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.
