Hi-tech horticulture for sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers in India

Horticulture sector is gaining importance in India due to its higher rate of growth, productivity and contribution to Indian economy during the past one decade. There are many important factors for achieving these goals like the synergy programmes for development and spread of innovations by research organizations, developmental departments and corporate companies; acquisition of new ideas and knowledge and adoption of technological innovations by farmers; innovative methods of technology dissemination; financial, infrastructure and policy support from the from government, promotion of entrepreneurship in different aspects of horticultural crops in peri-urban and rural areas and increased demand for multiple horticultural produce by consumers in urban and peri-urban areas in domestic markets and increased demand by export markets. Since 2005, protected cultivation technology was spread in small farmer production system with market driven technology and integrated extension approach like use of onsite guidance, practical manuals, video films, on-campus and on-farm HRD programmes, technology demonstrations, ICT tools, etc. These have resulted in achieving higher productivity, quality, net-income and expansion of consumption of horticultural produce in both domestic and export markets. Due to adoption of holistic package which includes INM, IPM, IDM, PHM and good marketing practices, small farmers have increased their yield and net-income by 2 ½ to 3 times in many vegetables like capsicum (green and coloured- red and yellow), European cucumber, tomato (Regular, Cherry and Jordanian), chives, lettuce, celery, melons, cantaloupes, beans (haricot, yard long, French beans), bottle brinjal, other leafy vegetables, and in flowers like Rose, Gerbera, Carnation, Orchids, Anthurim, Chrysanthemum, Lillie's, Gypsofilla and other commercial ornamental crops. ICAR-IIHR holistic approach helped farmers in obtaining higher yields with better quality produce suitable for both domestic and export markets. Still there is a good scope for more research in few areas like screening of pest and disease tolerant/resistant rootstocks, intensive use of organic, bio-intensive management of insect pests and soil borne problems, market integration studies, development of good infrastructure for better post harvest handling and marketing, recycling of agricultural bi-products, etc. which would help the protected cultivation industry make it more sustainable.