Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
Introduction
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is a special agriculture scheme launched by the Government of India in 2015 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was created to address a major issue in the North East: farmers in this region often practice traditional organic farming, but they face difficulties in getting proper certification, organized markets, and fair prices. Without structured support, their produce remains undervalued and their incomes stay low.
MOVCDNER aims to solve this by developing a full value chain for organic farming. This means supporting farmers from the very beginning – quality seeds, training, certification – up to processing, branding, and marketing. The scheme encourages formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and agri-entrepreneurs so that small farmers can work collectively and access larger markets. It also links producers with domestic and export buyers, creating better income opportunities.
The target group includes organic farmers across all North Eastern states, along with rural youth and small entrepreneurs in agriculture. For those interested, details about eligibility, benefits, and application are provided through state agriculture departments and the scheme’s official portal.
Overview of the Scheme
- Who launched it & under which Ministry
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It is a sub-mission under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). - Implementing agencies
The scheme is implemented through various bodies:
• The nodal central agency: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Government of India.
• State Lead Agencies (Organic Commodity Boards or Organic Missions) in each North Eastern state.
• Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs), Farmer Producer Organizations / Companies (FPOs / FPCs) for on-ground execution.
• Handholding / service providers to assist with training, certification, market linkages etc. - Funding pattern & basic numbers
• MOVCDNER is a Central Sector Scheme, meaning the central government bears the cost (i.e. 100% central funding) for its components, though states implement it via the lead agencies.
• As per the 2024 revised/operational guidelines, by the end of Phase III, the scheme had covered ~ 1.79 lakh hectares and supported around 379 FPOs. Phase IV aims to cover an additional 50,000 hectares. - Sectors/components covered
MOVCDNER supports multiple parts of the organic agriculture value chain. Some official components include:
• Production side: inputs (quality seeds, planting material), on-farm organic input production units, off-farm inputs.
• Certification: organic certification (e.g. through NPOP, ICS) and documentation.
• Processing, post-harvest & aggregation infrastructure: collection centres, grading & storage, pack houses, cold chains etc.
• Marketing, branding, packaging, labelling, and value addition.
• Training, handholding, extension services to farmers / FIGs / FPOs. - Current status
• The scheme is ongoing; new operational guidelines ( Phase IV ) came in effect from 1 April 2024.
• So far, previous phases (up to Phase III) have seen significant achievements in area covered and number of FPOs formed.
• Phase IV aims to scale more, both in area (additional 50,000 ha) and in reach.
Tiny example to show what “value chain coverage” means
Imagine a cluster of 100 farmers growing turmeric. Under MOVCDNER:
- They get turmeric seed inputs and help to make their own organic input compost.
- The group gets certified organic status.
- They built a collection centre and packhouse nearby.
- They learn branding & packaging so they can sell under a better name.
This covers farm inputs → production → processing → marketing.
Objectives
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) has clear goals set by the Government of India. These objectives focus on helping farmers in the North East move from traditional organic practices to a structured, profitable value chain. The scheme’s purpose is not only to boost organic production but also to ensure that farmers get better income and market access.
Key Objectives
- Increase certified organic farming by bringing more land under organic cultivation and ensuring proper certification systems.
- Support farmer groups such as FPOs, SHGs, and cooperatives to organize smallholders into stronger collective units.
- Provide quality inputs and infrastructure for organic seed, bio-fertilizers, compost, and other essential requirements.
- Promote value addition and processing by creating pack houses, cold storage, and processing units for organic produce.
- Develop efficient market linkages that connect farmers directly to domestic and international buyers.
- Improve income security for farmers through better branding, packaging, and fair price realization.
- Train and build capacity of farmers, youth, and entrepreneurs in modern organic farming methods and business practices.
- Strengthen the entire value chain from production to certification, aggregation, processing, and marketing.
Together, these objectives reflect the mission’s broader purpose: to make the North East a hub for organic agriculture while improving farmer livelihoods in a sustainable way.
Key Features / Benefits
- Grant for inputs & planting material
Provides financial help per hectare over 3 years for organic inputs (like seeds, bio-fertilisers) and planting materials. (Example: Farmers get ₹32,500/ha for inputs + part of it via DBT plus ₹17,500 for planting material). - Support for FPO / group formation & certification
Assists in forming Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), supporting them to get organic certification, documentation, training and handholding. - Subsidy for value-addition / infrastructure
Offers subsidies for post-harvest infrastructure, cold stores, pack houses, refrigerated transport, etc. to help with grading, processing, and packaging. - Differential subsidy for FPOs vs private entrepreneurs
FPOs often get higher subsidy rates (e.g. 75%) compared to private entrepreneurs (e.g. 50%) for setting up processing and market-link infrastructure. - Training, capacity building & awareness
Provides funds for training farmers, awareness camps, exposure visits, seminars etc., to improve organic production, post-harvest practices, marketing etc. - Fixed amount per ha over 3 years for end-to-end support
The scheme gives a fixed amount per hectare over 3 years to cover many features together: input support, certification, planting material, training etc. - Assistance for marketing, branding & packaging
Helps in brand development, labelling, packaging & marketing to ensure organic produce fetches better prices. - Cluster / FIG / group-wise financial help
Provides assistance not just to individual farmers but to clusters, FPOs, FIGs – for example help for cluster formation, group mobilisation, which benefits many farmers together. - Large scale subsidy caps for big units
For big infrastructure units (like integrated processing units), there are upper limits (financial outlay caps) and the scheme helps up to those limits. - Encouragement of organic farming across all value chain stages
From production, through certification, to processing, marketing and post-harvest, the scheme gives support at each stage so the benefits flow throughout.
