This presentation is about the horticulture scenario in India and is helpful for students, academicians, researchers, professors and entrepreneurs

1. ROLE OF HORTICULTURE IN LIVELIHOOD SECURITY
Prof. Parshant Bakshi
Head, Fruit Science, SKUAST-J

2. Speaker Introduction
• Prof. Parshant Bakshi, Head, Fruit Science SKUAST-Jammu, J&K,
India is having more than 20 years of experience in research,
teaching & extension activities.
• Dr. Bakshi is having more than 120 publications in national and
international journals of repute.
• He has been adjudged for best poster and oral presentation at various
national and International platforms.
• He has guided 14 research students (08 M.Sc. and 06 Ph.D.) as
chairman and 60 as co-chairman and authored 12 books.
• He handled 03 externally funded project as P.I. and 14 as Co-P.I. He
is the life member of 12 societies of Horticulture and is the fellow of
Hi-Tech Horticultural Society.
• He has been nominated by Ministry of Agriculture and represented
India in FAO, workshop at Beijing, China 2018 and also attended
training in Volcani Centre, Israel in 2012
• He has RG score of 23.59; planted 12,000+ fruit plants under Save
Horticulture mission and awarded best video by MANAGE in 1st Agri
Fest in 2022
✉ parshantskuastj@gmail.com
📞 +91 - 9419101601
https://www.krishisandesh.com

3. • Overview
•Horticulture Growth
•Position at Global Level
•Opportunities & Challenges
•Technological advancements
• Interventions in crop improvement
• Conclusion
3

5. Indian Horticulture Scenario
Source: APEDA (2021)
Horticulture covers 18% of the net cultivated area
Horticulture production of 333.25 million MT from
an area of 27.5 million ha in 2021-22
India is a net exporter of Horticulture produce :
Total export - Rs. 45,963.24 Cr
Total Imports: Rs. 37,760.92 Cr
Total Value of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables exports was
Rs. 12,540.57 Cr
Total Fresh Fruits & Vegetables import is of
Rs.18,480.20 Cr
Total export of spices is of Rs. 29,273.86 Cr

6. 1st
•
2nd
phase (Pre-independence):
Houses and Personal gardens for pleasure
phase (1948-1980):
Commercial production system, few commodities- potato, coconut, areca nut and
spices received attention, Institutional support system
phase (1980-1992):
Development took place, Got fillip with consolidation of institutional support for R&D.
phase (1993-2000):
Focus on horticulture, enhancement of plan allocation, strong institutional
support for R&D
phase (2001-2010):
Phase of innovations, large scale adoption of technologies – micro- irrigation, micro-
propagation, protected cultivation, diagnostics
phase (2010-onwards):
Hi -tech horticulture, Precision farming-mechanization, integrated cold chain,
marketing reforms, cluster approach
•
3rd
•
4th
•
5th
•
6th
•
Face of Knowledge in Horticulture in different phases

7. 96.56
145.62
257.27
333.25
168.38
212.85
259.29
316.6
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1991-92 2001-02 2011-12 2021-22
Horticulture Agriculture
CAGR
Horticulture: 4.2%
Food Grains: 2.1%
Production of horticulture has surpassed the production
of the food grains in India.
In last 7 years, the area
under horticulture has
increased from 23.4
Million ha to 27.5
Million ha (17.74%)
while the production has
increased from 280.9
Million MT to 333.25
Million ha (18.63%)
(In Million Metric Tons)
Horticulture Growth
7

8. India’s Position at Global Level
Production Scenario
1st
2nd
Mango
Pomegranate
Banana
Okra
Turmeric Papaya
Potato Tomato Onion
Cabbage
Cauliflower Brinjal
Major Fruit Export Destinations from India (2021-22)
Netherlands: 35.2% share
Total: INR 2,491.5 crore
Iran: 34% share
Total: INR 1,198 crore
UAE: 13.7% share
Total: INR 1,422.7 crore
Bangladesh: 91.2% share
Total: INR 406.2 crore
Bangladesh: 41% share
Total: INR 688.8 crore
Source: Tradestat, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2021-22 data)
Grapes
Mango
Banana
Pomegranate
Orange

