Horticulture Production

Context

• India is expected to have the highest ever horticulture production of 329.86 million tonnnes in 2020-21, up by 2.93% over previous year.

India's position in production of horticulture crops

• It ranks second in fruits and vegetables production in the world, after China.
• Its horticulture production has increased by 30 per cent in the last five years.
• India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world with first rank in the production of Banana, Mango, Lime & Lemon, Papaya and Okra.

Top State and their percent(%) Share in Production

Challenges in the Horticulture Sector

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not applicable to this sector.
• Lack of machinery and equipment.
• High price fluctuations.
• Lack of good cold chain storage and transport networks.

Way Ahead

• Science and technology-led advancement
• Improvement in quality seeds & plants and bringing newly introduced cultivators that ensures quick and efficient cultivation process.
• Imparting the meaningful education related to Horticulture to upscale youth knowledge regarding various government schemes and modern equipment and machinery.
• Adopt post-harvest management exercises to enhance the value of fruits in the long run.
• Value addition is the process that meets the requirements of nutritional security. It boosts the economic value of Horticulture crops.
• Organizing Research & Development Programmes at National level.
• Establishing a better long-distance transportation network should be a task of utmost importance to ensure smooth and hindrance-free transportation of fresh Horticultural produce.
• Preserved cultivation, hydroponic & aeroponic should get enfolded for polishing up productivity along with the quality of produce.

 Initiatives taken

• Horticulture Area Production Information System (HAPIS) - a web enabled information system by which data from the states/districts is reported. This minimizes the time-lag and maximizes the coverage area.
• Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and MANagement using geoinformatics (CHAMAN) - to develop scientific methodology for estimation of area & production under horticulture crops. Method used: Remote Sensing and Sample Survey Techniques.
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector.Under MIDH, Government of India (GOI) contributes 60%, of total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states except states in North East and Himalayas, 40% share is contributed by State Governments. In the case of North Eastern States and Himalayan States, GOI contributes 90%. Schemes under it are: 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

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/horticulture-production-to-high-record-high-at-329-86-million-tonnes-says-agriculture-ministry/articleshow/84446709.cms