Horticultre

Prepared for: Prof. D. Debnath

Prepared by: A.N.Pandey, Charu Tiwari, Pulkit Singh, Tushar Tyagi, Varun
Rathi, Vivek Patil
Date:
19, November, 2014

Introduction to Horticulture
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science,
technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits,
vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and
non-food crops such as grass and ornamental trees and plants. It also includes plant
conservation, landscape restoration, landscape and garden design, construction, and
maintenance, and arboriculture. Wikipedia
Definition by American Society for Horticulture Science defines horticulture asHorticulture is the science and art of producing, improving, marketing, and using
fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. It differs from botany and other
plant sciences in that horticulture incorporates both science and aesthetics.
Production and consumption of high quality fruits and vegetables allows us to
maintain a healthy, balanced daily diet. Flowers and ornamental plants enrich our
homes and communities, and contribute to our sense of well-being. Horticulture
impacts our lives on a daily basis by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables, offering
visual enjoyment, and promoting recreational activities.
Fruits and vegetables are rich source of vitamins, minerals, proteins and
carbohydrates that are essential in human diet. Flowers and ornamental crops
enhance aesthetic value of our environment while medicinal crops yield
pharmaceutical constituents. Thus, horticulture assumes great importance in food
and nutritional security, general health and well -being of our population.
Horticulture crops form a vital part of the Indian agricultural production. India is
the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Cultivation and
processing of these crops generate significant employment opportunities for the
rural and peri-urban population. In addition, marketing creates employment
prospects for the urban poor, which in turn ensure better livelihood security.
At the outset of the present study, it remains more than necessary to briefly
describe the very term horticulture. Traditionally, horticulture involves four areas
of study namely, Pomology (fruit culture), Olericulture (vegetable culture)
Floriculture (culture of ornamental crops), and Post
Harvest Technology (management of produce after harvest). However, over the
years the scope of the above field has been expanded to include other crops like
mushroom, bamboo, plantation crops like tea, coffee, and rubber. Bee keeping, one
of the tools to improve the productivity of horticultural crops through enhanced
pollination, is also considered as a horticultural activity. In view of the above
developments, horticulture can now be redefined as the science of growing

and management of fruits, vegetables including tubers, ornamental, medicinal and

aromatic crops, spices, plantation crops their processing, value addition and
marketing.
The concept of horticulture can be traced back to the ancient times with notable
literary references to the laying and maintenance of gardens as well as to the
emergence of a special class of experts in garden craft with state patronage Great
epics like Ramayana, Kamasutra etc., give an account of flowering gardens, fruits
and fruit culture. Various methods of propagation of plants, such as by- fruits and
seeds, roots, cuttings, grafting, apical portions, etc. were known to the ancient
Indians. Therefore, there seems to no doubt in the fact that the science of
horticulture was of a high order in ancient India. At present, however, the
horticulture assumes ever more importance. In fact, India is at the crossroads of
economic development. A paradigm shift of economic condition is clearly visible
with the advent of new economic policies since the mid-1990s. India is fast
emerging as one of the economic majors in the world economy. With growing
Influence of economic power, India is rapidly establishing herself from a state of a
developing nation to a developed one. Notwithstanding her credible achievement
Indian agriculture continues to be an important factor for sustainable development
and poverty alleviation. The agriculture sector contributes almost 18 percent of the
total gross domestic product and provides employment for more than half of
Indians work force (about 50 % of male and about 68% of
female). The growth of other sectors and the overall economy depend on the
performance of the agricultural sector to a significant extent. Even today agriculture
sector is the main source of livelihood and food security for a greater part of
population in India.A paradigm shift of Indian economy vis--vis Indian agriculture
has given a tremendous impetus in the core of the Indian economic scenario. Indian
agriculture has moved from subsistence farming to intensive and technology-based
cultivation. Besides traditional agriculture, crop diversification with the adoption of
modern technologies has boosted up the existing sentiments, and now agriculture is
often being considered as an emerging industry. Although it is the beginning, yet it is
the call of the hour today. However, several bottlenecks including modernizing the
extension system, better and effective management of natural resources, effective
crop diversification and the infrastructural
development of agricultural marketing, etc. have raised the brows of the planners
causing sectoral growth limping behind to that estimated earlier.

