Horticulture in Indian Agriculture

Horticulture is a significant growth engine in Indian agriculture, surpassing food grains in production since 2011-12. In the 2024-25 agricultural year, horticultural output is projected at 362 million tonnes, 10% higher than food grains, despite being cultivated on only one-fourth of the land compared to grain crops.

• Growth Rate: Horticulture has an annual growth rate of about 8%, compared to 4% for food grains.
• Historical Growth: Since 1950, horticultural output has increased 14.5 times, while food grains have increased 7.2 times.
• Sector Development: 40% of horticulture's growth has occurred in the last two decades.

Productivity and Profitability

• Productivity: Horticultural crops average 12.5 tonnes per hectare, five times the yield of grain crops.
• Market Value: Fruits, vegetables, and spices have higher market value than cereals.
• Nutritional Value: Rich in vitamins and minerals, horticultural products contribute 33% to the agri-GDP on 23% of agricultural land.

Global Position

• Second-largest Producer: India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, next to China.
• Leading Producer: India leads in mangoes, bananas, papayas, onions, ginger, okra, and spices.

Challenges and Issues

• Export Share: India's share in global trade of processed and fresh fruits and vegetables is less than 1%.
• Post-Harvest Losses: Wastage ranges from 15% to 40% due to poor post-harvest management.
• Processing: Less than 4% of horticultural output is processed into value-added products.
• Government Support: Horticulture lacks the market and price support provided to food crops, except for copra.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Inadequate refrigerated storage and transportation facilities.

Export Barriers

• Trade Barriers: Non-tariff barriers like food-safety standards and sanitary norms impact exports.
• Quality Concerns: High pesticide residues and other quality issues often lead to export rejections.