Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
climatic situations. Horticulture plays an important role in providing sus-
tainable farm income, nutritional security, import revenues, and employ-
ment generation besides sustaining lives and livelihoods. Indian horticul-
ture sector has also shown its impact in Indian economy. The contribution
of horticulture sector to Indian GDP is nearly 30% from 15% area while
of agriculture is 17%. The horticulture sector has been providing a stimu-
lus for healthy growth trend in Indian agriculture by achieving growth in
production by 7.6% per annum with an increase of about 3.8% in area per
annum during the last decades ending 2011-12. India is presently produc-
ing 257.2 million tons of horticulture produce from an area of 23 million
ha. The higher growth rate in horticulture has been brought about by im-
provement in productivity of horticulture crops, which increased by about
28% between 2001-2002 and 2011-2012. The supportive Govt. program
for promotion of technology led horticulture development particularly use
of high density plantations, protected cultivation, micro irrigation, quality
planting material, rejuvenation of senile orchards and thrust on posthar-
vest management have helped in increasing the productivity of horticul-
tural crops.
India is now the second largest producer of fruits (11.8%) and veg-
etables (13.3%) in the world and has second largest area under floriculture
after China. It is also the largest producer of banana, mango, sapota, pa-
paya, acid lime, cauliflower, pea, okra, cucurbits, etc. It is considered to be
the treasure house of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is a major player in
coconut production in the world (1.90 million ha) with an annual produc-
tion of nearly 13,000 million nuts (22.34% share) and is the largest pro-
ducer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products (4.02 million
tons from an area of about 2.47 million ha). India is the leading producer
of arecanut and accounts for 56% and 58% of the total area and produc-
tion in the world. India is the largest producer (6.95 lakh MT), processor,
consumer, and exporter of cashew.
The current demand for horticultural produce is increasing and is ex-
pected to accelerate with increase in population and per capita income
besides health concerns. There is growing demand for high quality, high
value produce throughout the country as well as the world. The competi-
tion within states and among countries is increasing. There are >20 fast
growing cities with population above 4 million. The growth of fast de-
veloping multinational chains in food sector, horticultural production and
retail chain, modernization of airports, road and highways has boosted the
