Horticulture gets high priority in Xii Plan, with focus on Quality Planting Material, Value Addition, Marketing

Horticulture sector, which has shown high growth in the XI Plan, and yet more potential for growth, is being given special focus in the XII Plan.

Production and supply of quality planting material will continue to be a high priority area for horticulture development during the XII Plan. Emphasis will be laid on establishment of hi-tech nurseries of improved varieties, good quality root-stock banks and hi-tech green houses. Besides, States will be encouraged to set up crop-based Centre of Excellence to serve as a hub for supply of planting material and dissemination of technology to farmers.

Area expansion under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) will be linked to availability of quality planting material through accredited nurseries and tissue culture units. Importance will be given for covering more area under vegetable hybrids and export-oriented varieties of crops such as ginger, turmeric and chillies.

High density planting and tree canopy management of orchards, right from establishment stage, will be given focus to derive better yields.

An integrated approach will be encouraged for taking up drip irrigation/mulching and other support systems required for cultivation of fruit and plantation crops.

Rejuvenation of old and unproductive orchards will continue to be a focus area for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Major thrust will be on protected cultivation, particularly of high value crops, in green houses, shade net houses, plastic mulching, etc.

Creation of infrastructure for post-harvest managements is another thrust area. Value addition will also continue to be a high priority area with focus on creating cold chain networks.

Setting up of markets infrastructure will be linked with reforms in APMC Act, for permitting direct marketing of horticulture produce.

Mobilization of farmers into producer groups/organizations is another priority area aimed at strengthening their negotiating power, besides functioning as viable farmer groups involved in production and marketing of horticulture produce.

For better implementation of various developmental programmes on horticulture, the existing schemes of NHM, HMNEH, NHB, Coconut Development Board, Central Institute of Horticulture and National Bamboo Mission are being subsumed in the NHM.

These interventions will lead to productivity enhancement, availability of quality planting material of improved high yielding varieties, reducing post-harvest losses of perishable commodities, particularly fruits and vegetables, creation of effective supply chain good prices to the farmer and overall high growth of the horticulture sector.

MP: SS