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The Technology Mission for an integrated development of horticultural produce has been extended to Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Under the Mission administered by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the special category States are given certain incentives. They get 50% of the capital cost pertaining to technical civil works and plant and machineries upto rupees four crore to promote new units. The maximum amount for modernisation of the existing units is rupees one crore. The Centre has sanctioned assistance for setting up three food parks and six fruit and vegetable processing units in Jammu & Kashmir, one in Himachal Pradesh and one in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Central Government also implements the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) in association with the concerned States for procuring agricultural and perishable horticultural commodities not covered under the price support scheme. This is intended to protect the farmers from distress sale of their produce in case of glut in production and market crash. The MIS covered the procurement of apples in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during the 2004 crop season.
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