9. SWOT of Indian Horticulture
STRENGTHS
Rich Bio-diversity
 Arable land
 Climate
 Strong research system and
 Well dispersed extension system
WEAKNESS
Fragmented land
 Low technology inputs
 Unsustainable water management
 Poor Infrastructure
 Low value addition
OPPORTUNITIES
 Bridgeable yield crops
 Export potential
 Agro-based industry
 Untapped potential in North eastern parts of India
THREATS
Unsustainable resource use
 Unsustainable regional development
 Small land holding size
 Climate variability

10. Source: APEDA (2021), PIB, FAO, Doubling Farmers’ income Report
Post-harvest losses in F&V value Chains
Losses are mainly due to gaps in existing and required infrastructure for post harvest
management
Opportunities & Challenges of the Sector
Crops Area Production Yield
Yield
(world)
Apple 313 2437 7.78 17.77
Mango 2339 20336 8.69 9.87
Tomato 831 20300 24.42 43.6
Onion 1914 31129 16.26 24.49
• Lack of High Yield Varieties
• Need of capacity building & technological
Interventions
• Area under micro irrigation
• Low density plantation
• Lack of adoption of global best practices
Reasons for low productivity
Productivity Scenario of India – Key Crops
Area: ‘000 Ha
Production: ‘000 MT
Yield: MT/Ha
• Currently, India has 8,354 cold storage facilities
with an installed capacity of 380.8 Lakh MT
• As per NABCONS, the demand for cold storages
in 2019-20 was 519.50 lakh MT
Gaps in cold storage capacity

11. • Small scale farming due to size of holdings.
• Inadequate availability of quality planting materials.
• Prevalence of old and senile orchards having low planting density
• Lack of processable varieties for cultivation.
• Low level of mechanization in horticulture.
• Lack of latest technologies for protected cultivation.
• Lack of know how and do how.
• Lack of sorting, grading and storage facilities
• High initial investment on new orchards
• Markets are controlled by a few big traders
• Lack of postharvest management and processing
Challenges of the Sector

12. 12
Production needed to achieve nutritional Security

13. Horticultural crops meets the required daily
allowance of many nutrients
• In order to have protective effect, it is necessary to consume 400-
600 g of fruits and vegetables every day.
• The consumption level of fruits is low and widely variable from region
to region in India.
• An increase in the intake of fruits along with vegetables will meet
the required daily allowance (RDA) of many nutrients.
• However, per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables in India is
only around 46 g and 130 g against a minimum of about 92 g and 300
g, respectively recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research
and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
13

14. • By 2025, 83% of the expected global population of 8.5 billion
will be in the developing world.
• The question before us is - can we meet food needs and provide
nutrition, health care, fuel and fiber to growing population? The
answer is – ‘it is difficult, but not impossible.’
• Optimistically, through the inputs of science and technology,
challenges ahead could be converted into opportunities for
sustainable production.
• Horticulture has proved to be the best mean of diversification for
higher land productivity that has been achieved with context to
gross return per hectare.
14
Challenges ahead in horticulture production

15. Climate change has been perceived as threat and will have
impact on horticultural crops, due to erratic rainfall, more
demands for water, and enhanced biotic and abiotic stresses
These challenges could be addressed through identification of the
gene tolerant to high temperature, flooding and drought,
development of nutrient efficient cultivars and production
system for efficient use of nutrients and water. Strategies have to
address the enhanced water efficiency, cultural practices that
conserve water and promote crop.
How to combat
Challenges ahead in horticulture production

16. Research system of horticulture in India
• The research for horticultural crops is being carried out at 10 ICAR
institutes (with 24 regional stations) 6 Directorates and 7 National
Research Centers (on major crops).
• Multi-disciplinary and area specific research is also conducted under All
India Co-ordinated Research Projects each on Tropical, Sub-Tropical, Arid
Fruits, Vegetables, Potato, Tuber Crops, Mushroom, Floriculture, Medicinal
and Aromatic crops, Betel vine, Palms, Cashew, and Spices at 254 centers
located at various research institutes and State Agricultural Universities.
• In addition, 5 network projects have been approved in XI plan to address
specific issues. Research on horticulture is also undertaken in multi-
disciplinary institutes, departments of horticulture in 34 Agricultural
Universities, two Deemed Universities and 3 Universities of Horticulture
and Forestry.

