Abstract

In India the growth of horticulture products has become one of the dynamic forces for general development of agricultural sector. With the appearance of urbanization, modernization and change in cropping pattern from traditional to high value cash crops, especially the horticultural crops have been commenced in Indian agriculture. The Horticulture sector is conceivably the most profitable undertaking of all farming activities as it provides plenty of employment opportunities and capacity to raise the income of the farming community. The horticulture sector has also the remarkable prospective to push the overall agriculture growth to more than the targeted 4 per cent. The horticulture sector is also the fastest growing sector within agriculture. It helps in poverty alleviation, nutritional security and has sufficient scope for farmers to increase their income and is also helpful in supporting the large number of agro-based industries which generate huge opportunities of employment. Keeping these perceptive in mind, the present study estimates growth rates and percentage share of major horticultural crops in India. The study reveals that the growth of area, production and productivity of horticulture crops in the country was found to be statistically significant. Within the greater horticulture sector, the area and production of fruits and vegetables was found to be at the highest. Conversely, impressive output growth, the productivity growth rate of fruits was found to be statistically insignificant.

Description