State Horticulture Mission Kerala

What State Horticulture Mission Kerala does

State Horticulture Mission Kerala (SHM-Kerala) is a government society registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955, established in October 2005 and operational since November 2005. It functions as the designated nodal agency in Kerala for implementing the centrally sponsored Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under a 60:40 funding split between the Government of India and the Government of Kerala. The mission delivers an end-to-end horticulture development programme covering production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing, implemented through 14 District Horticulture Mission (DHM) offices covering all districts of Kerala and a wider Krishi Bhavan (block-level agriculture office) network.

SHM-Kerala's core products and underlying technology span multiple centrally sponsored schemes including MIDH, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), and the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission. Technologies disseminated include tissue culture propagation, protected cultivation (greenhouses, shade nets), drip irrigation, integrated pest management (IPM), integrated nutrient management (INM), vermiculture, and beekeeping for pollination support. Notable products include the ARKA Vertical Garden (a soil-less vertical gardening structure developed by ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru), post-harvest infrastructure such as pack houses, cold storage units, ripening chambers, and refrigerated transport, and a suite of crop handbooks covering vegetables, orchids, and anthurium.

The mission does not operate a conventional revenue model; instead, it acts as a disbursement channel for government subsidies and financial assistance. Pricing is structured as standardized subsidies per unit of infrastructure or input (e.g., Rs 50,000 per vermicompost unit, Rs 2 lakh per pack house, Rs 22,100 per ARKA Vertical Garden with Rs 15,525 subsidy). Customer segments include individual farmers, farmer groups and cooperatives (minimum 25 members for group schemes), private entrepreneurs (eligible for credit-linked back-ended subsidies), government agencies and PSUs, and urban/peri-urban households targeted through the ARKA Vertical Garden. Distribution combines offline channels (DHM offices, Krishi Bhavans) with online application processing via serviceonline.gov.in and implementing partners including Kerala Agricultural University, KVKs, VFPCK, Horticorp, Spices Board, Coconut Development Board, NABARD, and ICAR institutions.

Name

State Horticulture Mission Kerala

Legal name

State Horticulture Mission Kerala

Website

https://shm.kerala.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

State Horticulture Mission Kerala is a government society, established 2005, that implements centrally sponsored horticulture development schemes (MIDH, RKVY, RIDF, PMKSY, PKVY, National Beekeeping and Honey Mission) across all 14 districts of Kerala, delivering subsidies, technology dissemination, and post-harvest infrastructure to farmers, farmer groups, entrepreneurs, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Horticulture Development Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant Propagation & Nursery CEA Equipment (Germination Rooms, Tissue Culture Support) (AFAAAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Irrigation, Fertigation & Nutrient Delivery Systems (Dosing, Injectors, Sensors) (AFAAAHAE), Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

Keywords

• Horticulture development programs
• Government agriculture subsidies
• Rural farm infrastructure
• Crop cultivation guidance
• Integrated horticulture scheme

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidy Disbursement: The mission acts as a disbursement channel for government subsidies under MIDH. Financial assistance is provided as credit-linked back-ended subsidies for entrepreneur-driven projects in post-harvest management, protected cultivation, and infrastructure development. For public sector agencies, cooperatives, and farmer groups with at least 25 members, assistance is back-ended (not credit-linked).
2. Financial Assistance for Infrastructure: Grants provided for pack houses (Rs 2 lakh per unit), integrated pack house units (Rs 17.5 lakh plain/Rs 25 lakh hilly), pre-cooling units, cold storage, refrigerated transport, ripening chambers, and primary processing units. Subsidy rates range from 30-55% depending on region and project type.
3. Subsidized Inputs and Structures: Distribution of subsidized inputs including the ARKA Vertical Garden Structure at Rs 22,100 per unit with Rs 15,525 subsidy (beneficiary contribution Rs 6,575). Seeds, plant nutrient management materials, and plant protection products provided with structures.
4. Market Infrastructure Development: Financial assistance for rural markets, retail outlets, mobile vending carts, collection-grading-packing infrastructure, and quality control labs. Subsidy ceiling of Rs 15 lakh per unit with 35-50% support for plain areas and 50% for hilly areas.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

State Horticulture Mission Kerala is a government society that implements centrally sponsored horticulture development schemes covering production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing for the horticulture sector in Kerala. It disburses credit-linked and back-ended government subsidies to individual farmers, farmer groups/cooperatives, private entrepreneurs, and government agencies through 14 District Horticulture Mission offices. The mission also promotes modern cultivation technologies, distributes subsidized inputs, and runs farmer training and technology dissemination programs.