17. Technological advancement in horticulture
• Several technological innovations have been advanced in the
complete value chain involving technology for orchard
establishment, availability of true to type planting material, plant
architecture engineering and management, mulching, fruit
thinning, integrated nutrient management, water management,
integrated pest and disease management, post harvest technology,
processing and marketing.
• The positive changes in horticulture sector have occurred because it
has received the importance from all the stakeholders, public
sector, private sector and farmers during the last decade.
• This is primarily the result of realization that diversification to
horticultural crops is now the major option to improve livelihood
security and health care.

18. Genetic diversity management in horticulture
• In the endeavor to attain the food and nutritional security for the
increasing population, improvement in the productivity through
germplasm enhancement and its utilization is important.
• In order to provide strong backing to the breeding programmes,
germplasm collection efforts were strongly supported by the national
research programme.
• Concerted efforts made for documentation, characterization, conservation
and utilization of plant genetic resources in horticultural crops enabled to
conserve 72,600 accessions of cultivated, wild and related taxa.
• To fulfill the dynamic needs, nutritional and health care of the people, it
has become necessary to identify accessions possessing high nutritional
value and bioactive compounds which play a great role in health care
which shall be helpful in breeding varieties with special attributes.

19. Crop improvement in horticultural crops
• More than 1796 improved high yielding, high quality coupled with
disease and pest resistant varieties and hybrids have been released by
various institutes/ universities for cultivation in diverse agro-climatic
conditions of the country.
• Regular bearing mango hybrid, export quality grapes, multiple disease
resistant vegetable hybrids, high value spices and tuber crops of industrial
use have been developed. Improved varieties have revolutionized the
horticultural sectors.
• High-yielding Gauri Sankar and Sree Bhadra sweet potatoes have focus in
minimizing malnutrition and improving nutritional security.
• Varieties are being bred for processing qualities such as grape varieties
suitable for vine making, papaya varieties for table and papain
production, Kufri Chipsona in potato for chips making, high TSS white
onion in NRCOG W448 are some of the successful research attempts
being carried out at various ICAR institutes.

20. Hybrid technology for high productivity and quality
• The hybrid technology has revolutionized the production of vegetable
crops and demand for hybrid seeds is continuously increasing.
• Hybrid of tomato, chilli, cucumber and muskmelon are being produced at
several locations in the different states in the country. Besides this,
imported seeds of mostly for cole crops are available to the Indian
farmers.
• All India Co-ordinated Vegetable Improvement Project (AICVIP) has so far
recommended for cultivation of more than 45 hybrids. Besides, many
hybrids of vegetable crops, developed and marketed by private sector are
also available to the farmers.
• The parental lines of a number of hybrids developed have been sold on
non-exclusive basis to the seed companies with aim to promote these
hybrids among the farmers.

21. Biotechnological interventions for crop improvement
• Biotechnological tools have supplemented various conventional approaches in
conservation, characterization and utilization in horticultural crops for increasing
the production and productivity.
• These tools have provided ample scope for the breeder to improve diverse traits,
including yield, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and quality more
precisely and in reduced time.
• Use of meristem culture and micro grafting are successful in citrus for elimination
of viruses.
• Anthers of capsicum variety Arka Gaurav and tomato hybrid Avinash 2 responded
to culture with an embryogenic like response without an intervening callus phase.
• Embryo rescue has been successfully employed in production of hybrids of Musa
accuminata x Musa balbisiana, Carica papaya x Carica cauliflora, interspecific
crosses in pineapple and seedless x seedless grape varieties.

