According to the second advance projections for 2022-23, overall horticulture output is expected to reach 351.92 million tonnes, exceeding total foodgrain production of 329.69 million tonnes for the year.
India is now the world’s second greatest producer of veggies and fruits. The country ranks top in the production of a variety of crops such as banana, lime and lemon, papaya, and okra.
Horticulture is the science and art of growing various crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, and non-food crops. It includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, and garden design.
Horticulturists study plant physiology, genetics, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, and environmental science to enhance plant growth, yield, quality, and health. Various branches include pomology, olericulture, floriculture, arboriculture, and landscape horticulture. They use scientific principles and practical techniques to address challenges related to plant health, pest control, and climate conditions.
Horticulture output in the nation has progressively increased over the years as a result of the Government of India’s and state governments’ aggressive policies and efforts, as well as better crop production technology and management methods.
Since 2014-15, the Government has been executing the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme throughout the States/UTs for the holistic development of horticulture, including expanding acreage, output, and the establishment of post-harvest infrastructure. Support is offered to farmers under MIDH for the production of quality planting material, area expansion of fruits, vegetables, spices, and plantation crops, protected cultivation and the establishment of post-harvest management infrastructures, training and capacity building, and so on.
The project proposals of State Governments for horticulture development are also supported under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
The details of State-wise horticulture production in the country during the last ten years are given in Annexure-1
The foodgrain production in the Country has recorded a consistent growth during the past years. The total foodgrain production has increased to 329.69 Million Tonne from 252.03 Million Tone in 2014-15. The compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of foodgrain production over the period was 3.41%. The details are given in Annexure-2.
The Government of India is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in the country for increasing production of rice, wheat, coarse cereals, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) and pulses.
Under NFSM, assistance is given through State/UT to the farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production, and distribution of high yielding varieties (HYVs)/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/ tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/ soil ameliorants, processing and post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings, etc.
The Mission also provided support to Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technologies to the farmers under supervision of Subject Specialists/ Scientists.
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