About NCPAH

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW), Government of India (GoI) has been promoting Precision Farming & Plasticulture Applications through various central sponsored schemes/ mission programmes in the country. These schemes/missions programmes are implemented through respective State departments.

National Committee On Precision Agriculture & Horticulture (NCPAH), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI has the mandate to promote and develop the use of plastics in agriculture, horticulture, water management and other allied areas. The Committee during its tenure has submitted several reports and policy documents to the Government of India which have paved the way for plasticulture development in the country. On the recommendation of NCPAH, the Government of India has also established 22 Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) all over the country to promote research and extension activities in promotion of these applications under GoI flagship programmes.

Formation of NCPAH
The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Government of India has been considering the promotion and development of uses of plastics in agriculture and irrigation as a major step in improving agricultural yields & efficiencies for a committee was constituted during 1981 which has been functioning in the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture since 1983.

The committee was reconstituted in 1996. In order to make this committee more effective and to focus its endeavor in a coordinated manner for promoting the applications in Horticulture, NCPAH was reconstituted in 2001 as National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture (NCPAH). Considering the importance of Precision Farming & Plasticulture Interventions in agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors, the NCPAH has been reconstituted at periodic intervals.