Evolution of Horticulture in India

There are many ancient literary documents like Vanaspati and Upavana Vinoda
where a considerable information about horticulture can be found. Topics like seed
germination, plant propogation, heredity, grafting, reproduction, growth etc. can be
found in early Sanskrit literature viz. Brhatsamhita, Kristantra, Upavana Vinoda etc.
Some of the interesting points found in these literatures are given below:
Evidences propogation both by root grafting and stem grafting were found
for plants like Jack Fruit, Grape, pomegranate etc.
Considerable knowledge about manuring practice to promote fruiting was
found. For eg. Seaseme seeds where mixed with goat excreta, barley powder
and other things to escalate growth of roots in a particular plant.
Plantation of bushes and trees were introduced in Arthashatra
Horticulture practices ( especially Floriculture) were also prevalent during Mughal
period. Mughal Gardens of Kashmir, Punjab and Delhi are well known in world for
their garden layout and improved varieties of fruits and flowers. Many evidences
about the development and interest of Moghuls can be found in Memoirs of Birbal
and Ain-I-Akhbari. Mango and Citrus were major focus during this period of Indian
history.
The recent era of horticulture development in India can be divided into five phases.
The first phase, a period prior to independence of the country
Jamindars and Jagirdars grew these crops at household level. Specifically, these
enterprises were adopted as status symbol during this period.
Second phase covers a period from 1948 to1980
influenced by indigenous thinking for sectoral growth of commodities in the
regions of importance, which mostly included coconut, areca nut and spices.
Establishment of research institutions devoted to horticulture
Third phase from 1980 to1991
A period of consolidation both for research and development. At Centre level,
higher-level positions in development and research such as Horticulture
Commissioner (Deputy Director General) were created.
Many states provided special attention to horticulture, recognizing its role in
nutritional security, employment generation and enhancing farm income.

Fourth phase from1991 to 2000

Marked technological change and growth.

It recorded quantum jump in plan allocation, formation of association by

farmers, unprecedented increase in production, enhanced availability of the
produce.
This period was termed as transition from traditional horticulture to hi-tech
horticulture and precision farming approach.
Fifth phase from 2000 to till date
Research and development were characterized by large-scale adoption of
innovations like micro-propagation, protected cultivation, use of in vitro propagated
plants and diagnostics.
Horticultural development has been marked as Golden Revolution recording a
growth rate of 6 per cent per annum and their enhanced their contribution to GDP
of agriculture.

Current Scenario
Various policy initiatives and measures have been taken up by both the Central
and State Governments, in order to develop a conducive business environment
for apt promotion of entrepreneurship in horticulture sector. The emphasis for
horticulture development is mainly focused through the developmental
programmes, of the 'Department of Agriculture and Cooperation', which are as
follows:A. The most important being, the launching of the 'National Horticulture
Mission (NHM)' as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a view to promote
holistic growth of the horticulture sector through an area based regionally
differentiated strategies, which include research, technology promotion,
extension, post harvest management, processing and marketing, in
consonance with comparative advantage of each State/region and its diverse
agro-climatic feature. Its underlying approach is a technology driven cluster
approach with focussed attention on competitive horticulture crops. The
other main objectives of the Mission are to: enhance production and productivity of horticulture crops;
increase coverage of crops under improved/ high yielding cultivars;
improve nutritional security and income support to farm households;
enhance production of high value and low volume horticultural
products for exports;
strengthen infrastructure facilities for marketing and export;
establish convergence and synergy among multiple on-going and
planned programmes for horticulture development;
promote, develop and disseminate technologies, through a seamless
blend of traditional wisdom and modern scientific knowledge;
create opportunities for employment generation for skilled and
unskilled persons, especially unemployed youth; etc.

