Working Performance of HOPCOMS- in Karnataka an Analysis

Abstract

Horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of crops e.g., fruit crops, vegetable crops, potato and tuber crops, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromatic crops, spices and plantation crops. India, with its wide variability of climate and soil, is highly favourable for growing a large number of horticultural crops. It is the fastest growing sector within agriculture. It contributes in poverty alleviation, nutritional security and have ample scope for farmers to increase their income and helpful in sustaining large number of agro-based industries which generate huge employment opportunities. Presently horticulture contributes 28% of agricultural GDP. The national goal of achieving 4.0% growth in agriculture can be achieved through major contribution from horticulture growth. Karnataka occupies a prominent place in the Horticulture map of the country. Horticultural crops occupy an area of 17.25 lakh ha. with an production 130.26 lakh tones. Although the area comprises only 14.44% of the net cultivated area in the state, the total income generated from the horticulture sector accounts to over 40% of the total income derived from the combined agriculture sector. This accounts for 17% of the GDP of the state. Horticulture provides excellent opportunities in raising the income of the farmers even in the dry tracts. A significant shift towards horticulture is evident in the state with an increase in area and production. Horticulture provides higher unit productivity and offers great scope for value addition and this sector is taking inroads throughout the length and breadth of the state. Karnataka having the highest acreage under dry farming in the country next only to Rajasthan, has a great potential to grow high value but less water demanding horticultural crops. Karnataka is a progressive state in the field of modern horticulture in the country. The diverse agro-ecological conditions prevailing in Karnataka has made it possible to grow different types of horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops, root and tuber crops, medicinal and aromatic crops. Horticulture Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society Ltd. (HOPCOMS) was founded in 1959 Under a name of Grape Growers Marketing and Processing Society, under the guidance of Dr. M.H. Mari Gowda, the then Director of the Department of Horticulture under the Indian Co-Operative Society Act.