Horticulture is the art and science of cultivation of various fruits , vegetables, spices condiments, ornamental, plantation, medicinal and aromatic plants.
It involves the study of plant physiology, genetics, propagation, and the management of plants and their environment to maximize their growth and health.
It is a branch of agriculture concerned with intensively cultured plants e.g. floriculture(flowers) , olericulture(vegetables), pomology (fruits).
Contents
Horticulture: India’s status
- India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China.
- India’s horticulture production is estimated to be 63 Million Tonne in the year 2022.
- India ranks first in the world in the production of several fruits including banana, mango, guava, papaya lime and lemon, and okra.
- Horticulture contributes to ~30 percent of agriculture GDP and utilizes only 13 percent of gross cropped area.
Horticulture: Advantages
- It promotes crop diversification which can have multiple benefits such as conserving soil, promoting resilient agriculture and encourages organic farming.
- It diversifies export basket and creates better opportunities for agriculture trade and expands markets for Indian produce.
- It is labour intensive in nature thus generating employment and better livelihood opportunities.
- Diversifying the food basket through horticulture can help combat malnutrition and hunger.
- It has high potential for value addition, which can create backward linkages and support the food processing industry.
- Horticulture crops need relatively less water than food crops and are more resilient to climate change.
Horticulture: Challenges
- Limited availability of market intelligence leads to poor marketing options for horticultural crops.
- Fragmented landholdings result in a lack of economies of scale, leading to higher production costs and reduced price competitiveness.
- Since the horticultural crops are perishable in nature, lack of connectivity and infrastructure results in high post-harvest losses, huge wastages, and high price fluctuations.
- Small farmers are often unaware of processing facilities and may not have access to them.
- This sector faces stiff competition in the international market, a lack of research and development for quality improvement, and tariffs and non-tariff barriers such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures.
Horticulture: Government Initiatives
- National Agriculture Policy 2000 aims for integrated development of horticulture, which should be knowledge based, technology driven and farmer- centric.
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is an umbrella scheme which includes a) National Horticulture Mission (NHM) b) Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) c) National Horticulture Board (NHB) d) Coconut Development Board (CDB) & e) Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland.
- Horticulture Area Production Information System (HAPIS) is a web enabled information system by which data from the states/districts is reported, it minimises the time-lag and maximises the coverage area.
- Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and MANagement using geoinformatics (CHAMAN) aims to to develop and firm up scientific methodology for estimation of area and production under horticulture crops by using Remote Sensing and Sample Survey Techniques.
- Establishment of agriculture export zones and Mega food parks to increase processing facilities for horticulture crops.
- Amendment in APMC act and essential commodities act and allowing contract farming.
- Operation Greens (on lines of operation flood) for holistic development of Tomatoes, Onions and Potatoes (TOPs) which is extended to all fruits and vegetables.
Horticulture: A way ahead
- More focus on Research and Development and technological advancement and further diversification of horticulture produce.
- Handholding of small and marginal farmers by giving them horticulture education and hands-on training.
- Provision for assured returns and incentivisation for horticulture production.
- Involving cooperatives and NGOs for dissemination of information to improve market intelligence.
- Modified atmosphere packaging for long storability, transportation of fruits and vegetables.
- Better marketing support and infrastructure development.
- Protected cultivation, hydroponic and aeroponic adoption for improving productivity and quality of produce.