To achieve the above objectives, the Mission seeks to adopt the following
strategies:
9.
Ensuring an end-to-end holistic approach, having backward and forward
linkages, covering production, post harvest management, processing and marketing
to assure appropriate returns to growers/producers.
10.
Promoting R&D technologies for production, post-harvest management and
processing.
11.
Enhancing acreage, coverage, and productivity through: Diversification from traditional crops to plantations, orchards,
vineyards, flower and vegetable gardens.
Extension of appropriate technology to the farmers for hightech horticulture cultivation and precision farming.
12.
Assisting in setting up post harvest facilities such as pack house, ripening
chamber, cold storages, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storages etc, processing units
for value addition and marketing infrastructure.
13.
Adopting a coordinated approach and promotion of partnership,
convergence and synergy among R&D, processing and marketing agencies in public
as well as private sectors, at the National, Regional, State and sub-State levels.
14.
Where appropriate and feasible, promoting National Dairy Development
Board (NDDB) model of cooperatives to ensure support and adequate returns to
farmers.
15.
Promoting capacity-building and Human Resource Development at all levels.
16.
Strengthening infrastructure facilities such as soil and leaf analysis labs,
survey and surveillance of pest and diseases, green house, poly houses, micro
irrigation, plant health clinics, vermicopost, etc.
B. Realizing the potential of horticulture in the North-Eastern region and other
special category States, a Centrally sponsored scheme called 'Technology
Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture in North Eastern States,
Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand' was
launched. This Mission/ scheme is based on the 'end to end approach' taking
into account the entire gamut of horticulture development in a holistic
manner, with all the backward and forward linkages. It aims at establishing
convergence and synergy among numerous ongoing governmental
programmes through horizontal and vertical integration of these
programmes, in order to ensure adequate, appropriate, timely and
concurrent attention to all links in the production, post harvest and
consumption chain. The "Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC)
is involved in coordinating this scheme. State level SFACs have also been
constituted in most of the implementing States for monitoring and
implementing the programme at the grass-root level.
The objectives of the Mission are to: improve the production and productivity of horticulture crops by
harnessing the potential of the region;
give special emphasis on Low Volume, High Value, Less Perishable
Horticulture Crops;

develop a horticulture based farming system, thereby providing viable

and ample opportunities for employment, especially for women,
besides improving the productivity of land;
address the issues of production of quality planting material, of
organic farming, of efficient water management as well as of plant
health, along with proper development and demonstration of
technologies; etc.
The technology Mission addresses all the aspects of horticulture development
through its four Mini Missions, namely:4. Mini Mission-I: This involves research activities and aims to supply
nucleus/basic seed and planting material of horticultural crops, with a
view to provide technology support. This involves standardization of
Production and Protection Technologies, and Technology Refinement
and Training through on-farm trials. The 'Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR)' is the nodal agency for coordinating and
implementing the programmes under this mini mission.
5. Mini Mission-II: This mission primarily aims at increasing the
production and productivity of the horticulture produce in the region
through integrated implementation of various governmental
programmes based on Compact Area Development Approach. The
major components of this mini mission are:- area expansion; creation
of water sources; on-farm water management; production of planting
materials; transfer of technology through training; demonstration,
publicity and training of trainers; popularisation of organic farming
and use of bio-fertilizers; promotion and popularisation of
agricultural equipments; promotion of integrated pest management;
establishment of Plant Health Clinics; establishment of Tissue/Leaf
Analysis Laboratories; entrepreneurial development of women
farmers; etc. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is the nodal
department for coordinating this mini mission. Agriculture/
Horticulture departments of the States/UTs implement the mission.
6. Mini Mission-III: This mission aims at creating infrastructural
facilities for post harvest management, marketing and export.
National Horticulture Board (NHB) mainly coordinates its activities.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is the nodal
department for implementation of this mini mission. The existing
schemes of the NHB, DMI, NCDC, APEDA, NAFED etc., either with the
existing outlays or with enhanced outlays, are to be implemented
under this mini mission. Considering the gap, new components have
been proposed in marketing. The major components are: Post Harvest Management
The existing approved schemes of National Horticulture Board
(NHB) with additional outlays to be implemented in a more
focussed way in the mission mode
Strengthening of Nutritional Status in Rural Areas
Strengthening of Marketing Infrastructure

