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The National Horticulture Mission (NHM) was launched during the year 2005-06 to provide a thrust to the development of horticulture sector in the country. State Horticulture Mission- Kerala is an organization functioning in the state under the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala since November 2005 for the implementation of National Horticulture Mission programme. The organization envisages end to end development of the horticulture sector in the state of Kerala from production to marketing.
The study was undertaken with the specific objective of studying the performance effectiveness of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala in terms of achievement of physical and financial targets, stakeholder participation and beneficiary satisfaction and to identify the constraints and formulate a strategy for increasing the effectiveness of the programme.
The study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district among 31 numbers of implementing officers of State Horticulture Mission schemes and 100 numbers of beneficiary farmers of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala. Secondary data from State Horticulture Mission-Kerala were also depended during the study.
The dependent variables in the study were achievement of physical targets, achievement of financial targets, stakeholder participation and beneficiary satisfaction. The independent variables for implementing officers were age, sex, education, rural/urban background, job experience and exposure to internet and IT and the independent variables for beneficiary farmers were age, sex, education, family type, annual income, experience, information source utilization, farm size, innovativeness and adoption.


The important findings of the study are listed below.
1. With respect to the physical targets, out of the 15 components, 11 had an achievement percentage of more than 80% and only four components had an achievement percentage lesser than 80%.

2. Similarly, in case of financial targets, out of the 15 components, 11 had an achievement percentage of more than 80% and only four components had an achievement percentage lesser than 80%.

3. Implementing officers have an impressive participation in the implementation of the schemes of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala.

4. The participation of beneficiary farmers in the schemes of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala is very good.

5. Majority of the beneficiaries are satisfied with the activities of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala.

6. Difficulty in the marketing of horticultural produce under SHM-K schemes followed by absence of proper storage facility for horticultural products under SHM-K schemes were found to be the most important constraints by both implementing officers as well as beneficiaries of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala.

With regard to the degree of performance effectiveness of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala, the researcher could come to the following conclusions:
1) The achievement of physical and financial targets by State Horticulture Mission-Kerala was impressive.
2) There observed a high degree of participation among both categories of stakeholders of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala, namely, implementing officers and beneficiary farmers.
3) The level of satisfaction of beneficiary farmers of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala was good.

The following are the important suggestions from the part of the researcher for the improvement of State Horticulture Mission programme.

1. It would be more beneficial for the farmers if State Horticulture Mission increase their rate of assistance to 50% for the recurring agricultural expenses.
2. State Horticulture Mission-Kerala must establish a greater and direct contact with the farmers of the state. A toll-free number can serve the purpose.

3. State Horticultural Mission-Kerala can explore the idea of forming a task force under its belt.

4. The minimum requirement of land area for implementing the schemes of State Horticulture Mission-Kerala must be reduced.

5. State Horticulture Mission-Kerala must give greater thrust in the storage, value addition and marketing of horticultural produce from small and marginal farmers.