Government Scheme for Sustainable Development of Horticulture
- Cabinet approved a scheme with an outlay of ₹1,129.30 crore to promote tropical, sub-tropical, temperate crops, vegetables, floriculture, spices, and medicinal plants.
Clean Plant Programme (CPP)
- ₹1,766-crore initiative under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) to ensure virus-free, high-quality planting material.
- Core Components: Establishing 9 Clean Plant Centers, certification under the Seeds Act, and infrastructure support for large-scale nurseries.
Horticulture’s Status in India
- Production: 355.48 million tonnes in 2022-23, contributing 33% to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA).
- India is 2nd globally in fruits and vegetable production and leads in bananas, mangoes, and papayas.
Significance of Horticulture
- Addresses food and nutritional security, doubles farmers’ income, generates employment, boosts exports, and supports rural development.
Initiatives for Horticulture Development
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (2014): Holistic growth via cluster-based approaches.
- CHAMAN: Geoinformatics for crop assessment.
- Capital Investment Subsidy for cold storage infrastructure.
Challenges in the Sector
- Low export share (1.6%), food safety issues, infrastructure deficits (cold storage inequity), small landholdings, limited value addition, and climate-induced risks.
Potential Solutions
- Expand cold storage capacity, improve transportation infrastructure, and promote value-added products like processed foods.
Encouraging Modern Practices
- Focus on precision agriculture, hydroponics, tissue culture, climate-smart agriculture, and water-saving technologies.
Way Forward
- Build capacity for meeting international standards, enhance credit access for farmers, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen farm mechanization.