Improvement of Services in Wholesale Markets

Development of Rural Primary Markets
Development of Apni Mandis
Promotion of Agmark in domestic trade by strengthening the
State grading laboratories and agricultural marketing
information network
Forward and Backward Linkages to enhance productivity and
quality of produce
Pilot Project of Alternate Marketing System in order to
improve farmers income
Schemes of NCDC to assist cooperative societies for marketing
of horticulture products
Schemes of APEDA for fright subsidy and for packaging
development
Market Intervention through National Agriculture Cooperative
Marketing Federation (NAFED) and TRIFED
7. Mini Mission-IV: This mini mission aims at addressing all the issues
of processing and marketing of processed products. The Ministry of
Food Processing Industries is responsible for coordinating the
activities and its schemes are being integrated into this mission. The
mini mission envisages promotion of new units; upgradation and
modernization of the existing units; as well as market promotion,
research and development.
C. National Horticulture Board (NHB) is involved in the development of high
quality horticulture farms in identified belts and make such areas vibrant
with horticulture activity, which in turn, will act as hubs for development of
commercial horticulture through production and post-harvest management;
development of post harvest infrastructure; strengthening market
information system and horticulture database. The Board is also assisting
research and development programmes to develop products suited for
specific varieties with improved methods and horticulture technology. The
main Schemes that are being pursued by NHB are:o Development of commercial Horticulture through Production and
Post-Harvest Management
o Capital Investment Subsidy for Construction / Modernization
Expansion of Cold Storage and Storages for Horticulture Produce
o Technology Development and Transfer for Promotion of Horticulture
o Market Information Services for Horticulture Crops
o Horticulture Promotion Services

Economic Impact

Since independence, India has made tremendous progress with respect to food and
the overall livelihood security. India has emerged as one of the leading producers of
rice, wheat, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk and other commodities. The countrys
population has almost tripled in the last five decades and its foodgrain production
has more than quadrupled, significantly enhancing the per capita foodgrain
availability. On the other hand, the share of agriculture in GDP has declined
substantially from 55 per cent in the early 1950s to about 42 per cent in the 1980s
and further to 19 per cent in 2006 (Economic Survey, 2006-07). However, there is
only a marginal decline in the number of people resident in rural area, but not all of
them are engaged in agriculture on a full-time basis.
Recognizing that the Indian economy is agriculture-oriented, some perceptible
changes during last three-and-a-half decades have impacted the agricultural growth
and the overall development patterns of the economy. The size of operational
holdings in India has declined from 2.28 ha (hectares) in 1971 to 1.57 ha in 1991 to
1.41 ha in 1995-96 and some estimates say it has further declined to 1.22 ha in
recent years, which has an impact on crop productivity. Future increase in
agricultural growth has to be essentially achieved through increase in yields. Cereal
yields have gone down and at the same time consumer preferences have shifted
away from cereals and moved towards high-value agricultural produce. Higher
incomes and urbanization in India, changing lifestyles, international market
integration and trade liberalization are expected to increase the demand for
horticultural products even further. On the production side, if cereal pricing is left to
market forces, land will be released from rice and wheat cultivation to meet the
growing demand for non-cereal crops such as oilseeds, fruits and vegetables in
accordance with the diversification in consumption pattern (Mittal, 2006). Thus, in a
holistic way, horticulture can be promoted as a means of agro-diversification for the
second Green Revolution, providing the much needed impetus to the growth of
agricultural sector, through increase in trade, income and employment. Indian
agriculture is diversifying into the production of high value commodities, also
providing an increasing role to small holding farmers. Indian rural economy had
been facing the challenge of inability to manage the problems involved with
transition of agriculture from a supply-driven value chain to a demand-led marketoriented supply chain (Viswanadham, 2006).
During the past two decades, area, production, productivity, availability and exports
of horticultural crops increased manifolds, which provided ample opportunities for
utilization of wasteland, employment generation and effective land use planning.
Diversification through horticultural crops has been recognized as one of the
options for improving land use planning. Results of the paper by (Ramesh Chand
et.al, 2008) on share of horticultural crops and other important crops in total value
of crop production at five points of time show that share of horticultural crops has
grown much faster than other important crops in India between 1970-71 and 200506. Cereals, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton constituted 43.14, 5.35, 9.62, 3.91
and 4.01 per cent of total crop production at current prices during 1970-71. In
addition, horticultural crops such as fruits vegetables, condiments and spices
together formed 17.11 per cent share of all India production. After almost three

