Horticulture: Definition, Branches, Importance and Scope

This study material provides a comprehensive overview of horticulture, including its definition, main branches, and the significance and scope of horticultural crops in India. It covers the etymology of horticulture, details about pomology, olericulture, floriculture, and landscape gardening, and presents current data on production, export, and nutritional value. The material also discusses the economic, social, and aesthetic importance of horticulture.

Definition of Horticulture

The term 'Horticulture' originated in the seventeenth century, first mentioned in Peter Lauremberg’s treatise (1631) and later used by E. Phillips in 'The New World of English Words' (1678). The word is derived from the Latin words ‘Hortus’ (garden) and ‘Colere’ (to cultivate). Thus, horticulture is a branch of agriculture that deals with the study and cultivation of garden crops such as fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, flowers, spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants.

Branches of Horticulture

• Pomology: Derived from Latin 'Pomum' (fruits) and Greek 'logy' (science), pomology is the science of fruit production.
• Olericulture: From Latin 'Oleris' (pot herb) and English 'culture' (to cultivate), olericulture is the science of growing vegetables.
• Floriculture: The science of cultivating flowers and ornamental plants.
• Landscape Gardening: The art of beautifying spaces using ornamental plants and gardening techniques.

Horticulture also encompasses the cultivation of spices, plantation, medicinal and aromatic crops, and postharvest handling of these crops.

Importance and Scope of Horticulture in India

Horticulture plays a vital role in Indian agriculture, contributing 33% to the total agricultural output. The share of plan outlay for horticulture increased from 3.9% in the IX Plan to 4.6% in the XII Plan.

According to the National Horticulture Board (NHB, 2021-22):

• India produced 342.33 million tonnes of horticultural crops from 28.75 million hectares in 2021-22.
• Vegetable production increased from 101.2 million tonnes (2004-05) to 204.84 million tonnes (2021-22).
• Fruit production increased from 50.9 million tonnes (2004-05) to 107.24 million tonnes (2021-22).
• Area under fruit cultivation: 7.49 million hectares; vegetables: 11.35 million hectares.

According to FAO (2021):

• India is the largest producer of ginger and okra among vegetables, and second in potato, onion, cauliflower, brinjal, and cabbage production.
• India ranks first in the production of bananas (26.45%), mango (including mangosteen and guava) (43.80%), and papaya (39.30%).

India exported fresh fruits and vegetables worth INR 13,185.30 crore (US$ 1,635.95 million) in 2022-23, including fresh fruits (Rs. 6,219.46 crore/US$ 770.70 million) and vegetables (Rs. 6,965.83 crore/US$ 865.24 million). Major fruit exports: grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, oranges. Major vegetable exports: onions, mixed vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, green chilies.

Area, Production, and Productivity of Horticultural Crops (NHB 2021-22)

Crops	Area (000 ha)	Production (000 MT)	Productivity (MT/ha)
Fruits	7049	107242	15.21
Vegetables	11348	204835	18.05
Flowers & Aromatic Crops	951	3128	3.28
Plantation Crops	4239	15488	3.65
Spices	4487	10814	2.41
Total	28074	341507	12.16

India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally (after China). It ranks first in mango, banana, coconut, cashew nuts, papaya, and pomegranate production. The per capita fruit availability is 207.9 grams per day, below the recommended 230 grams per day.

Importance of Horticulture

1. Income Generation: Horticultural crops offer higher yields per hectare and high demand for spices and medicinal plants, leading to better income.
2. Employment Generation: These crops require labor throughout the year, from cultivation to processing, thus creating more jobs.
3. Industrial Development: Crops like potatoes, tomatoes, mangoes, and plantation crops provide raw materials for various industries.
4. Religious and Sacred Value: Many horticultural products (leaves, flowers, fruits) are used in rituals and ceremonies (e.g., coconut, turmeric, Beal leaves, Tulsi).
5. Food Value: Vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates; nuts like cashew, almond, and walnut are rich in fats and proteins. In some regions, potatoes and bananas are staple foods.
6. Nutritional Value: Fruits and vegetables are rich in essential nutrients. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends 120 grams of fruits and 280 grams of vegetables per person per day. Examples:
   • Vitamin A: Mango (4800 IU/100g), Papaya (2020 IU/100g), Beet Leaf (9770 IU/100g), Spinach Leaf (9300 IU/100g)
   • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Cashew nut (630mg/100g), Walnut (450mg/100g), Apricot (dry) (217mg/100g), Chillies (0.55mg/100g), Colocasia Leaves (0.22mg/100g), Tomato (0.12mg/100g)
   • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Beal (1191mg/100g), Papaya (250mg/100g), Litchi (122.5mg/100g), Fenugreek leaves (0.31mg/100g), Amaranthus (0.30mg/100g)
   • Vitamin C: Barbados cherry (1000-4000mg/100g), Aonla (600mg/100g), Guava (299mg/100g), Drumstick Leaves (220mg/100g), Coriander Leaves (135mg/100g), Chilli (111mg/100g)
   • Carbohydrate: Apricot (dry) (72.81%), Date (Pind) (67.30%), Karonda (dry) (67.10%), Tapioca (38.1%), Sweet potato (28.2%), Potatoes (22.6%)
   • Protein: Cashew nut (21.20%), Almond (20.80%), Walnut (15.60%), Peas (7.2g/100g), Cowpea (4.3g/100g)
   • Fat: Walnut (64.50%), Almond (58.90%), Cashew nut (46.90%)
   • Fibre: Guava (6.90%), Kaintha (5.20%), Pomegranate (5.10%), Aonla (3.40%)
   • Calcium: Litchi (0.21%), Karonda (dry) (0.16%), Kaintha (0.13%)
   • Phosphorus: Cashew nut (0.45%), Walnut (0.38%), Litchi (0.30%)
   • Iron: Karonda (dry) (39.1%), Date (pind) (10.6%), Cashew nut (5.0%)
7. Aesthetic Value: Trees and flowers have been used historically for beautification (e.g., Mughal gardens, avenue planting in cities).
8. Export Value: Indian horticultural products like turmeric, pepper, onion, potato, mango, grapes, and oleoresins are in high demand internationally, contributing to foreign exchange earnings.

Other Notable Points

• The floriculture industry in India is growing, including trade in nursery plants, potted plants, seeds, and bulbs.
• Plantation crops offer significant opportunities for employment, foreign exchange, and livelihood support.

References

1. Chadha, K.L. Handbook of Horticulture (2002) ICAR, New Delhi
2. Jitendra Singh, Basic Horticulture (2011) Kalyani Publications, New Delhi
3. K.V. Peter, Basics Horticulture (2009) New India Publishing Agency
4. Jitendra Singh, Fundamentals of Horticulture, Kalyani Publications, New Delhi