Importance ofHorticulture

Dr R. ChithiraichelvanDean, SASF, RTU

India is the seventh largest country in the world with a total geographical area of 328.73 million ha and has the second largest population of 126.7 crores (2014) after China. The total arable land available in India is 144 million ha.

Around 55-60 per cent of population depends on agriculture and allied activities.

Horticulture crops constitute a significant component of total agricultural production in the country.

The term horticulture is derived from the Latin words: “hortus” meaning “garden” and “cultura” meaning “cultivation”. In ancient days the gardens were protected enclosures with high walls or similar structures surrounding the houses. The enclosed places were used to grow fruit, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. Therefore, in original sense “Horticulture refers to cultivation of garden plants within protected enclosures”.

Present day Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of cultivation of plants which include fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and plantation crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushrooms, algae and seaweeds. It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, landscape and garden design, construction and maintenance, and arboriculture.

As a source of variability in produce.As a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, flavour, aroma, alkaloids, oleoresins, fibre, etc.As a source of medicine.As an economic proposition as they give higher returns per unit area in terms of energy, money, job, etc. Employment generation 860 man days/annum for fruit crops as against 143 man days/annum for cereal crops.Effective utilization of waste land through hardy fruits and medicinal plants.As a substitute of family income through home garden.As a foreign exchange earner with higher share compared to agriculture crops.As an input for fruit and vegetable preservation industry.Aesthetic consideration and protection of environment.Religious significance.

Importance

Therefore, Horticulture is important for health, wealth, hygiene and happiness.

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Horticulture includes a great variety and diversity of crops. The science of horticulture can be divided into several branches as shown below :Pomology : refers to cultivation of fruit crops.Olericulture : refers to cultivation of vegetables.Floriculture : refers to cultivation of flower crops.Plantation Crops : refers to cultivation of crops like coconut, arecanut, rubber, coffee etc.Spice Crops : refers to cultivation of crops like, cardamom, pepper, nutmeg etc.Medicinal and Aromatic Crops : deals with cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops.Post Harvest Technology : deals with post harvest handling, grading, packaging, storage, processing, value addition etc. of horticultural crops.Plant Propagation : deals with multiplication of plants.

Features of Horticulture

1. Horticultural produces are mostly utilized in the fresh state and

are highly perishable.

2. Horticultural crops need intensive cultivation requiring a large

input of capital, labour and technology per unit area.

3. Cultural operations like propagation, training, pruning and

harvesting are skilled and specific to horticultural crops.

4. Horticultural produce are rich source of vitamins and minerals

and alkaloids.

5. Aesthetic gratification is an exclusive phenomenon to

horticultural science.

Horticultural Crops and Human Nutrition Fruits and vegetables play an important role in

balanced diet. These provide not only energy rich food but also

provide vital protective nutrients/elements and vitamins.

Comparatively, fruits and vegetables are the cheapest source of natural nutritive foods.

Since most of Indians are vegetarians, the incorporation of horticulture produce in daily diet is essential for good health.

With the growing awareness and inclination towards vegetarianism worldwide, the horticultural crops are gaining tremendous importance.

Fruit crops : India is the second largest producer of fruits. A large variety of fruit crops are grown in India. Of these, mango, banana, citrus, papaya, guava, pineapple, sapota, jackfruit, litchi, grapes, apple, pear, peach, plum, walnut etc. are important ones.India accounts for 12.6 per cent of the total world production of fruits. It leads the world in production of mango, banana, papaya, sapota, and acid lime besides recording highest productivity in grape.

Vegetable crops : More than 40 vegetables of Solanaceaous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous, cruciferous, root crops and leafy vegetables are grown in Indian tropical , sub-tropical and temperate region. Important vegetables grown in India are onion, tomato, potato, brinjal, peas, beans, okra, chilli, cabbage, cauliflower, bottle gourd, cucumber, watermelon, carrot, radish etc. India is second in vegetable production next only to China in area and production contributing 13 % to the world production. India occupies first position in cauliflower, second in onion and third in cabbage in the world.