decades in the year 2005-06, share of cereals and pulses declined whereas
horticultural crops showed a clear-cut improvement of 12 per cent. Thus, increase
in share of horticultural crops in the value of crop production was appreciable
between 1970-71 and 2005-06 (around 12 per cent). Further, contribution of
horticultural crops to GDP of agriculture, which was only 0.58 per cent during 195253, increased to 18.0 per cent in 1991-92 and subsequently to 30.4 per cent in 20072008. It implies that crop diversification through horticulture crops has improved
income of farm households, which increased sharply between 2000 and 2010.
An examination of results presented in Table 1.1 reveals that area under
horticultural crops grew at the rate of 6.78 per cent per annum between 1991-92
and 2008-09. The growth of productivity however, was slow (1.60 per cent per
annum) and therefore, production grew at a low rate of 1.09 per cent per year
during this period. The year-to-year variations in area and yield were found
common and these affected total production.
Table-1.1
Area, Production and Productivity of Horticultural Crops in India (1991-92 to
2008-09)
Year
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Per annum
Growth
rate

Area
(million ha)
12.8
12.9
13.0
13.1
13.7
14.4
14.8
15.1
15.3
15.7
16.6
16.3
19.2
21.1
18.7
19.4
20.2
20.7

Production
(million mt)
96.6
107.4
114.7
118.4
125.5
128.5
128.6
146.2
149.2
150.2
145.8
144.4
153.3
170.8
182.8
191.8
211.2
214.7

Productivity
(mt/ha)
7.5
8.3
8.8
9.0
9.2
8.9
8.7
9.7
9.8
9.6
8.8
8.9
8.0
8.1
9.8
9.9
10.5
10.4

6.78

1.09

1.60

Coefficient of
Variation

17.74

22.85

9.12

Note: Crops = Fruits, vegetables, potato &tuber crops, mushrooms, flowers (loose)
plantation crops (coconut, cashewnut, arecanut, &coca), spices and honey Source:
NHB, 2009

India emerged as second largest producer of fruits (68.5 million tonnes)

contributing 11.2 per cent share in global fruit production during this millennium.
India occupied first place in production of mango, banana, papaya, pomegranate,
sapota and aonla. It is essential to mention that production and productivity of
banana and sapota is the highest in the world. Horticulture contributes nearly 28
per cent of GDP in agriculture and 54 per cent of export share in agriculture.
In 2005 the total area under fruits and vegetables was 11.72 million hectares and
the aggregate production stood at 150.73 million tonnes (NHB, 2005). As a result of
this huge spurt in horticulture produce, India has become the second largest
producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, next only to China. The annual area
and production growth under fruits and vegetables in the period 1991-2005 in India
was 2.6 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively. This growth is quite significant
compared to the decline in area under cereals and cereal production which is
growing at the rate of 1.4 per cent per annum only in the last one-and-a-half
decades. The share of fruits and vegetables in the total value of agricultural exports
has increased over the years from 9.5 per cent in 1980-81 to 16.5 per cent in 200203. But India is still lagging behind in actual exports of these produce. For example,
India produces 65 per cent and 11 per cent of worlds mango and banana,
respectively, ranking first in the production of both the crops. Yet Indias exports of
the two crops are nearly negligible of the total agricultural exports from India.

Social Impact

Explanation:
??????
The potential of horticultural sector is in :
1. To diversify agriculture,
2. Efficient land use,
3. Optimum utilization of natural resources and
4. Creating employment opportunities for rural masses