCD guidelines. The fixed pre-cooling unit (C.4, Rs 5 lakh per tonne) is a separate item. The circular set 35% / 45% for "Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary/Primary Processing"; the guidelines had printed 35% / 50%. The ceilings of subsidy stay as printed. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary Primary/Processing — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Cost norm from MIDH Operational Guidelines 2025, Annexure V, C.4 Pre-cooling unit: "Upto a maximum cost of Rs. 5 Lakh/MT" (p.64), applied through Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(vii). 20 cubic metres of pre-cooler count as one tonne (Guidelines p.35). No maximum capacity is printed. The circular set 35% / 45% for "Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary/Primary Processing"; the guidelines had printed 35% / 50%. The ceilings of subsidy stay as printed. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary Primary/Processing — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(viii): "For the purpose of calculation Rs. 3.45 lakhs/MT would be considered … from 15 MT and max. of 30 MT per refrigerated vehicle"; maximum subsidy Rs 80 lakh per project in general areas and Rs 100 lakh in NE & Himalayan states, scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep (pp.8, 35). We cap at Rs 80 lakh everywhere, so a large NE project may get more. Vehicles must have GPS and telematics. The circular set 35% / 45% for "Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary/Primary Processing"; the guidelines had printed 35% / 50%. The ceilings of subsidy stay as printed. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary Primary/Processing — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(ix), "Secondary Processing units for Value addition": Rs. 100 lakh/unit (as per MIDH cost norms) (p.8). The circular set 35% / 45% for "Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary/Primary Processing"; the guidelines had printed 35% / 50%. The ceilings of subsidy stay as printed. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary Primary/Processing — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

Guidelines Scheme 1 item 1(x): Rs. 1.00 lakh/MT non-pressurised, Rs. 1.20 lakh/MT pressurised (p.8). Maximum admissible capacity 300 MT; each chamber 15 to 30 MT; 11 cubic metres count as one tonne (p.11). The circular set 35% / 45% for "Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary/Primary Processing"; the guidelines had printed 35% / 50%. The ceilings of subsidy stay as printed. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Post-Harvest Management Components, including Secondary Primary/Processing — General Area 35% — NER/Himalayan States, Scheduled Areas and specified UTs* 45%”

The guidelines print 50%; the 21 Aug 2026 circular (cl. 4) sets 35% / 45% for the cold storage scheme, and we apply that lower rate to modernisation too. If NHB confirms 50% still applies to modernisation, you get more, up to Rs 62.5 lakh. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“C-12 Modernisation of Refrigeration — Modernisation for Refrigeration with latest technologies including refrigeration plant and associated equipment’s with the refrigeration system to reduce energy consumption & Unified Control System with PLC, BMS, IoT, Remote Monitoring, etc. — Rs.125 lakh / project (where 5 Lakhs/ project is for Unified Control System) — Credit linked back-ended assistance @ 50% of the actual cost or 50% of the Rs. 125lakh whichever is lower, for Modernisation of Refrigeration, with capping of maximum subsidy to Rs. 62.5 lakhs.”

The new insulation must cut energy use by at least 5%; EPS is not allowed. The guidelines print 50%; the 21 Aug 2026 circular (cl. 4) sets 35% / 45% for the cold storage scheme, and we apply that lower rate. If NHB confirms 50% still applies, you get more, up to Rs 60 lakh. Since 21 Aug 2026 only one member of a family (spouse, parents, sons, daughters) can ever get NHB help, once, across all NHB schemes; groups of farmers and serving government employees cannot apply (circular cl. 1–2). Land cost is not counted (cl. 5). Scheduled areas also get the higher rate — ask NHB, as we cannot tell them from your state alone.

“Modernisation of Insulation — The insulation used should be CFC and preferably HCFC free material … to result in at least 5% reduction in energy consumption. EPS is not allowed. — Rs.120 lakh / project — Credit linked back-ended assistance @ 50% of the actual cost or 50% of the Rs. 120lakh whichever is lower, for Modernisation of Insulation, with capping of maximum subsidy to Rs. 60 lakhs.”