It is a vast and diverse field that encompasses the cultivation, production, processing, and marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
Major types of horticulture: Pomology [Fruit cultivation and includes Viticulture (grape cultivation)]; Olericulture (cultivation of vegetables); Floriculture (cultivation of flowers and ornamental plant); Arboriculture (cultivation of trees and shrubs).

Status of India’s Horticulture Sector

Production: 355.48 Million Tonnes in 2022-23, 13.1% of the gross cropped area.
- Fruits and vegetables account for almost 90% of India’s total horticulture production.
Contribution to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA): 33%
Global Status: India ranks 2^nd in fruits and vegetable production in the world after China.
- According to FAO (2022), India is the largest producer of Onions, ginger and okra among vegetables and ranks 2^nd in production of Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Brinjal, Cabbages, etc.
- Amongst fruits, the country ranks 1^st in the production of Bananas, Mangoes and Papayas.
Exports: India is ranked 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits.

Other Initiatives Undertaken for the sector

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (2014): Centrally Sponsored Scheme, for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector with 2 sub-schemes -
- National Horticulture Mission (2005-06): aims at holistic development of horticulture sector by ensuring forward & backward linkage through a cluster approach under Horticulture Cluster Development Programme.
- Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States.
Agriculture Ministry announced Rs 18,000 cr for 100 export oriented horticulture clusters.
Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geoinformatics (CHAMAN): To develop and firm up scientific methodology for estimation of area and production under horticulture crops.
Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme: for construction/ expansion/ modernization of Cold Storages/Storages of Horticulture Products.
Commercial cultivation: During 2022-23, 347 varieties/hybrids of 44 crops were released, and 99 varieties of horticultural crops were notified for commercial cultivation.

Low Export share: India’s share in the global horticultural market is a mere 1 %.
- Indian exports face food safety and standards related issues due to non-tariff trade barriers like Sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
- E.g., pesticide residue has led to rejection of exports in key markets like the EU.
Infrastructure Deficit: Poor logistics and lack of equitable cold storage and warehousing facilities contribute to delays and wastages as Horticulture crops are highly perishable.
- Cold storage distribution among the states is inequitable, with around 59% of the storage capacity (i.e., 21 MMT) present in 4 states Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Punjab.
Small operational landholdings: They limit the amount of land available for cultivation, for crop rotation and sustainable soil management resulting in reduced yields and decreased soil fertility.
Other challenges: Limited value addition; Lack of irrigation; Pests & diseases; limited outreach of farm insurance & farm mechanization; lack of access to institutional credit especially to small & marginal farmers; climate change-induced extreme weather events and changes in weather patterns etc.

Capacity-building initiatives at the level of the farmer, the processor and the exporter for meeting all mandatory requirements as per international standards, such as global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Improving Value Chain Efficiency by expanding cold storage capacity; investing in better roads, railways, and transportation infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
Encourage the development of value-added horticultural products, such as processed foods, juices, and jams, to increase market demand and farmer income.
Encourage entrepreneurship in the horticulture sector to create new businesses and job opportunities.
Promote agricultural technologies, such as precision agriculture, hydroponics, and tissue culture, to improve productivity and efficiency.
Develop and promote climate-smart agricultural practices that are resilient to changing weather patterns.
Other: Promoting integrated pest & disease management, water-saving technologies and practices, farm mechanization, expanding access to institutional credit etc.