Horticulture Based Land Use Options for Resource Conservation, Market Needs and Mitigation of Climate Change

Abstract

Horticulture includes fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, cashewnut, plantation crops including coconut and oil palm has established its credibility in the irrigated regions for improving productivity of land, generating employment, improving economic condition of the farmers and entrepreneurs, enhancing exports and providing nutritional security to the millions. However nearly two-third of horticultural commodities are raised from dry, arid and semiarid regions. A great of scope still exist in the development of dryland horticulture in India. The Horticultural crops cover about 6.8% of the total area contributing 18% of grass agriculture output. Today India is the second largest producer of fruits (48mt) and vegetable (68 mt). Our share in the in world production is about 8% in fruits and 12% in vegetables. India produces 52% of world mangoes, 18% of the world bananas and 12% of the world onion. India is number one producer of mango and banana globally. We have achieved phenomenal growth rates in the production of apples, oranges, grapes, guava ,pomegranate etc. Even corporate sector is very much attracted towards fruit growing.