Horticulture crops

The horticulture sector contributes significantly to India’s agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA), representing about 33% and playing a crucial role in ensuring nutritional security, generating rural employment, and enhancing farmer incomes. At present, India is the second largest producer of vegetables and fruits in the world. Total area under horticulture is about 28 million hectare which is about 15 percent of total area under cultivation.

Performance of horticulture crops in India

• • Total Production: Estimated at 352.23 million tonnes for 2023-24, a slight decrease of 0.91% from 2022-23 (355.48 million tonnes).
  • Area Under Cultivation:63 million hectares in 2023-24.
  • Fruits Production: Expected to reach 112.63 million tonnes.
  • Vegetables Production: Estimated at 204.96 million tonnes.
  • Onion Production: Decreased to 242.12 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 from 302.08 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
  • Potato Production: Reduced to 567.62 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
  • Tomato Production: Increased to 212.38 lakh tonnes.

Significance of horticulture sector in India

1. Economic Contribution: Contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA), making it a significant component of the Indian economy.

2. Nutritional Security: Ensures the availability of a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, which are crucial for balanced diets and nutritional security.

3. Employment Generation: Provides alternative employment opportunities in rural areas, thereby reducing rural unemployment and underemployment.

4. Income Diversification: Enhances farmers’ incomes through the production of high-value horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants.

5. Export Potential: India is a leading global producer of fruits like mango, banana, guava, and pomegranate, as well as spices and cashew nuts, contributing significantly to agricultural exports.

6. Sustainability: Promotes sustainable agricultural practices through crop diversification, which helps in maintaining soil health and reducing the environmental impact of farming.

Challenges

1. Climate Change: Increasing climatic uncertainties pose significant risks to horticultural production, affecting both yield and quality.

2. Post-Harvest Losses: Inadequate post-harvest infrastructure leads to significant losses in fruits and vegetables, reducing overall profitability for farmers. Lack of cold chain storage and transport facilities increases waste.

3. Water Scarcity: Efficient water management is critical, and water scarcity can severely impact the production of water-intensive horticultural crops.

4. Market Access: Farmers often face challenges in accessing markets, which affects their ability to get fair prices for their produce. Infrastructure for cold storage and transportation is lacking.

5. Pest and Disease Management: High susceptibility to pests and diseases requires effective management practices, which can be resource-intensive and costly for small farmers.

6. Financial and Technical Support: Limited access to credit and modern farming techniques hampers the ability of small and marginal farmers to adopt advanced horticultural practices.

7. Policy Implementation: While there are numerous schemes and policies aimed at supporting the horticulture sector, effective implementation and monitoring remain challenges. One core issue is that horticulture crops are not covered under the MSP regime

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

It is a centrally sponsored scheme for the holistic development of horticulture, for increasing area, production and creation of post-harvest infrastructure.

It was launched in 2014-15.

Under MIDH, support for production of quality planting material, area expansion of fruits, vegetables, spices and plantation crops, protected cultivation and creation of post-harvest management infrastructures, training and capacity building etc., of farmers are provided. Basically, end-to-end holistic approach is adopted.

Objectives

• • Holistic development of horticulture sector through regional strategies
  • Encourage farmers to form farmers producer organisation (FPOs) and farmers interest groups (FIGs) to reach economies of scale
  • Promotion and use of technology and modern scientific knowledge
  • Create opportunities of employment generation

Components under MIDH

1. National Horticultural Mission

2. National Horticultural Mission for North-east and Himalayan States

3. National Horticultural Board

4. Coconut Development Board

5. Central Institute of Horticulture, Nagaland