Eligibility Criteria
Below are who can apply and what they need if they want benefits under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).
Farmers (Individuals)
- Must be a farmer (own or leased land) in one of the North Eastern states.
- Must have an Aadhaar Card and a bank account (preferably Aadhaar-linked) to receive payments.
- Only one farmer per household can apply under certain state/phase-wise rules. (This ensures wider distribution of benefits.)
- Land offered must usually be accessible, constant in GPS location, and close to other farmers in the same cluster (for group approaches like FIGs).
Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) / Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Farmers need to form clusters/groups (FIGs) for production, organic input use, certification etc. Solo application is often not acceptable.
- FIGs must have a minimum number of farmer members and contiguous farm area (i.e., farm plots near each other) so that cluster implementation is effective.
Farmer Producer Organizations / Companies (FPOs / FPCs)
- Must be registered under relevant law (Companies Act, Society /Co-operative Act etc.) to be eligible.
- Must have active operations (production, certification, documentation, or prior experience in handling organic value chain processes).
- For infrastructure / processing grants: FPOs often get a larger subsidy rate than private entrepreneurs. Being part of such groups helps meet subsidy eligibility thresholds.
Private Units
- Must have valid registration (e.g. firm / private company registration).
- If required, must have GST registration or UDYAM registration or equivalent.
- Must provide project plan, land (own or leased) suitable for the proposed unit (e.g. processing unit), manpower credentials etc.
Special Categories
- Some state rules require or give priority to schemes in hilly / tribal / difficult areas in the North East. (Not always official “extra eligibility”, but states often emphasise these in selection.)
- Women, SC/ST are often given preference or specified in state level operational guidelines. (E.g. in subsidies or clustering) – if the state version of MOVCDNER mentions it.
Not Eligible / Exclusions
- Farmers or units that have already got subsidies under another overlapping scheme for the same purpose / same unit may not be eligible for duplicate subsidies under MOVCDNER unless explicitly demarcated.
- Those who do not comply with organic standards (e.g. use chemical fertilizers or pesticides) may be disqualified.
Documents Required
Here are documents commonly required to prove eligibility. Having these ready helps in application.
- Aadhaar Card (identity proof) for individual farmers and primary members of FIGs or FPOs.
- Bank account passbook / details, preferably linked with Aadhaar, for DBT payments.
- Land records / proof of land ownership or lease (maps, deeds) to show area offered, contiguous fields, etc.
- Registration certificate for FPO/FPC/private entity (Company/Society/Trust/Co-operative) where relevant.
- Project report / DPR for infrastructure or processing units; often required if requesting subsidy for large value-added units.
- Quotations / cost estimates for machinery, construction etc. when applying for financial assistance.
Application Process
- Check for scheme phase and see if registration is open
When a new phase of MOVCDNER starts, the state Lead Agency or State Organic Mission (e.g. Manipur Organic Mission Agency) opens farmer enrollment/registration. → Visit the state MOVCDNER portal or department website to check notification. - Visit the official portal
Use the central MOVCDNER portal: movcd.dac.gov.in for scheme information and registration.
Also, state portals often have a “Farmer Enrollment” section (e.g. Manipur’s: momamanipur.mn.gov.in/farmer-enrollment) for local registration. - Login / Register
- If you’re a new user (farmer / FPO / entrepreneur), you’ll need to create an account on the portal.
- Provide personal details (name, address, Aadhaar, contact).
- If already registered, just log in.
- Fill in the application / enrollment form
The form sections typically include:- Beneficiary details (name, Aadhaar, bank account).
- Land/farm details: area, location, cropping history.
- Component or activity you want (e.g. cluster organic farming, infrastructure, processing unit).
- Bank details for receiving assistance.
- Upload / Submit Documents
Mandatory documents often include:- Aadhaar card (ID).
- Proof of land ownership or lease (land records).
- Bank passbook / canceled cheque.
- Relevant registration certificates (if FPO / entrepreneur).
- Project plan / quotations (for infrastructure / value-addition units).
- Submit / Acknowledgment
- After submitting an application, you receive an application ID / acknowledgement on the portal.
- This lets you track status.
- Verification / Inspection
- Officials may carry out field verification or inspection of farm / site.
- They check land, farm practices, whether declarations like ICS (Internal Control System) are signed.
- Approval & Sanction
- Once verified, the Lead Agency / state department approves the application.
- Funds may be released: either via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the beneficiary’s bank account, or as reimbursement after you do the approved work / purchase.
