Temporal and Spatial Performance of Horticultural Crops in India

Abstract

Horticultural sector accounts for about 30 percent of India's agricultural GDP and 37 percent of the total exports of agricultural commodities. This sector has immense potential to promote trade and generate gainful employment during the process of value addition. This paper focused on temporal and spatial performance of horticultural crops in India. The growth in area and production of fruit crops was 1.82 percent and 1.8 percent respectively during 1996–97 to 2000–01 regardless of the focus through golden revolution in mid-1990s. However, the actual impact was observed during 2001–02 to 2005–06 as area and production growth was 8.92 percent and 6.43 percent, respectively. Growth in area under vegetables was negative during 1991–92 to 1995–96, which was increased to 4.13 percent in 2001–02 to 2005–06. The NHM was focused on bringing less fertile land under cultivation of plantation crops and targeting the small scale farmers in area expansion programme of flower crops. Hence, the positive shift in area under plantation and flower crops was observed in last decade shows prominence given to high value, commercial and market orientated horticultural crops. The states of Maharashtra (10.7 percent) and West Bengal (10.5 percent) shared largest area and production of horticultural crops in India. The major fruits growing areas were concentrated in southern and western India, whereas vegetables growing states concentrated in eastern India and about 80 percent of plantation crops are grown by southern states. Thus, the area specific regionally differentiated cluster approach needed for holistic development of horticultural sector. The diversification plan of the horticulture sector needs to identify area wise or region wise potential crops. Horticultural research should concentrate on technology generation appropriate to each region keeping in view of their specific agroclimatic and socio-economic condition.