Horticulture - An instrument for national growth and prosperity

The research paper is an attempt to examine value addition, income generation and development potential of horticultural crops in India. Paper identified drivers of horticultural growth and examine suitability of horticulture as an instrument of rural growth and prosperity. Findings of the study clearly suggests that horticultural crops have very high value addition potential and slowly gaining confidence of farmers. Findings of study also indicate that different socioeconomic and demographic factors are creating demand of horticultural products. Labour intensive nature, high value addition potential and strong linkages with other sectors of economy makes horticulture based rural development strategy very promising. Different stakeholders of the rural developmental process also have very high perception of developmental potential of horticultural crops. However, presence of large number of impediments of horticulture crop cultivation in India, restrict realization of full potential of horticultural crop cultivation. Without removal of these impediments it is difficult to anchor our rural development strategy around horticulture based value chains.