- Follow up & monitoring
- You may need to submit periodic reports or allow inspections to show progress.
- The state agency may provide training, technical help, or service provider support.
- Offline route (if available)
- In some districts, you can get application forms at the District Agriculture Office / Block Office / Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
- Fill forms & submit there, with copies of required documents.
- Follow up with the state nodal office (Lead Agency) or department of agriculture.
- Seek help via state organic mission agency offices.
Official Helpline / Contact
- For Manipur: Email manipurorganic@gmail.com; Office: Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) momamanipur.mn.gov.in
- Check your state’s MOVCDNER contact page for local nodal officer / Lead Agency. (Often available on state agriculture / horticulture dept website)
- On the central portal: movcd.dac.gov.in has contact details of central monitoring and support.
Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
- Ensure the name on Aadhaar matches all other documents (bank account, land records). Mismatches cause delays.
- Upload clear, legible scanned documents. Poor image quality can lead to rejection in verification.
- Don’t wait until the last day to apply; windows sometimes close abruptly when application count or budget limit is reached.
- If applying for infrastructure / processing units, get multiple quotations in advance and ensure the DPR / project plan is realistic and matches guidelines.
Challenges or Limitations
Even though the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) brings strong benefits, applicants often face some real-world challenges. The good part is that most of these issues can be managed if you know them in advance.
- Challenge: Delays in verification and approvals
Applications sometimes move slowly because field inspections and multi-level approvals take time.
→ Solution: Keep all documents ready and respond quickly to any queries from the department. Regularly track your application status on the portal. - Challenge: Limited budget headroom
Each phase of MOVCDNER has a fixed budget, and once the quota is filled, late applicants may miss out.
→ Solution: Apply as soon as registration opens in your state. Stay in touch with your local agriculture or horticulture office to know deadlines early. - Challenge: Seasonal application windows
Farmer enrollment usually aligns with crop cycles and cluster formation. Missing the window can delay benefits by a year.
→ Solution: Watch for state notifications before sowing seasons and register your interest early with the lead agency. - Challenge: Document mismatches
Many rejections happen due to names not matching between Aadhaar, bank accounts, and land records.
→ Solution: Update and cross-check all IDs and records in advance. Carry both hard copies and clear scanned versions for upload. - Challenge: Complexity for groups like SHGs and FPOs
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) must meet strict registration and member criteria, which can confuse first-time applicants.
→ Solution: Take guidance from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, District Agriculture Offices, or NGOs that already support FPO formation. - Challenge: Infrastructure and project cost requirements
For processing units or storage facilities, applicants often need to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and provide quotations, which small farmers may find overwhelming.
→ Solution: Work with state empanelled service providers or seek help from agriculture extension officers to prepare DPRs correctly. - Challenge: Dependence on cluster participation
The scheme prefers farmers to join organic clusters instead of applying individually, but not everyone has an active cluster nearby.
→ Solution: Reach out to local farmer groups, SHGs, or cooperatives. Joining an existing cluster can speed up approval and support services. - Challenge: Common mistakes in the application form
Errors like missing bank IFSC codes, leaving sections blank, or uploading blurred documents cause unnecessary rejection.
→ Solution: Double-check every section before submitting. Ask an official at the agriculture office to review your form if unsure.
By keeping these challenges in mind and preparing for them, farmers and organisations can reduce delays and increase their chances of successfully getting support under MOVCDNER.
Government Support & Future Outlook
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) has been designed to work in convergence with other national agriculture schemes. Official guidelines highlight its linkages with programs like the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for organic farming promotion, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for funding support, and the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) for extension services. Insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and credit access through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) can also complement MOVCDNER assistance.
For example, a farmer group forming an organic cluster under MOVCDNER can also use PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) support to set up small processing units. At the same time, crop risk can be covered through PMFBY, while custom hiring centers under RKVY can provide access to farm machinery. This kind of convergence reduces costs and helps farmers move from organic production to value-added marketing.
The mission was launched in 2015–16 and has since gone through revised guidelines to strengthen farmer clusters, processing units, and market linkages. According to Ministry of Agriculture updates, MOVCDNER continues as a centrally sponsored scheme with expanded focus in its later phases. With ongoing integration into the broader “Atmanirbhar Krishi” vision, the road ahead points toward deeper value chain support and stronger market access for North Eastern farmers.
Conclusion
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is an important agriculture scheme that helps farmers, SHGs, FPOs, and entrepreneurs in the North East shift to organic farming while building stronger value chains for their produce. It matters because it not only supports healthier cultivation practices but also improves income opportunities through subsidies, training, and market linkages. Small farmers and organised groups benefit the most, as the scheme reduces input costs and opens doors to certified organic markets. If you are interested, the next step is simple: check your eligibility, prepare the required documents, and apply through the official portal at https://movcd.dac.gov.in/ or visit your nearest agriculture office for guidance. Always confirm the latest updates on official websites or helplines before applying, since rules and timelines may change.
Explore detailed resources on this scheme and the full suite of programmes at ALL ABOUT AGRICULTURE. For one-on-one assistance, call us at +91 8484002620.