Importance of horticulture and scope of horticulture

Importance of horticulture

1. Importance of Horticulture

2. Some Facts Some Facts The world’s population is expected to hit 9 billion people by 2050 UN warns world must produce 60% more food by 2050 to avoid mass unrest The FAO estimates, however, that 842 million people in the world will remain undernourished, with nearly two thirds of them living in the Asia-Pacific. One in four children under the age of five will remain stunted. Then the question arises what is food security? And where is the solution?

3. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life . Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients

4. Facts about Malnutrition in India Over 900 million people in the world are undernourished Malnutrition responsible for 3.5 million deaths each year Every 3 seconds a person dies from malnutrition 42 Percent Indian Population mostly women and children are malnourished The worst performing states are Madhya Pradesh (60%), Jharkhand ( 56.5 %) and Bihar (55.9 %)

5. 2 5 , t o 5 , chi l dr e n lose t h eir sight every year due to Vitamin A deficiency Over half the world’s population suffers from iron deficiency, which reduces their productivity and school performance Vita m in C deficiency co m prom i ses i m m u n i ty and results in poor wound healing Malnutrition suppresses the immune system and contributes to half of all childhood deaths

6. Children’s Nutritional Status Varies by State 20 20 22 23 25 25 25 26 26 33 33 30 36 37 37 38 38 39 40 40 40 41 42 43 45 47 49 56 57 60 SK MZ MN KE PJ GA NA JK DL TN AP AR AS HP MH KA UT WB HR TR RJ OR UP IN GJ CH MG BH JH MP Children under age 5 years who are underweight (%)

7. Role of horticultural crops in human nutrition F r om hum an nutr i t ion poin t of view hor t icul t ur e i s most important to our daily living. Many of the horticulture crops and their products find place in our meals and diet. Human body requires vitamins, minerals, proteins, energy etc. for its health. All these are supplied by horticultural crops. Fruits and vegetables are the chief sources of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins etc. Fruits and vegetables are recognized as protective foods as they are necessary for the maintenance of human health.

8. Vitamins These are the important constituents of fruits and vegetables and are indispensable part of human diet. Although required in very minute quantities, they are absolutely essential for the maintenance of health. The deficiency of any vitamin from the diet for considerable period may lead to diseased state or disorder conditions.

9. Fruits supply several vitamins Vitamin-A: It is essential for normal growth, reproduction and maintenance of health and vigour. It affords protection against cold and influenza and prevents night blindness. The deficiency of this vitamin results in cessation of growth in young children, night blindness, drying up of tear glands in the eyes, eruption of skin and brittleness of the teeth Sources : Fruits-Mango, Papaya, Dates, Jackfruit, Walnut etc. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Tones the nervous system and helps in proper functioning of the digestive tract. Its deficiency in human diet results in ― Ber-beri, paralysis, loss of sensitivity of skin, enlargement of heart, loss of appetite ,loss of weight and fall in body temperature. Sources : Fruits- Orange, pineapple, jack fruit, cashew nut, walnut, dry apricot, almond, banana etc.

10. Co n t.. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): This vitamin is required for body growth and health of the skin. The deficiency of this vitamin causes sore throat, anorexia cataract, and loss of appetite and body weight and also development of swollen nose. Sources: Bael , papaya, litchi, banana, apricot, pomegranate , pear etc. Vitamin -C (Ascorbic Acid): This vitamin promotes general health and healthy gums, prevents scurvy disease which is characterized by pain in the joints and swelling of limbs (rheumatism), bleeding of gums, tooth decay and keeps the blood vessels in good condition. Sources : Fruits: Amla, guava, ber, citrus, strawberry, pineapple etc.

11. Minerals: Human body requires minerals like P , Ca , Iron, and Iodine etc. for maintaining good health Calcium : It is essential for development of bones regulation of heartbeat, controlling blood clots Sources : Fruits- Acid lime , o range , f ig , d ried apricots, wood apple etc. Iron : It is required for production of haemoglobin and it is constituent of red blood corpuscles. Its deficiency causes anaemia, smooth tongue, pale lips, eyes and skin and frequent exhaustion. Sources : Fruits- Custard apple, guava, pineapple, straw berry, grape, dried dates etc Phosphorous: It is essential for maintaining the moisture content of tissues and for development of bones. Sources : Fruits- Guava , grape , jackfruit , passion fruit Proteins: These are bodybuilding foods. These are essential for growth of the bo dy. The deficiency of proteins in the body causes retarded growth and increases susceptibility to diseases and causes lethargy. Sources : Fruits- Most of the fruits are low in proteins except g uava and b anana .

