THE SEEDS OF A REVOLUTION

Horticulture, raised in a third of our cultivable area, already surpasses foodgrains in production. Now it strives to be the game-changer in agri exports

- Amarnath K. Menon

India ranks second globally, after China, in horticulture production now, but still has phenomenal potential to grow as the fresh fruits and vegetable basket for the world. In 2023-24, the country produced 112.6 million tonnes (MT) of fruits and 205 MT of vegetables. We already lead in the production of banana, mango and papaya among fruits, and onion, ginger and okra among vegetables. The problem is in exports.

In 2023-24, we exported fresh fruits and vegetables worth $1.8 billion (Rs 15,039 crore), and processed fruits and vegetables (including pulses) worth $2.5 billion (Rs 20,623 crore), says the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). But India's share in the global horticulture produce market is still a measly 1.1 per cent. Initiatives to create state-of-the-art cold chain infrastructure and quality assurance measures are on, but there is still a long way to go. "Farmers play an essential role in our lives, but their needs are not a priority. They do not have an export market for produce and have been reduced to mere vote banks," says P. Chengal Reddy, farm reforms campaigner and secretary-general, Confederation of Indian Farmers Associations, emphasising that horticulture exports can be a catalyst in transforming lives.

Horticulture is already a significant player in agricultural growth, contributing 30.4 per cent to the agriculture gross domestic product (GDP) while using only 13.1 per cent of the gross cropped area. It also contributes about 33 per cent to the agriculture GVA (gross value added), making a significant contribution to the Indian economy.

Indeed, if the area under horticulture cultivation goes up by 50 per cent, it could by itself deliver on the long-promised 'doubling of farmers' incomes'. India has also emerged as the fifth largest country in terms of organic agricultural area-2.3 million acres-and is also home to the world's largest number of organic farmers.