India’s 1,300 MT Agricultural Output—Is a New Era for Horticulture Emerging?

India’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ strategy is focusing on achieving a Green Revolution-plus through advanced horticulture and enhanced staple crop productivity. With over 1,300 million tones of agricultural output in 2023-24, India is food secure but faces issues like nutritional deficiencies and low farmer incomes. The strategy emphasizes expanding horticulture’s role to boost nutrition, farmer incomes, and ecological sustainability. Key areas of focus include improving water efficiency, reducing food waste, enhancing market access, and upgrading agri-processing. By targeting higher horticulture output and integrating scientific research and technology, India aims to address future agricultural challenges and support its long-term development goals.

India’s Strategy for Agricultural Advancement

The Indian government’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ strategy is set to receive a significant boost with the emphasis on achieving a Green Revolution-plus (GR-plus) through advanced horticulture and increased productivity in staple crops. India, which produced over 1,300 million tonnes (MT) of agricultural output in 2023-24, is currently food secure but faces challenges including nutritional deficiencies, low farmer incomes, and ecological unsustainability. The country’s agricultural approach has historically favored specialization over diversification, but a shift towards high-value agriculture (HVA) including horticulture is seen as essential for future growth.

Key Areas of Focus

1. Water Usage and Efficiency: Horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, and flowers have high water demands. The adoption of micro-irrigation techniques could increase productivity by 25-50% while conserving water.
2. Food Loss and Waste: Addressing food loss, currently ranging from 4.5-15.9%, through improved logistics and processing will help farmers gain more income.
3. Market Access and Trade: Enhancing marketing mechanisms, transparent price discovery, and infrastructure for agri-logistics and cold storage are crucial.
4. Agri-Processing: Currently low at 12% in the organized sector, especially for fruits and vegetables (2.5%), there is a need to upgrade processing capabilities for better market integration.

Challenges and Solutions

The high capital to output ratio in horticulture, along with supply-side constraints, necessitates targeted solutions such as:

• Improving operational efficiency through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
• Risk management via contract farming, real-time advisories, and crop insurance.
• Maximizing production through orchard rejuvenation, rational crop geometry, and innovative technologies like hydroponics.
• Leveraging digital technologies for precision farming and certified seed production.
• Expanding alternative marketing channels and export facilitation.

Future Outlook

India’s per capita consumption of fruits and vegetables is significantly below recommended levels. With a projected population of 1.65 billion by 2050, horticulture output needs to reach 600 MT by 2030 and 1,000 MT by 2047/50. The mission will rely on scientific research, technological innovation, and integrated value chain systems. Key areas of research include productivity improvement through genetic enhancements, biotechnology applications, and enriched nutrient bioavailability.

Achieving a Green Revolution-plus through horticulture, alongside productivity boosts in staple crops, is crucial for India’s agricultural future. This strategic focus aims to address nutritional needs, enhance farmer incomes, and promote ecological sustainability, aligning with the broader goals of the ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiative.