Horticulture

Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business
of growing plants. It includes the cultivation of medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds,
herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and non-food crops such as grass and
ornamental trees and plants. It also includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, landscape
and garden design, construction, and maintenance, and arboriculture. Inside agriculture,
horticulture contrasts with extensive field farming as well as animal husbandry.
Abstract
Horticultural crops play an important role in human nutrition, preventing diseases and
contributing to the nations development and prosperity. Fruits and vegetables are rich
source of vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates that are essential in human
diet. Flowers and ornamental crops enhance aesthetic value of our environment while
medicinal crops yield pharmaceutical constituents. Thus, horticulture assumes great
importance in food and nutritional security, general health and well -being of our population.
Horticulture crops form a vital part of the Indian agricultural production. India is the second
largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Cultivation and processing of these crops
generate significant employment opportunities for the rural and peri-urban population. In
addition, marketing creates employment prospects for the urban poor which in turn ensure better
livelihood security. Horticultural sector including fruits, vegetables, spices and flowers with a
share of about 6 per cent in total cropped area contributed maximum (32 per cent) to the total
value of crop production in TE 2004-05. Moreover, gross value of fruits and vegetables grew at
an annual rate of 5.6 per cent that was higher than growth of any other crop between 1995-96
and 2004-05. This achievement is commendable since growth in their contribution was one of
the lowest (2.9 per cent) between 1981-82 and 1995-96 (Birthal et al., 2008). It would be useful
to point out that production of horticultural crops in India has increased from 97 million tonnes
in 1991-92 to 250 million tonnes in 2011-12. Area expansion and growth in yield are responsible
for this success.
Sourcehttp://www.du.ac.in/du/uploads/Academics/centres_institutes/Agricultural_Eco/18.2013Baseline%20horti_Uttarakhand%20Usha.pdf

UTTARAKHAND
Uttarakhand was formed on the 9th November 2000 as the 27th State of India, when it was
carved out of northern Uttar Pradesh. Located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges,
it is largely a hilly State, having international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and
Nepal in the east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh, while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.
It is blessed with a rare bio-diversity, inter-alia, 175 rare species of aromatic & medicinal plants
are found in the State. It has almost all major climatic zones, making it amenable to a variety of
commercial opportunities in horticulture, floriculture and agriculture. It has a vast tourism
potential in adventure, leisure, and eco-tourism.
Himachal Pradesh
The earliest known inhabitants of the region were tribals called Dasas. Later, Aryans came and
they assimilated in the tribes. In the later centuries, the hill chieftains accepted suzerainty of the
Mauryan empire, the Kaushans, the Guptas and Kanuaj rulers. During the Mughal period, the
Rajas of the hill states made some mutually agreed arrangements which governed their relations.
In the 19th century, Ranjit Singh annexed/subjugated many of the states. When the British came,
they defeated Gorkhas and entered into treaties with some Rajas and annexed the kingdoms of
others. The situation more or less remained unchanged till 1947. After Independence, 30 princely
states of the area were united and Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15th April, 1948. With the
recognition of Punjab on 1st November, 1966, certain areas belonging to it were also included in
Himachal Pradesh. On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State.
The State is bordered by Jammu & Kashmir on North, Punjab on West and South-West, Haryana
on South, Uttarakhand on South-East and China on the East.

Source- http://uk.gov.in/pages/view/93-state-profile
http://himachal.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&dpt_id=17&level=1&sublinkid=3006&lid=3571

Demographic Overview

SN Indicators

Unit

Uttarakhand

Himachal pradesh

Geographical Area

Sq. km

53,483

55,673

Population

people

1,00,86,292

68,64,602

Decadal Growth Rate

Percentage

19.17

12.8

Density of Population

Population/Sq. Km.

123

189

Sex Ratio

Females/1000 Males

963

972

Literacy Rate (LR)

Percentage

79.60

82.80

Horticulture land area

Hectare

300000

224352

Source - census 2011

http://midh.gov.in/Archive/AAP/Uttarakhand2015.pdf
http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND002_Himachal
%20Pradesh.pdf

Horticulture zones
Uttarakhand
zone

Altitude (m)

Crops

Irrigated Tarai &

hill valley areas

600-1200

All seasonal vegetables, citrus, mango, guava, aonla,

litchi & pomegranate

Rainfed lower
hills

600-1200

Potato, tomato and other seasonal

Vegetables and spices Off-season
mango, aonla, citrus and Spices.

Mid-hills (South-West)

1200-1700

Off-season vegetables, stone fruits

Citrus & walnut

Mid hills (North-East)

1200-1700

Pear, stone fruits and off -season

vegetables

High hills

1700-2500

Pome and stone fruits &off season vegetables

Very high hills

2500-3500

Pome, cherry, walnut, off-season & European

vegetables

Himachal Pradesh
Zone
Sub- tropical, Submountain, Low Hill

Elevation(meters AMSL)
365-914

Sub- tropical,Sub-humid,
Mid-hills

915-1523

Wet-Temperate High
Hills

1524-2472

Suitable fruit crops

Mango, Litchi, Citrus, Aonla, Pomegranate, Low chilling
varieties of Peach, Plum and Pear, Strawberry, Tomato,
Capsicum, Cabbage, root crops,Medicinal & Aromatic,Safed
Musli, Aloevera, RosE, Gladiolus, Lillium, Marigold,
Chrysanthemum, Ginger, Turmeric
Stone Fruits (Peach, Plum, Apricot, Almond), Pear,
Pomegranate, Pecan nut, Walnut, Kiwi Fruit, Strawberry,
Peas, Cauliflower Tomato, Capsicum, Cabbage, root crops,
Thyme, Tulsi, Aloe vera, Rose, Carnation Gladiolus, Lillium,
Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Alstroemeria, Ginger, Garlic,
Turmeric
Apple, Pear, Cherry, Almond, Walnut, Chestnut, Hazelnut,
Strawberry, Broccoli, Asparagus, Parsley, Tomato, Capsicum
Medicinal & Aromatic Plants: Lavender, Rose, Taxus baccata,
Gladiolus, Lillium, Marigold, Chrysanthemum. Ginger, Garlic

Dry Temperate High Hills

& Cold Desert

Above 2472

Apple, Grapes, Prunes, Drying type of Apricot, Almond,

Chilgoza, Pistachionut, Walnut, Hazel-nut Seed crops of all
vegetables, Exotic vegetable and medicinal plants

Horticulture production as in year 2011-2012

Uttarakhand

Crops

Area
(lacs
ha)

Production
(lacs MT)

Productivit
y
(MT/ha)
State

Productivit
y
(MT/ha)
National
level

Rank in the
Country-in
terms of
productivit
y

Rank in
the
Countryin terms of
production

Fruit

2.00

8.02

4.00

11.70

30th

18th

Vegetable 0.89
(including
Potato)

11.97

12.00

17.30

23th

19th

Spices

0.10

0.75

7.21

1.80

01st

19th

Flowers

0.015

Loose0.181,
Cut-3567
lacs no

Overall 7th
and 2nd in
cut flowers

a)

Fruits:

SI.No

Name of fruits

Area (ha)

Production (MT)

1.

Apple

33733

122653

2.

Pear

15081

108120

3.

Peach

9022

49682

4.

Plum

9653

41225

5.

Apricot

9038

32282

6.

Walnut

19644

21812

7.

Citrus

27951

138457

Mango

39839

147795

9.

Litchi

9480

19015

10.

Aonla

531

1230

11.

Guava

1813

11285

12.

Other fruits

24942

108568

b)

Vegetable:

SI.No

Name of vegetables

Area (ha)

Production (MT)

1.

Pea

11646

78050

2.

Radish

4663

57967

3.

French bean

5442

40054

4.

Cabbage

5754

72701

5.

Cauliflower

2751

36671

6.

Onion

3813

39267

7.

Capsicum

2396

13482

Okra

3339

27907

9.

Tomato

8788

102395

10.

Brinjal

2326

27046

11.

Potato

25034

433821

12.

Other Vegetable

12038

128581

c)

Spices:

SI.No

Name of Spices

Area (ha)

Production (MT)

1.

Turmeric

944

7575

2.

Chilli

2056

7615

3.

Coriander

834

2763

4.

Garlic

1298

8763

5.

Ginger

4354

44011

d). Flowers:
SI.No

Name of flowers

Area (ha)

Production (MT)

1.

