How can we develop Horticulture?

India lacks testing labs,Training centres, Nodal bodies,Common platforms where each could share and rope in the best practices be it Universities, Crop sciences, farmers, Farm equipment manufacturers, Logistic palyers, Labor all have role to minimise loss of produce and process and also produce efficently per hectare allowing common man also enjoy the produce.

All our present Problem with Horticulture is due to inadquate post harvest infrastructure and Grower not getting right and remunerative price for the produce. Take the example of Mango. We dont have adequate post harvest infrastructure in all the Mango Growing regions (Mango requires de-sapping, washing, drying, hot water fungicide treatment(HWT)/Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT)/Irradiation, Grading and Packing, Ripening Facilities; plus Economical Transport System. In Maharashtra Ratnagiri region from where the King of this National Fruit comes we have now created such facilities and also introduced a Mango Train from the region to Markets of Pune/Mumbai/Delhi. Rail Transport is at least 5-6 times cheaper than Road Transport. This year During Muhurth Trading Ratnagiri Hapus fetched a price of Rupees 7000 per dozen (almost Rs 2000 per kilo). I asked a relative of mine in Rantagiri who grows Mango, what is the price he gets? He says he gets about Rs 250-300 per kilo for early mango (Feb- March) and just about 100-250 during April- May. Who eats the balance money in the middle? IN Srinivaspur (Karnataka) or Krishnagiri (TN) in South Local Hapus considered not equavelent to Rantagiri Hapus, Grower gets Just Rs. 50-60 a Kilo. Also there is not much of Post Harvest and Marketing Infrastructure around. Mango in this region also have problem with weather some times. This year sudden hailstorm last just an hr destroyed at least 40% of Mango. Crop insurance introduced this year (ICICI lombard) probably did not reach all not because of lack of education but growers dont want to spend that additional money, for them it is just an additional expenditure. Some say in any case even if they save the crop this year (being on year) the prices fall because of bumper harvest and in any case if the yiled is less the price will go up and compansate for the loss and why then have aditional expense on this account. Whatever is the quality of quantity they get only what the Agents in Mandi decide what they should get. So it is the Many player in between the grower and consumer who eat the profits at the cost of grower. So how can we develope Horticulture?

Giving training the farmer is a good thing, but a farmer cannot be trained in all the aspects. There is a need of an expert, who will take care about the crop. In India, we are lagging behind in this aspect. A personalized advice system has to be developed to the crop if required to the plant frequently (once or twice in a week), so that the farmer is know what should do with current situation.

Agriculture is a science of 64 subjects, farmer can understand few of them, and for the rest of the topics he has to get the help from the expert who can give the correct advice. 

I would like to mention a project named eSagu (an IT based personalized agro-advisory system) is doing a fantastic job in this path. For more details visit: http://www.esagu.in. 

THANK YOU MADHUKUMAR FOR YOUR INVITATION.

THERE IS VERY GOOD SCOPE FOR HORTICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS TO GET GOOD PRODUCE WILL HELP IN GIVING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,REVENUE GENERATION FOR PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS WALKS OF LIFE.SO BOTH GOVTS AT THE CENTRE AND STATES SHOULD COME FORWARD TO OFFER MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT BY EXTENDING LOANS TO DESERVING PEOPLE,AND GIVE INCENTIVES LIKE POWER SUBSIDY,INCENTIVE FOR HIGHEST YIELD ETC.AT PRESENT NATIONAL HORTICULTURE BOARD IS EXTENDING SUCH FACILITIES.MORE REGIONAL CENTRES SHOULD BE OPENED.MORE AWARENESS ABOUT NHB IS TO BE CREATED.PEOPLE FROM NHB SHOULD GO TO THE VILLAGES SO THAT THE CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUM AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE STANDS TO BENEFIT.