Technology Missions in Agriculture — NFSM, MIDH, NMEO-Oilseeds & PMKSY

Key Concepts

National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

NFSM was launched in October 2007 (2007-08) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, based on the recommendations of the National Development Council (NDC) sub-committee on agriculture. The mission's core objective is to increase production through area expansion and productivity enhancement while restoring soil fertility and creating rural employment.

Crops Covered — Evolution

• Original launch (2007-08): Rice, Wheat, Pulses
• Added from 2014-15: Coarse Cereals
• Current components: NFSM-Rice, NFSM-Wheat, NFSM-Pulses, NFSM-Coarse Cereals, NFSM-Nutri-Cereals, NFSM-Commercial Crops

The expansion to nutri-cereals (millets — jowar, bajra, ragi) reflects India's renewed push for nutritional security and the International Year of Millets (2023).

Strategy

NFSM promotes seed distribution of high-yielding varieties (HYV), demonstrations at cluster level, resource conservation technologies (zero-tillage, SRI in rice), soil health management, and improved farm implements. The mission covers over 600 districts across all states.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

MIDH was launched from 2014 onwards (12th Five-Year Plan) to holistically develop horticulture. It merged 6 pre-existing schemes:

1. National Horticulture Mission (NHM)
2. Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH)
3. National Bamboo Mission (NBM)
4. National Horticulture Board (NHB) — Central Sector
5. Coconut Development Board (CDB) — Central Sector
6. Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland — Central Sector

Budget 2024-25 allocation: Rs 2,000 crore

Recent expansion under MIDH incorporates modern farming techniques — Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Vertical Farming, and Precision Agriculture — reflecting the push for high-value, land-efficient horticulture.

MIDH targets area expansion, productivity enhancement, post-harvest management (pack houses, cold chains), and market linkages for fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, mushrooms, and plantation crops.

National Mission on Edible Oils — Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds)

NMOOP (National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm) was the earlier mission. In October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved a completely revamped successor: NMEO-Oilseeds, with an outlay of Rs 10,103 crore for a seven-year period (2024-25 to 2030-31).

The mission targets increasing primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31, substantially reducing India's massive dependence on edible oil imports (India imports ~60% of its edible oil requirement).

Key crops covered: Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, Sesamum; plus secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

PMKSY was launched in 2015-16 with the objective of ensuring water access to every farm ("Har Khet Ko Pani") and maximising water use efficiency ("More Crop Per Drop").

Components

HKKP sub-components include: Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair/Renovation/Restoration (RRR) of water bodies, and Groundwater (GW) Development.

From FY16 to FY25 (December 2024), Rs 21,968.75 crore was released to states for PDMC, covering 95.58 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

NMSA addresses climate vulnerability in agriculture by promoting Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), soil health management (Soil Health Card scheme), water conservation, agroforestry, and climate-resilient seed varieties. It is one of eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER)

MOVCDNER promotes certified organic farming in the North East by developing third-party certified organic value chains — from cluster formation to processing to retail. The mission supports Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), organic certification (NPOP), and market linkages for NE's organic produce (large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, eri silk).

Production Outcomes (Verified)

India achieved record foodgrain production of 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25 (Final Estimate, November 2025; wheat: 117.94 MT; rice: 150.18 MT — both all-time highs), reflecting the cumulative impact of NFSM and allied schemes. Irrigation coverage increased from 49.3% to 55% of gross cropped area between FY16 and FY21 (Economic Survey 2024-25).

Recent Developments (2024–2026)

Digital Agriculture Mission (2024) — AgriStack and Farmer IDs

The Union Cabinet approved the Digital Agriculture Mission on September 2, 2024 with an outlay of Rs 2,817 crore (central share Rs 1,940 crore). The mission creates AgriStack — a digital public infrastructure for agriculture comprising three layers: (1) Farmers' Registry (Farmer IDs for 11 crore farmers — 6 crore in FY 2024-25, targeting digital identity for all farmers); (2) Digital Crop Survey (covering 400 districts in FY 2024-25, all districts by FY 2025-26); (3) Krishi Decision Support System (using satellite, remote sensing, and AI for advisory). As of February 2026, over 84 million (8.4 crore) Farmer IDs have been generated. 19 states have signed MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture for implementation.

UPSC angle: Digital Agriculture Mission (approved September 2, 2024; Rs 2,817 crore), AgriStack (Farmer IDs 8.4 crore generated), and Digital Crop Survey (400 districts FY 2024-25) are high-priority Prelims and Mains GS3 facts on technology in agriculture.

NFSM Renamed as NFSNM — Nutrition Focus Integrated

In 2024-25, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was renamed National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) — integrating nutritional outcomes (not just production) into the mission's mandate. The mission now explicitly targets nutri-cereals (millets/Shree Anna) — reflecting the post-International Year of Millets 2023 momentum. India achieved record foodgrain production of 357.73 MT in FY 2024-25 (rice 150.18 MT, wheat 117.94 MT both all-time highs), reflecting the cumulative impact of NFSM/NFSNM over 17 years since the mission's 2007 launch.

UPSC angle: NFSM renamed to NFSNM (2024), nutri-cereals addition, and record foodgrain 357.73 MT (FY 2024-25) are current Prelims data. The mission's evolution (rice/wheat → millets → nutrition focus) is a Mains GS3 food security theme.

NMEO-Oilseeds (October 2024) and National Mission on Natural Farming

Cabinet approved NMEO-Oilseeds (Rs 10,103 crore, 2024-25 to 2030-31) to raise oilseed production from 39 MT to 69.7 MT by 2030-31 — replacing the earlier NMOOP. Separately, the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) was launched as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme in late 2024 with Rs 2,481 crore outlay, targeting 1 crore farmers across 7.5 lakh hectares through 15,000 clusters, with an incentive of Rs 4,000 per acre per year for two years. Budget 2025-26 boosted NMNF allocation by Rs 516 crore — from Rs 100 crore (RE 2024-25) to Rs 616.01 crore. The PM-PRANAM scheme incentivises states with 50% of fertiliser subsidy savings for reducing chemical fertiliser use.

UPSC angle: NMEO-Oilseeds (Rs 10,103 crore, Cabinet October 2024, 39 MT → 69.7 MT) and NMNF (Rs 2,481 crore, 1 crore farmers, Rs 4,000/acre incentive) are key current Prelims facts. Both represent the shift from "production at any cost" to sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.

PYQ Relevance

• UPSC Mains GS3 2016: "Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poorer section of Indian society?"
• UPSC Mains GS3 2018: "Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms."
• UPSC Prelims: Questions on NFSM crops covered, PMKSY components, and MIDH merger regularly appear.

Exam Strategy

Framework for technology missions answers: Objective → Target crops/sectors → Key interventions → Results (production data) → Challenges → Reforms needed.

Distinguish: NFSM = food crops (rice/wheat/pulses/coarse cereals); MIDH = horticulture; NMEO-Oilseeds = edible oils self-reliance; PMKSY = irrigation coverage and efficiency.

Note the update: NMOOP has been superseded by NMEO-Oilseeds (2024). Use this updated name in answers.

Cross-link to Ujiyari.com for current affairs on NFSM annual targets, MIDH expansion to precision farming, and PMKSY progress under the 2021-26 extension.