Gerbera

70

2016

2.

Carnation

28

701

3.

Gladiolas

372

897

4.

Marigold

554

785

5.

Rose

141

136

6.

Tuberoses

25

28

7.

Others

99

89

Himachal Pradesh
S.No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Crop
Apple
Plum
Peach
Apricot
Pear
Cherry
Kiwi
Pomegranate
Olive
Persimmon
Strawberry
Almond
Walnut
Picannut
Hazelnut
Orange
Malta
k.Lime
Galgal
Other Citrus
Mango
Litchi
Guava
Aonla
Jackfruit

Area (hectare)
106440
8546
5159
3577
7283
456
117
1968
46
402
55
5473
4557
860
12
8609
1538
10354
2255
53
39828
4742
2233
2158
654

Production
275036
9842
5101
2437
11760
433
150
749
13
199
284
1069
1242
178
0
13889
2097
5470
3535
46
28972
2980
2642
1861
446

26
27
28
Total

Papaya
Loquat
Others

215
64
649
214574

1033
153
1058
372823

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS
PRODUCTION IN THE YEAR 2014-2015

STATE/UTS

FRUITS

VEGETABL
ES
A
P
83. 158
75
3.37

FLOWE AROMATI SPICES

RS
C
A
P
A P
A
P
A
P
HIMACHAL 224. 751.
.
38. 1.0
.
7.39 22.2
PRADESH
35
94
8 76
7
62
9
0
UTTARAKH 204. 785. 100 110
1. 16. 0
0
8.09 41.0
AND
96
97
.7
9.65 6 7
8
3
The current horticulture status of uttarakhand is nearby himachal Pradesh
higher in some domains like fruits and spices.

PLANTATION
CROP
A
P
0.00 0.00

0.00

0.00

and even

The flower sector is very low in terms of production in uttarakhand and very high in
terms of spice production.
After the flood in 2013 in uttarakhand faced a heavy swipe out in the horticulture
sector.
The mission carried out by the government of uttarakhand initiated in the year 2011
also lacked in initiations due to natural calamities.

TOTAL
A
317.3
7
315.3
7

Still with the initiations of uttarakhand government, horticulture board of

uttarakhand is trying its best to recover and make progess in the sector.

FINANCIAL BUDGET
FUNDS ALLOCATED
UTTARAKHAND
HIMACHAL PRADESH

AMOUNT (CRORES)
268

Recommendations
Major problem
The lack of initiation of
industries in horticulture
sector

Solution

How to do it?

PROBLEM-

Taxation Policy
Uttarakhand
The State levies VAT on most of the processed food items at the rate of 4 percent. For certain
products under the processed foods category, rates are mentioned in table below:

Vat rate in %

Items

Fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fruit juice, fruits shakes, fresh milk,
pasteurized milk, butter milk, curd and lassi.

1%

Atta, Maida, Suji, Besan and Pulses.

4%

All processed and preserved vegetables, mushrooms and fruits including fruit
jams, jellies, fruits squash, paste, fruit juices, and Pizza bread etc .

Himachal Pradesh
In Himachal Pradesh VAT has not been levied on agriculture implements,
agriculture/horticulture produce, animal feeds and feed supplements, articles
made of bamboo wood used for agriculture purpose, food grains supplied by
Government of India (PDS,BPL, Antodaya Anna Yojna and Annapurna Yojna),
fresh fruits, fresh milk and pasteurized milk, fresh plant, sapling and fresh
flowers, fresh vegetables, garlic, ginger, green chillies, onions, potatoes and
their seed, meat, fish, prawn, eggs, livestock etc

status as in year 2011-2012 and future projection of Horticultural crops in the State of
Uttarakhand
About 61.1% area of the State is under forests. The share of net sown are is only 13.5%
as against a national average of 43.37%. The total net shown area is 7,66,730 hectares,
of which 2,87,000 hectares is under horticultural crops. The average size of land holding
in the state is 0.8 hectares. More than 71% farmers fall in the marginal
Farmer category, where land holding is less than one hectare. The share of small and
marginal holdings is 88% higher in Uttarakhand state as compared to National average.
Area under Horticulture can be increased particularly if a way is worked out towards
utilization of cultivable wastelands and the farms belonging to absentee landowners.