22. Bioactive components – enhancing nutritive value
• One of the most significant contributions of biotechnology is the improvements
of nutritional status of horticultural crops.
• Several nutritional traits such as, carbohydrates, proteins, oils, fats, vitamins and
amino acids constitute the main target of plant biotechnology.
• A new approach to increase crop Active components such as caroteinoids from
tomatoes, glucosinolates from Brassica vegetables, phytoestrogenes from
soybean and phenolics and antioxidants from various plants protect and
prevent numerous disease such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. These
antioxidants are also associated with slowing the ageing process and improving
overall health.
• Phytoestrogens from Dioscorea species such as wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) also
possess numerous physiological benefits. Some sweet potato varieties have anti-
diabetic potential. Most of these bioactive components are plant secondary
metabolites.

23. Horticultural crops as bioreactors for health care
• Highly productive horticultural crops such as potato, cassava and yams
are easy to grow and can generate considerable biomass within a short
period.
• With these features research has been carried out to determine
whether transgenic plants of these crops can be exploited for the
production of commercial proteins and biochemicals and recombinant
biopharmaceuticals such as cytokines, hormones, monoclonal
anitbodies, enzymes and vaccines.

24. Rootstocks for production and profitability
• Interaction of suitable rootstocks and scions become essential to achieve targeted
production. Appropriately selected rootstocks have potential to modify architecture
of plants for efficient utilization of resources. It can ameliorate the soil, enhance
nutrient and water use, leading to conservation. Therefore, rootstocks have
become integrated in production system of grapes, citrus, apple and many fruit
crops for successful production.
• Citrus rootstock, Rangpur lime can adapt to water stress, calcareous soils and resist
to Phytophthora.
• The use of rootstock in grape cultivation has gained popularity, and almost all
newer vineyards are being planted on stress tolerant rootstocks only. The popular
root stock for grape are Dog ridge B and 110R, which can sustain abiotic stresses like
drought and soil salinity and provides vigour of vine needed for production.
• In sapota, Khirni (Maninkara hexandra) has proved drought tolerant and productive
in marginal soil.

25. Nutrient dynamics for efficient use
• Among various inputs, fertilizers alone account for 20-30% of the total
cost of production, moreover, the efficacy of fertilizers applied in soil is
low due to various losses and soil fixation.
• Fertilizer use efficiency studies using isotope labeled fertilizers have
shown low efficiency of fertilizer use necessitating a system, which can
determine the need of nutrients for all stages of growth and also
understand the soil ability to supply needed nutrients more efficiently.
• Soil nutrient based fertilizer application is useful in vegetable crops, but
fruit trees rarely respond to nutrient needs based on soil test, thus leaf
nutrient standards have been developed for many fruit crops to enhance
the efficiency of fertilizer.

26. Nutrient dynamics for efficient use
• Site specific production, diagnostic and advisory recommendations to
maximize nutrient use efficiency are being worked out. The nutritional
requirement for various horticultural crops for different agro-climatic
zones has been worked out and successfully adopted by farmers. But the
focus is required for the use of biofertilizers, VAM fungi, biological N
fixers and other beneficial microbial agents for effective nutrient use
efficiency.

27. Green or Organic horticulture
• Changing dietary habits among many segments of the population coupled
with health consciousness has resulted in growing demand for organic
food. Demand for green food is on increase and harnessing the potential of
organic farming which address soil health, human health and
environmental health is considered to have greater significance.
• In last few years, organic farming has attracted many farmers across the
country especially combined with ecotourism and have experimented
successfully.
• India is best known as an exporter of organic tea and also has niche
market for spices and fruits and vegetables.
• Protocol for organic production of many horticultural crops has been
worked out which includes use of resistant varieties, management of soil
vermicompost and biofertilizer and management of disease and pests
using biological control as well as bio-pesticides.