Flower CropsFlower cultivation is practiced in India since ages and it is an important/integral part of socio-cultural and religious life of Indian people. It has taken a shape of industry in recent years. India is known for growing traditional flowers such as jasmine, marigold, chrysanthemum, tuberose, crossandra, aster, etc. Commercial cultivation of cut flowers includes rose, orchids, gladiolus, carnation, anthurium, gerbera etc.

SpicesThey constitute an important group of horticulture crops and are defined as vegetable products or mixture thereof, free from extraneous matter used for flavouring, seasoning and imparting aroma in foods. India is known as home of spices, producing a wide variety of spices like black pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, chilli, coriander etc. Major spice producing states are Kerala, A.P., Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, T.N. etc.

Plantation crops This is one of the important sector contributing about 7500 crores to export earning. The major plantation crops include coconut, arecanut, oilpalm, cashew, tea coffee, rubber, cocoa, betel vine, vanilla etc. The leading states are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, A.P, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam etc.

Medicinal and Aromatic plantsIndia has diverse collection of medicinal and aromatic plants distributed throughout the country. It has more than 9500 species with medicinal properties. Demand for these crop is increasing progressively in both domestic and export market. Important medicinal plants are Isabgol, Periwinkle, coleus, ashwagandha, etc. and aromatic plants are mint, grasses, davana, patchouli etc.

Comparison of horticultural & food grains production in India(In million tonnes )

Year Horticulture Food grains

2001-02 145.79 212.85

2002-03 144.38 174.77

2003-04 153.30 213.19

2004-05 166.94 198.36

2005-06 182.82 208.60

2006-07 191.81 217.28

2007-08 211.24 230.78

2008-09 214.72 234.47

2009-10 223.09 218.11

2010-11 240.53 244.49

2011-12 257.28 259.29

2012-13 268.85 257.13

2013-14 280.79 264.38

India's diverse climate ensures availability of all varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. It ranks second in fruits and vegetables production in the world, after China. As per National Horticulture Database published by National Horticulture Board, during 2012-13, India produced 81.285 million metric tonnes of fruits and 162.19 million metric tonnes of vegetables. The area under cultivation of fruits stood at 6.98 million hectares while vegetables were cultivated at 9.21 milliion hectares.

India is the largest producer of ginger and okra amongst vegetables and ranks second in production of potatoes, onions, cauliflowers, brinjal, cabbages, etc. Amongst fruits, the country ranks first in production of bananas, papayas, mangoes (including mangosteens, and guavas).

The vast production base offers India tremendous opportunities for export. During 2013-14, India exported fruits and vegetables worth Rs. 8760.96 crores which comprised of fruits worth Rs. 3298.03 crores and vegetables worth Rs. 5462.93 crores. Mangoes, Walnuts, Grapes, Bananas, Pomegranates account for larger portion of fruits exported from the country while Onions, Okra, Bitter Gourd, Green Chillies, Mushrooms and Potatoes contribute largely to the vegetable export basket.The major destinations for Indian fruits and vegetables are UAE, Bangladesh, Malaysia, UK, Netherland, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Export of horticultural produce in India

Indian floriculture industry comprises of flowers such as Rose, Tuberose, Gladiolus, Anthurium, Carnation, Marigold etc. Cultivation is undertaken in both open conditions as well as state-of-the-art poly and greenhouses. 

The area under floriculture production in India was 232.74 thousands hectares with a production of 1.729 million tonnes loose flowers and 76.73 million tonnes cut flowers. Floriculture is now commercially cultivated in several states with West Bengal (32%), Karnataka (12%) Maharashtra (10%).

More than 50% of the floriculture units are based in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. With the technical collaborations from foreign companies, the Indian floriculture industry is poised to increase its share in world trade.

India's total export of floriculture was Rs. 455.90 crores in 2013-14. The major importing countries were United States, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Canada. There are more than 300 export-oriented units in India.

For further details, contactThe Dean, SASF, RTU, Bengaluru 561204