Horticulture Based Development: CARDS have been nominated as valued member of the Technical Support Group by the State Executive Committee under State Horticulture Development Society for execution of National Horticultural Mission (NHM) in the state of Chhattisgarh. The mission promotes various kinds of horticultural farm practices across Chhattisgarh in 8 blocks of Bilaspur and Durg districts. In the first phase, with the budget allocation of 14 million INR, the NHM was initiated in Chiklinala Clusture, Durg block. It covered 17 Nos. of villages with 222 farmers and total areas under cultivation of 525 Ha. Main crop Mango-165 Ha, Intercrop (Floriculture) Marigold-60 Ha, (Aromatic Crop) Lemon Grass-100 Ha, Pacholi-100 Ha, Khas-100 Ha, establishment of 222 vermi compost units and 2 community tube well. The initiative in some of the clusters is mentioned below:

• It is worth mentioning that in Malod village yield of Lemon grass per acreage has been declared as the best in the NHM with higher percentage of Citronella oil contents after processing in distillation plant in Jatakhara nursery.
• In Kotmi Cluster, Block Pendra, Distt. Bilaspur 7 Nos. of villages were covered with 210 farmers and total area under cultivation of 200 Ha. Main Crop Pacholi 200 Ha., establishment of 70 vermi compost units and 1 community tube well. It involved total budged of 63 lakhs.
• In Dewarbhat Cluster, Block Durg, Distt. Durg 9 Nos. of villages were covered with 235 farmers and total area under cultivation of 300 Ha. Main Crop Mango 150 Ha., Intercrop (aromatic) Aloevera 150 Ha, establishment of 200 vermi compost units and 80 community tube well. It involved total budged of 190 lakhs.
• In Girvar Cluster, Block Pendra, Distt. Bilaspur 8 Nos. of villages were covered with 157 farmers and total area under cultivation of 109.39 Ha. Main Crop Mango 109.39 Ha., Intercrop (aromatic) Lemon Gras 82.57 Ha, establishment of 156 vermi compost units and 1 community tube well. It involved total budged of 26 lakhs.
• In Meduka Cluster, Block Marvahi, Distt. Bilaspur 6 Nos. of villages were covered with 172 farmers and total area under cultivation of 275 Ha. Main Crop Mango 125 Ha., Intercrop (aromatic) Lemongrass 25 Ha, Pamarosa 125 Ha, establishment of 100 vermi compost units and 10 community tube wells. It involved total budged of 57 lakhs.
• In Sakola Cluster, Block Pendra, Distt. Bilaspur 9 Nos. of villages were covered with 231 farmers and total area under cultivation of 250 Ha. Main Crop Mango 125 Ha., Intercrop (aromatic) Pamarosa 125 Ha, establishment of 100 vermi compost units and 3 community tube wells. It involved total budged of 107 lakhs.
• In Kudkai Cluster, Block Pendra, Distt. Bilaspur 8 Nos. of villages were covered with 208 farmers and total area under cultivation of 250 Ha. Main Crop Mango 125 Ha., Intercrop (aromatic) Pamarosa 125 Ha, establishment of 100 vermi compost units and 2 community tube wells. It involved total budged of 99 lakhs.