Gujarat :Madhi Grows 70 Crore Seedlings, Builds ₹100 Crore Horticulture Hub

AHMEDABAD : The Horticulture Department of Gujarat has launched various initiatives to expand opportunities for horticulture farmers and drive horticulture-led growth. One such initiative making a significant difference is the Hi-Tech Plug Nursery Scheme.Through this scheme, horticulture farmers in Madhi are now producing More than 70 crore seedlings annually, generating an annual business of over ₹100 crore.

Madhi village in Vijapur taluka has emerged as one of Gujarat’s leading plug nursery hubs. Its seedlings are supplied to farmers across 15 districts of Gujarat, as well as to Sirohi and Jalore in Rajasthan and Nandurbar in Maharashtra. About over 200 high-tech nursery units operate on nearly 300 bighas of land, generating an annual business of over ₹100 crore, while farmers earn profits of around ₹50 crore. More than 150 families are involved in the hi-tech nursery business, which also provides direct employment to over 800 women from nearby areas. Today, Madhi’s seedlings support vegetable cultivation across nearly 6 lakh acres, producing over 70 crore seedlings annually. While chilli & tomato are the key crops, the nurseries also grow papaya, capsicum, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, Cucumber, watermelon, musk melon, and marigold. 

What is Hi-Tech Plug Nursery Scheme & How Does it Help Farmers? 

The success of Madhi has been driven by the Horticulture Department’s Hi-Tech Plug Nursery Scheme. The scheme offers 65% financial assistance for protected nursery structures of 500 to 4,000 sq. m, including net houses, greenhouses and fan-and-pad greenhouses. Seedlings are raised in plug trays using coco peat, a soil-less medium that supports healthy growth. This method gives over 80% germination, strong root development and transplant-ready seedlings in about 25 days. It also keeps the seedlings free from soil-borne diseases, improving crop health and productivity. So far, total assistance of more than ₹900 lakh has been provided to the farmers. 

Madhi nurseries mainly produce chilli and tomato seedlings, along with cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, watermelon and sweet potato using hybrid vegetable seeds. The seedlings are ready for transplantation within 25 to 30 days. As they remain firmly rooted in plug trays, they can be transported easily over long distances without damage. Sprinkler irrigation systems ensure uniform watering, resulting in healthy and consistent plant growth.

Impact of Centre of Excellence (CoE), Vadrad

The remarkable growth of Madhi as a leading plug nursery hub has been supported by the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Vadrad, under the Gujarat Horticulture Department. Through regular training programmes, exposure visits, and on-field technical guidance, the CoE has promoted scientific nursery management and strengthened the capabilities of nursery entrepreneurs.

The Centre has demonstrated advanced technologies, including protected cultivation, plug tray seedling production, precision irrigation, fertigation, climate-controlled nursery management, integrated pest and disease management, and the use of high-quality growing media. These interventions have helped nursery operators in Madhi improve seedling quality, achieve germination rates of over 80%, reduce seedling mortality, and produce uniform, disease-free planting material.

Madhi exemplifies how structured horticulture support can transform rural livelihoods and agricultural productivity. Driven by technology, modern practices, and farmer participation, it continues to strengthen Gujarat’s position in high-quality vegetable seedling production and sustainable horticulture.