Product overview

State Horticulture Mission Kerala operates as a government society implementing multiple centrally sponsored horticulture development schemes. The primary offerings include the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) as the core program, supplemented by RKVY, RIDF, PKVY, PMKSY, and National Beekeeping and Honey Mission schemes. The mission also promotes innovative products like the ARKA Vertical Garden for urban/container-based vegetable cultivation. Additional offerings include comprehensive crop handbooks for vegetables (including minor vegetables, cool season crops), flowers (orchids, anthurium), and grow bag cultivation techniques. The mission provides downloadable publications, annual reports, bulletins, and success stories as knowledge resources for farmers and stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) A centrally sponsored scheme for holistic growth of the horticulture sector in Kerala covering production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing. Open to individual farmers, farmer groups, private entrepreneurs, and government agencies who can access subsidies for planting material, protected cultivation, irrigation, mechanization, organic farming, beekeeping, and post-harvest infrastructure.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Umbrella scheme allowing states to choose horticulture and allied agriculture development activities as per district and state agriculture plans. Used by SHM-Kerala to fund projects such as the ARKA Vertical Garden under RKVY 2022-23.
• Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF)

Quantifiable outcome

• 138 vermicompost units established for organic farming promotion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kerala Agricultural University (KAU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2005KAU serves as a key implementing agency and technical partner for SHM-Kerala. The Vice Chancellor of KAU is a member of both the Governing Body and the State Level Executive Committee. KAU's Department of Horticulture and Professor and Head of Horticulture are represented in governance structures. The university provides research-based technologies for demonstration and dissemination through the mission.
• Department of Agriculture, KeralacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005The Department of Agriculture is the primary implementing agency for SHM-Kerala schemes at the state level. The Director of Agriculture is a member of both the Governing Body and State Level Executive Committee. District-level implementation is coordinated through Principal Agricultural Officers and Deputy Directors of Agriculture (Horticulture).
• Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council-Kerala (VFPCK)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005VFPCK is an implementing agency for SHM-Kerala programmes at the district level. The CEO of VFPCK is a member of the Governing Body. VFPCK participates in district-level committee meetings and coordinates vegetable and fruit promotion activities under the mission.
• HorticorpcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005Horticorp is the nodal state-designated agency for coordinating beekeeping development programme (pollination support) under MIDH. The Managing Director of Horticorp is a member of the Governing Body. Horticorp also supports market infrastructure development and horticulture marketing activities.
• Spices BoardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005The Chairman of Spices Board is a member of the Governing Body. Spices Board collaborates on development of spice crops (black pepper, cardamom, clove, nutmeg) under the horticulture mission, providing technical guidance and market support.
• Coconut Development BoardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005The Chairman of Coconut Development Board is a member of the Governing Body. The board collaborates on coconut development activities within the overall horticulture development framework.
• Plantation Corporation of KeralaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2005Listed as an implementing agency for horticulture programmes at the district level, contributing to plantation crop development under SHM-Kerala.
• ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), BengalurucoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2005IIHR developed the ARKA Vertical Garden structure which SHM-Kerala popularizes under RKVY scheme. IIHR provides the technical design and specifications for this soil-less vertical gardening technology. SHM-Kerala distributes this technology to beneficiaries with subsidy support.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) InstitutionscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2005ICAR institutions including IIHR, IISR (Indian Institute of Spices Research), and CPCRI (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute) provide technical support, improved varieties, and research-based technologies for horticulture development under SHM-Kerala. Directors of these institutes are represented in the Governing Body.
• Commodity BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2005Various commodity boards besides Spices Board and Coconut Development Board are listed as implementing agencies for horticulture development programmes under the mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Horticulture Board (NHB): Apex national body under the Ministry of Agriculture promoting holistic horticulture development across India via MIDH implementation, technology transfer, and post-harvest infrastructure. Comparable because SHM-Kerala is the nodal state-level implementing agency for the same MIDH framework that NHB drives at the national level.

Direct peers

• Maharashtra State Horticulture Mission: Maharashtra's state horticulture mission body implementing MIDH, RKVY and protected cultivation subsidies with district-level offices. Same structural role and centrally sponsored scheme framework as SHM-Kerala.
• State Horticulture Mission – Tamil Nadu: State Horticulture Mission body implementing MIDH and other centrally sponsored horticulture schemes in Tamil Nadu through district horticulture offices. Directly comparable because it operates the same MIDH implementation framework, subsidy structure, and DHM delivery model as SHM-Kerala.
• Karnataka State Horticulture Mission: Karnataka's designated state society for horticulture development under MIDH, with district-level implementation and a similar subsidy mix. Directly comparable as a sister state horticulture mission society.

Others

• ICAR – Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru: Premier ICAR research institute that developed the ARKA Vertical Garden technology SHM-Kerala disseminates. Comparable as the upstream R&D source whose outputs flow through SHM-Kerala to end beneficiaries.
• Kerala Agricultural University (KAU): State agricultural university providing research-based technologies, improved varieties and demonstrations for horticulture development. Comparable because it is a core strategic partner of SHM-Kerala, with the Vice Chancellor on the Governing Body, supplying the technology the mission disseminates.

Regional players

• Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA): District-level autonomous body coordinating agricultural extension programs and farmer training across Indian states. Comparable because it performs overlapping farmer outreach, training and extension services under district agriculture planning.
• Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala: Parent administrative department under which SHM-Kerala operates; coordinates state-level agriculture and horticulture programs through PAOs and DDAs. Comparable because it executes overlapping horticulture development activities and shares staff and district offices with SHM-Kerala.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/statehorticulturemission.kerala.1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about State Horticulture Mission Kerala