28. Organic Horticulture

29. Components of Organic Farming

30. Organic vs conventional produce

31. Knowledge
generation in
Horticulture
New
Varieties
Disease free
quality seeds &
Planting
material
Health
Management
Harvesting,
Handling
Eg. Seed(Knowledge)--- Self replicating---Used to Produce ---
modified--- Shared--- Transferred to other farms ---Allow production
increase --- Result
Modified
Shared
Crucial for
Results
Beginning
Power
Self replicating
Creation of knowledge through research system – Dissemination
for large scale adoption

32. Need for Sustainable horticulture
Production of fruits, vegetables and flower
Protection of the environment
Conservation of land resources
Development of rural communities
Maintenance of horticultural heritage

33. Soil conservation
• Contour bunding
• Graded bunding
• Vegetative barriers
• Strip cropping
• Cover cropping
• Reduced tillage

34. Cover Crops
• Sun hemp, horse gram in the off season after harvesting a grain
or vegetable crop
Almond and apricot
trees with cover

35. Crop Diversity
• Growing a more variety of crops on
a farm can help to reduce the risks
from extremes in weather, market
conditions or crop pests.
• Increased diversity crops and other
plants, such as trees and shrubs,
can also contribute to soil
conservation, wildlife habitat and
increased populations of beneficial
insects.

36. A system that became widely used
during the industrial revolution. The
practice of rotating difference crops in
the same field from year to year
increased production by improving the
fertility of the soil and reducing insects
and disease.
Crop Rotation

37. Intercropping
• A multiple cropping practice
involving growing two or more
crops in proximity.
• Produce greater yield on a
given piece of land by making
use of resources or ecological
processes that would
otherwise not be utilized by a
single crop
Fruit crop Intercrops
1. Guava Cauliflower, French Bean, Pea, Lobia, Mung
Bean and Cucurbits
2. Grapes Pea, Cauliflower, French Bean, Chillies,
Spinach, Marigold, Gladiolus and Jasmine
3. Papaya Cauliflower, Onion, Tomato, Capsicum and
Peas
4. Citrus Cauliflower, Onion, Tomato, Bitter Guard,
Bottle Guard, Okra and Peas
5. Peach Turmeric, Ginger, Soybean and Cowpea
6. Litchi and Mango Turmeric, Ginger, Bitter Guard, Bottle Guard,
Tomato, Radish and Cauliflower
Vegetables as intercrops in fruit orchard

38. Agro forestry
Trees and other woody perennials are often underutilized on covers a range of
practices viz., agri-silvicuture, silvi-pastoral, agri-silvi-pagri-horticulture, horti /silvi-
pastoral, alley cropping, tree farming, lay farm that help conserve, soil and water.

40. Nutrient Management
• Proper management of
nitrogen and other plant
nutrients can improve the soil
and protect environment.
• Increased use of farm nutrient
sources such as manure and
leguminous cover crops, also
reduces the cost of fertilizer
purchase.
Improving plant nutrient
management for
 Better farmer livelihoods,
 Food security
 Environmental sustainability

42. Water : Quality and Conservation
Water quality and conservation have
important role in quality production.
Many practices viz., deep ploughing,
mulching, micro irrigation techniques etc.,
have been developed to conserve water as
well as to protect quality of drinking and
surface water.
Mulching of citrus trees

43. Suitable crops
Banana, papaya, citrus,
grapes, pomegranate,
pineapple, watermelon, citrus
Drip irrigation in fruit crops

44. Sod mulch
• The growing of grasses in entire orchard
• Tree basins mulched with straw instead of tilling
• Grasses are mowed down regularly
• Use of cut over grasses as a mulch in fruit production
• Moisture conservation
• Temperature regulation
• Weed suppression
• Better nutrient availability
• Hastened microbial activity
• Control or check soil erosion
• Improve fruit coloration and enhance maturity
Benefits
Sod Mulch

45. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is a sustainable
approach to managing pests
by combining biological,
cultural, physical and
chemical tools in way that
minimizes economic, health
and environmental risks.

