Category FAQs Search : Horticulture
Question: Trend of horticulture research particularly vegetables in India and its regional prospects
Answer: Horticulture, which includes fruits, vegetables, tubers, mushrooms, spices, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants and plantation crops has emerged as a good option for diversification of the agricultural sector for the food, nutrition, health care and livelihoods of the Indian population since it provides, much enhanced farm income and greater opportunities for employment. The sector has made unprecedented growth in India, during the last few decades, owing to dynamics of improved technologies, investment and policies, leading to increased farm profitability. Currently, horticulture contributes 30.4% to Agricultural Gross Domestic Products (AGDP) only from 11% of the total cropped area, and has maintained an annual growth rate above 6%. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex organization of the National Agriculture Research System (NARS) in the country, for agricultural research and education with 63 state agricultural universities, 98 institutes, 79 All India Co-ordinated Projects (AICRP’s) and 595 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agriculture Science Centers). Horticultural research is done through 23 Institutes/Directorates/National Research Centers, 14 AICRP’s, and departments in State Agricultural Universities. The Indian Institute Vegetable Research, Varanasi and the Indian Institute Horticulture Research, Bangalore, are doing intensive research in vegetable crops, besides the AICRP which has been set up with 5 centers across the country. The total production of horticultural produce is estimated to be 240.5 million t during 2010-11, of which, 146.5 million t is contributed by vegetables. It ranks second in production after China, with a contribution of about 14% to global production. It is estimated that about a billion of people are hungry and are suffering from various kinds of malnutrition, out of which, half of the population is in Asia. Thus, there is a need to apply the power of science and technology. These efforts have been the utilization of diversity, development of cultivars and technologies which can address the challenges of producing more food from less land and water in the scenario of climate change to ensure, the food, nutrition, health care and livelihood of the Indian people. Although, there has been appreciable change in the growth of horticulture in India, to meet the requirements of growing population, a strategic approach is needed. The country has envisioned the accelerated development of innovations and technologies to address the challenges of producing more for the growing population with declining land and water within the scenario of climate change. This can be achieved through strategies, designed to ensure technology-led development of horticulture, to make it available to all citizens at affordable prices; ensure the availability of new cultivars and technologies, which can withstand biotic and abiotic pressure and provide better profitability to farmers in a given situation and location. To identify new genes and technologies and understand their interaction with the environment; to have a greater proofing against climate change to achieve a more resilient horticulture sector; develop cultivars and technologies, which are rich in nutrients and vitamins and can better protect the population from many diseases, considering that a balanced diet will be a medicine of future; develop technologies which are socially compatible, politically feasible and ecologically sustainable and provide environmental services and develop human resources par excellence, having competence and commitment to take up the forthcoming challenges. High Value Vegetables in Southeast Asia: Production, Supply and Demand 321 Vegetable crops (more than 50) belonging to different family groups namely cucurbitaceous, leguminous, solanaceous, brassicaceous and root and leafy vegetables are grown across the tropical and temperate regions. But, on the basis of the major area under production, onion, potato, tomato, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, peas and cucurbitaceous vegetables are the major crops in demand. India occupies first position in okra, second position in brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, onion and third position in tomato production worldwide. The present area is estimated to be 8.49 million ha with productivity of 17.2 t/ha. Research output in vegetables cultivation is appreciable. Historically, a total of 410 varieties in 24 vegetable crops have been identified for cultivation in different agro-climatic zones. This includes 256 open pollinated high yielding varieties, 111 hybrids and 43 cultivars resistant to various diseases. Multiple disease resistant variety of tomato (leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt and Fusarium) has been developed. Sequencing of potato and tomato are at the final stage of identification for release and finger prints are available for large number of cultivars. In potato, the focus is on development of cultivars suitable for processing and for table purposes, which can give competitive yield even under stress conditions. Transgenic lines in tomato, water melon, brinjal, potato have been developed, which are in process of release. RNAi technologies have been used for gene silencing to check sugar accumulation. The most important feature of research concerns production technologies, plant health management, diagnostic development, seed production and secondary horticulture. Hi-tech agro-techniques like integrated nutrient and water management, fertigation, vermiculture, biofertilizers, organic farming, zero land utilization, protected cultivation through green houses, integrated plant health management, biological control, molecular diagnostic techniques all have helped to increase national productivity and production. Postharvest technologies like grading, packaging including aseptic packaging, storage, cold chain and cold storage facilities, irradiation for increasing shelf life, value addition and diversification of value added products, quality standards, pesticide residue management are some of the initiatives to address newly emerging issues. In Asia and the Pacific, where 642 million people are undernourished out of total 1017 million hungry people in the world (FAO 2009), AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, with its headquarters in Taiwan and having 13 regional centres globally, is complementing national efforts by addressing regional vegetable research and development needs. Similarly, the International Potato Center (CIP) based at Lima (Peru), also complements the regional research needs of potato research. However, regional cooperation now becomes more important in order to learn better and more effectively from each other. Many scientists from the regions have been trained in India on various aspects of vegetable production. Many Indian varieties have performed well across the region. The experience of the past and the growing challenges ahead now necessitate closer co-operation. Consequently, technology driven vegetable production will contribute significantly in ensuring better nutrition and livelihoods. Since vegetables have immense potential to address the problem of malnutrition, unemployment and other complex issues, research and development of vegetables through cross learning and use of science would help benefit the region by bringing about substantive economic development. The paper deals with research trends in India and Asia, their accomplishments, and lessons learnt in order to develop a suitable perspective to help in economic development for all.
(Source: Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, 10 Jun 2021)