12. Enzymes : These are required for controlling several metabolic activities in the body. Sources : Papaya- papain and pineapple- bromelin Fibre and roughages (Cellulose and pectin): Fruits and vegetables supply roughages These are required for digestion and prevention of constipation. Sources : Fruits contain low content of fibre. Guava and anola are better sources compared to other fruits Energy foods: Fruits and vegetables contain Carbohydrates and fats there by supply energy to human body. Those fruits ( Banana, dates, apple etc.) which contain Carbohydrates, are called as ― energy Foods. Sources: Nut fruits like walnut, cashew nut and almond etc supplies proteins besides energy

13. More Importance of Horticulture Horticulture is also important for 3 reasons …. Economic Aesthetic Environmental

14. Economic Importance Horticulture puts over millions of rupees a year into the Indian economy by…. Providing jobs. Producing food. Fruits. Vegetables. Nuts. Inc r easing hom e v alue th r ough landscaping.

15. Aesthetic Importance Aesthetic = Appearance Improves appearance of homes & buildings through landscaping. Improves appearance of land from fruit, vegetable , and ornamental crops grown.

16. Environmental Appearance Provides health & comfort by…. Cleaning the air. Preventing erosion. Providing shade. Providing nutrition.

17. Other Importance of Horticulture Per unit area yield is high : As compared to the field crops per hectare yield of horticulture crops is very high. From an fruit area of land more yield is obtained e.g. paddy gives a maximum yield of only 30 q/ha, while b anana gives 300 to 500 q/ha , p ine apple 450 q/ha and g rapes 90 - 150 q/ha. In present shortage of food and scarcity of land by growing fruits more food can be produced. High returns per unit area : From one unit area of land more income will be obtained e.g. Well kept orchard of guav a orchard can give as much as Rs . 3 50,000 per ha as net income. A free grower/ labour remains engaged for the whole: An opportunity for maintaining labours throughout the year like the cereals where one cannot keep him self and employ the labours during the slack season

18. IMPORTANCE OF HORTICULTURE Horticultural crops cover an area of 25.431 m ha production 311.714 m ton and productivity 12.25 tonne / ha in the country annually (Horticultural Statistics at a glance, 2018). Requirements of export and processing industry further add to the requirements of horticultural produce. In view of these, there is lot of scope of increasing production and potentiality of horticulture crops. Apart from fruits and vegetables, floriculture industry in India comprising of florist trade, nursery plants, potted plants, seed and bulb products is being observed as sunrise industry. There is roaring business of flowers in almost all metropolitan cities of the different states.

19. Income from floriculture sector is Rs19400 crore (Horticultural Statistics at a glance, 2018 ). The traditional flowers are grown on a large area on a commercial scale. These flowers are mostly grown for loose flower purpose. Area under cut flowers like rose, chrysanthemum, gladiolus, carnation and orchids is increasing day by day. Plantation crops are another potential sector with lot of opportunities for employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and overall supporting livelihood sustenance of mankind at large. These plantaion crops form the mainstay of lively hood in coastal areas of the country where predominating stands of plantation crops are found. Coconut has so much importance in the country that the state Kerala receives its very name on the basis of coconut, the Malayalam name of which is Kera . Total area and production of plantation crops is 3.744 m ha and 18.082 m tonne respectively (Horticultural Statistics at a glance, 2018).

20. Horticulture is important due to the following considerations: As a source of variability in produce. As a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, flavour , aroma, alkaloids, oleoresins, fibre , etc. As a source of medicine. As an economic proposition as they give higher returns per unit area in terms of energy, money, job, etc. Employment generation - fruit crops requires 860 man days/annum as against 143 man days/annum for cereal crops where as the crops like grapes, banana and pineapple needs 1000- 2500 man days per annum.

21. Effective utilization of waste land through cultivation of hardy fruits and medicinal plants. As a substitute for family income being the component of home garden/ kitchen garden. As a foreign exchange earner, has higher share compare to agriculture crops. As an input for industry being amenable to processing, especially fruit and vegetable preservation industry. Aesthetic consideration and protection of the environment. Religious significance in the country. In short and sweet horticulture supplies quality food for health and mind, more calories per unit area, develops better resources and yields higher returns per unit area. It also enhances land value and creates better purchasing power for those who are engaged in this industry. Therefore, horticulture is important for health, wealth, hygiene and happiness.

22. SCOPE OF HORTICULTURE Incentive for the farmers Adaptability Necessity Export value

23. Best Utilization of Waste Land: According to estimates, there is more than 200 million hectares of wasteland in India which can be brought under cultivation. This move, if implemented, will help the country in a big way to tackle the nutritional crisis. Some fruit crops can offer best utilization of waste land crops like wood apple, custard apple, karonda, litchi etc. can be grown in such areas. Food energy: To meet the annual calories requirements of food per year one would have to cultivate about 0.44 ha of wheat or 0.03 ha of banana or 0.06 ha of mango for satisfying once need. Thus mango produces about 9 times more food energy than the wheat produced per unit area. Raw Material for Industries: Fruit farming is the base for several industries like canning, essential oils etc which in turn provide work for more people. Use of Undulating Lands: Fruit growing can be practiced in places where the gradient is uneven or where the land is undulating and agronomical crops cannot be cultivated. In Konkan region, mango and cashew are cultivated on large scales on hilly and hill back area.