46. • Climate smart horticulture.
• Hydroponics & Aeroponics.
• Vertical/urban horticulture.
• Per urban horticulture.
• Agri- Hortipreneurship.
• ICT & IOT application
• Horti -Tourism.
46
More Opportunities

47. Data on Climate change - mechanism of adoption and
mitigation
Effects - Positives and negatives Enhanced water
use efficiency
Development of climate resilient horticultural crops Biotechnology
and Genomics
Priotized research needed – impact of climate change
Adaptation of tropical production system
Knowledge of carbon sequestration – perennial horticulture
• Climate resilient varieties,
• Water and nutrient management for ef icient resource utilisation,
• Ef icient soil management

48. Hydropo
nics
Aquapo
nics
Hi-Tech
Horticul
ture
Aeropo
nics
Precisio
n
Farming
Protecte
d
Cultivat
ion
Hi-tech Horticulture

49. Aeroponics Hydroponics

51. Protected Cultivation
Greenhouse
Shade house
Screen house
Glass house
Net house

52. Precision Farming

53. • Conservation of biodiversity of fruit crops.
• Diversify high-value crops in the hills, arid and coastal
agri-ecosystems.
• Technological improvements for increasing production
and productivity of fruit and vegetable crops.
• Processing of fruits and vegetables.
• Perennial horticultural crops have to face the impacts of
climatic variability.
• Use of insect-pest-tolerant crop varieties and soil-
borne disease-resistant rootstocks.
• Developing cultivars tolerant to heat, drought and
agronomic manipulations, including water
management to match adverse climate change impacts.
Futuristic view for high value Horticulture by 2050

54. • Establishment of mother blocks/ rootstock blocks with hi-tech nurseries &
tissue culture units for ensuring availability of quality planting material.
• Crop-specific and cluster based value chain studies for mapping of existing
infrastructure and identifying gaps.
• Cluster based approach for production to address the issue of small size of
holding and linking farmers to the market.
• Focus on post harvest infrastructure including pack houses and ripening
chamber; and refrigerated transport for marketing of fresh produce.
• Improving market intelligence to promote market led production by scheduling
of sowing and harvesting operations.
• Intensive skill development and capacity building programmes for adoption of
latest technologies in Horticulture at farmers field.
• Adoption of GAP standards for export as well as domestic requirements.
Futuristic view for high value Horticulture by 2050

55. Conclusion

56.  Protecting resource base and the wider
environment.
 Provide consumers with a variety of products
 Expansion of better horticulture crop production
 Improved technologies that will augment the global
export of quality
 Quality is an important aspect of the horticulture
industry, whether the horticulture crop is sold
locally, regionally or internationally.
 National and international concern for the
sustainable development of horticulture depending
on the region.
Conclusion

57. •During lockdown period, videos of Web lecture, Competitive videos, High density
planting and Fruit production are of great help to students and talk show and
demonstration to fruit growers and field functionaries.
• The total views of my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/parshant
bakshi) are 3,05,000 which showed an increase of viewed videos by 65 per cent
from March, 2020 to January, 2023.
•This is the top watched
•video on YouTube with 29,235
0%
0%
0%
28%
31%
41%
Till March 20 15-03-20 15-03-21
You Tube

59. Recap
Prof. PARSHANT BAKSHI, HEAD, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha
1. Horticulture covers ________ % of the net cultivated area
2. In 2021-22, the area and production under horticulture crops is __________ and _______
3. The share of export of grapes from India to The Netherlands is _____________
4. Hi-tech horticulture, precision farming and mechanization, cluster approach in
horticulture is started in which phase _________
5. The per capita daily recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables in India is
_____________ and _____________ , respectively
6. The number of ICAR institutes and NRC’s on major crops are _______ and ______,
respectively
7. The popular salt tolerant rootstocks of grapes are _________ and ____________

60. 1. Horticulture covers 18 % of the net cultivated area
2. In 2021-22, the area and production under horticulture crops is 27.5 million hectares and
333.25 million Metric Tons, respectively.
3. The share of export of grapes from India to The Netherlands is 35.2 %
4. Hi-tech horticulture, precision farming and mechanization, cluster approach in
horticulture is started in which phase 6th
5. The per capita daily recommended cosumption of fruits and vegetables in India is 92 g
and 300 g , respectively
6. The number of ICAR institutes and NRC’s on major crops are 10 and 7, respectively
7. The popular salt tolerant rootstocks of grapes are Dogridge and 110R
Answers
Prof. PARSHANT BAKSHI, HEAD, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha

61. Sustainable Horticulture A Decision for Nature
If you tickle the earth with a hoe, she laughs with a
harvest
Douglas William Jerrold