The Horticulture Sector of India

Though the production and productivity of fruits and vegetables quadrupled during the last three decades, the same has not been translated into comparable increases in the incomes of the cultivators.

What is Horticulture?

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture concerned with intensively cultured plants directly used by man for food, medicinal purposes and aesthetic gratification.
In simpler terms, it involves cultivating, producing, and selling vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, or ornamental/exotic plants.
The term Horticulture is derived from the Latin words hortus (garden) and cultūra (cultivation).
L.H. Bailey is considered the Father of American Horticulture and M.H. Marigowda is considered the Father of Indian Horticulture.

Classification

Pomology: Planting, harvesting, storing, processing, and marketing of fruit and nut crops.
Olericulture: Producing and marketing vegetables.
Arboriculture: Study, selection and care of individual trees, shrubs or other perennial woody plants.
Ornamental Horticulture: It has two subparts-
- Floriculture: Production, use and marketing of floral crops.
- Landscape Horticulture: Production and marketing of plants used to beautify the outdoor environment.

What is the status of horticulture sector in India?

Production – In 2022, total Horticulture produce is 341.6 million tonnes and total Agriculture produce is 314.5 million tonnes.
Fruits and vegetables account alone account for almost 90% of the total horticulture production in the country.
According to FAO 2021, India leads in the production of certain vegetables (ginger and okra) and fruits (banana, mangoes and papaya).
Areas of cultivation of flowers – More than 50% of the floriculture products are produced in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Areas of cultivation of fruits & vegetables – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
Contribution – Horticulture contributes 30.4% of the agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) using only 13.1% of gross cropped area.
Exports – India is ranked 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits.
However, the global horticulture market of India is at mere 1%.

Significance of Horticulture Crops

Apart from ensuring the nation’s nutritional security, it provides alternative rural employment opportunities, diversification of farm activities, and increased income to farmers.
Produce more biomass per unit area than field crops, resulting in more efficient use of natural resources.
They are highly profitable for replacing subsistence farming and alleviating poverty in a variety of agro-ecosystems such as rainfed, dryland, hilly, arid, and coastal.
Wastelands have the potential to be improved through planned strategies.
Water requirements are lower than those of many other field crops.
Increase employment opportunities.
They are critical for nutritional security.
They are environmentally friendly.
Have a high potential for adding value.
Have a high potential for earning foreign currency.
Increase the contribution to GDP.

Data Analysis:

India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China.
Horticultural crops constitute a significant portion of the total agricultural produce in India. They cover a wide cultivation area and contribute about 28 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
These crops account for 37 per cent of the total exports of agricultural commodities from India.
During the year 2019-20, the country recorded its highest ever horticulture production of 320.77 million tonnes from an area of 25.66 million hectares.

Challenges Related to Horticulture Crops

There is scarcity of disease-free, high-quality planting material.
Techniques for micro-propagation are underutilised.
Slow spread and adaptability of high-yielding cultivars/hybrids.
Inadequate facility for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and disorders.
There is no disease and pest outbreak forecasting service.
Inadequate availability of highly refined intensive integrated production systems
Quality standards are lacking.
In terms of value addition, there is a scarcity of technologies.
Inadequate post-harvest technology and infrastructure.
Inadequate database and market intelligence.
Inadequate marketing and infrastructure.
Price insecurity, with no price support mechanism.
Inadequate technical manpower/human resources in the agricultural system.
Inadequate credit supply, high interest rates, and an insufficient crop insurance scheme.
Ineffective technology transfer and poor adoption of improved techniques.
There is a lack of communication between research and development sectors, industries, and farming communities.
Government policies and schemes are being implemented late.
There is no horticultural crop suitability map of India based on agro-climatic conditions depicting the most suitable areas for optimum crop productivity.
Increased demand for horticultural produce due to increased health awareness, rising income, export demands, and increasing population presents a challenge for increasing horticultural crop production and productivity.
Climate change has increased uncertainties and risks, putting additional constraints on production systems.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):

Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables and other areas.

Under the MIDH, the Government of India contributes 60% of the total outlay for developmental programs in all states (except North Eastern and Himalayan states where the GOI contributes 90%), while State governments contribute 40%.

It has five major schemes on horticulture:-

National Horticulture Mission (NHM)
Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH)
National Horticulture Board (NHB)
Coconut Development Board (CDB) &
Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland.

National Horticulture Board (NHB):

It was set up in 1984 on the basis of recommendations of the “Group on Perishable Agricultural Commodities”, headed by Dr M. S. Swaminathan.
Headquartered at Gurugram.
Objective is to improve integrated development of Horticulture industry and to help in coordinating, sustaining the production and processing of fruits and vegetables.

MCQs about The Horticulture Sector of India

Question 1: What is the primary purpose of horticulture in agriculture?

A) To produce staple food crops
B) To grow crops for animal feed
C) To cultivate ornamental plants only
D) To cultivate plants for food, medicine, and aesthetics

Question 2: Who is considered the “Father of Indian Horticulture”?

A) M.H. Marigowda
B) L.H. Bailey
C) M.S. Swaminathan
D) M. S. Randhawa

Question 3: Which classification of horticulture focuses on the planting, harvesting, storing, processing, and marketing of fruit and nut crops?

A) Olericulture
B) Floriculture
C) Arboriculture
D) Pomology

Question 4: What percentage of India’s agriculture GDP does horticulture contribute?

A) 15.7%
B) 28.2%
C) 30.4%
D) 37.9%

Question 5: Which centrally sponsored scheme aims at the holistic growth of the horticulture sector in India?

A) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
B) Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
C) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
D) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Read also:- Indian Agriculture Scenario