Lok Sabha Question No. 3770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Vertical Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3770

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## VERTICAL FARMING

3770. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  scheme  for  improving  agricultural production and food security by vertical farming, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  commercial  viability  and  scalability  of vertical farming technologies in the country, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  any  new  Centrally  sponsored scheme exclusively for vertical farming; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  to  (d):  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  Mission  for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), for holistic development of the horticulture sector.  The  protected  cultivation  component  has  been  recently  expanded  by  including greenhouse based vertical farming under MIDH. The details of cost norms and pattern of assistance under MIDH for aeroponics and hydroponics are given at Annexure- I . Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a Central Sector Scheme, aimed at improving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security through the development of infrastructure  at  the  farm  gate  and  post-harvest  stages,  supports  innovative  farming practices  such  as  Vertical  Farming.  The  Hydroponic  Farming,  Vertical  farming  and Aeroponic  farming  are  eligible  projects  covered  under  AIF  scheme.  The  details  of component, pattern of assistance and eligible projects under AIF are given at Annexure-II . The  assessment  has  not  been  done  for  commercial  viability  and  scalability  of  vertical farming  technologies  in  India.  However,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)-

Central  Potato  Research  Institute  (CPRI),  Shimla  has  developed  a  programmed  air  mistbased  potato  culturing  technique  based  on  aeroponics  technology.  The  Aeroponics Technology of potato seed production has been commercialized to various stakeholders by the  institute  to  ensure  the  quality  seed  production.  ICAR-  lndian  lnstitute  of  Horticultural Research (llHR), Bengaluru and ICAR-Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow are also involved in research on hydroponics technology to firm up comparative productivity, efficiency and viability.

Annexure- I

## The details of cost norms and pattern of assistance under MIDH under protected cultivation

| Protected cultivation                               | Protected cultivation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Protected cultivation                                                                                                              |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Poly house/ Hybrid/ Retractable structures          | Poly house/ Hybrid/ Retractable structures                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Poly house/ Hybrid/ Retractable structures                                                                                         |
| Poly house/ Hybrid/ Retractable structures          | Rs. 1800/Sq.m(up to area 500 Sq. m) Rs. 1600/Sq. m (>500 Sq.m up to 1008 Sqm) Rs. 1500/Sq. m (>1008 Sq. m up to 2500 Sq.m) Above rates will be 15% higher in the case of North Eastern (NE) & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands | Assistance @ 50% for a maximum area of 2500 sq m per beneficiary or on pro- rata basis for smaller areas.                          |
| Add on Components                                   | Add on Components                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Add on Components                                                                                                                  |
| i. Hydroponics and Aeroponics                       | Rs. 350/- per Sq.mt. Above rates will be 15% higher in the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.                                                                                                                      | Assistance @ 50% for a maximum area of 1000 sqm per beneficiary or on pro- rata basis for smaller areas.                           |
| ii. Circulation Fans in poly house only             | Rs. 5000 per fan. Above rates will be 15% higher in the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.                                                                                                                         | Assistance @ 50% for a maximum of 6 fans for a maximum area of 2500 sq.m. per beneficiary or on pro- rata basis for smaller areas. |
| iii. Sensor based Automation System for fertigation | Rs. 4 lakh/unit Above rates will be 15% higher in the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.                                                                                                                           | Assistance @ 50% per unit per beneficiary for minimum area of 2500 sq.m. per beneficiary under protected cultivation.              |

## The details of component, pattern of assistance and eligible projects under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

|   Sl.No. | Name of Component         | Norms                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Interest Subvention Cost. | All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of ₹ 2 crore. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years. In case of loans beyond ₹ 2 crore, then interest subvention will be limited up to ₹ 2 crore. |
|        2 | Credit Guarantee Cost     | Credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to ₹ 2 crore. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government.           |
|        3 | Eligible Projects         | Viable Farming Assets: Hydroponic Farming, Vertical Farming, Aeroponic farming and Poly house/ Greenhouse.                                                                                                                                                                        |

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