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HomePosts Tagged "Horticulture Sector in India"
AgroPolicy, Fruits, Horticulture, India, Vegetables

Nine world class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centres, equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs, will be established across India.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. With a substantial investment of Rs 1,765.67 crore, this pioneering initiative is set to revolutionise the horticulture sector in India and expected to set new standards for excellence and sustainability.  Announced earlier in the Budget Speech by the finance minister in February 2023, the CPP represents a major leap forward in enhancing the quality and productivity of fruit crops across the nation.

Key Benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP):

Farmers: The CPP will provide access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, leading to increased crop yields and improved income opportunities.

Nurseries: Streamlined certification processes and infrastructure support will enable nurseries to efficiently propagate clean planting material, fostering growth and sustainability.

Consumers: The initiative will ensure that consumers benefit from superior produce that is free from viruses, enhancing the taste, appearance, and nutritional value of fruits.

Exports: By producing higher-quality, disease-free fruits, India will strengthen its position as a leading global exporter, expanding market opportunities and increasing its share in the international fruit trade.

The Programme will prioritise affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers, regardless of their landholding size or socioeconomic status. The Programme will actively engage women farmers in its planning and implementation, ensuring their access to resources, training and decision-making opportunities. The Programme will address the diverse agro-climatic conditions across India by developing region-specific clean plant varieties and technologies.

Core Components of the CPP:

Clean Plant Centers (CPCs): Nine world class state-of-the-art CPCs, equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs, will be established across India. These include Grapes (NRC, Pune), Temperate Fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts etc. (CITH, Srinagar &Mukteshwar), Citrus Fruits (CCRI, Nagpur & CIAH, Bikaner), Mango/Guava/Avacado (IIHR, Bangaluru), Mango/Guava/Litchi (CISH, Lucknow), Pomegranate (NRC, Sholapur) and Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruits in Eastern India. These centres will play a crucial role in producing and maintaining virus-free planting material meant for larger propagation.

Certification and Legal Framework: A robust certification system will be implemented, supported by a regulatory framework under the Seeds Act 1966, to ensure thorough accountability and traceability in planting material production and sale.

Enhanced Infrastructure: Support will be provided to large-scale nurseries for the development of infrastructure, facilitating the efficient multiplication of clean planting material.

Nine world class state-of-the-art Clean Plant Centres,

Agrotech, Horticulture, India, Opinions, Supply Chain

 By Dr Kaushik Banerjee, Director, ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune

Grape is an important commercial fruit crop, which is mostly grown in the peninsular region of India. Maharashtra is the leading grape-growing state, with the major production loci being Nashik, Sangli, Solapur and Pune districts. Karnataka and Mizoram also have a good acreage of grapes. The supply chains of fresh grapes and raisins (its dried product) involve multiple stakeholders, and hence, are influenced by diverse factors affecting the financial viability of the process.

However, for export facilitation to the European Union, the Grapenet of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has established an end-to-end food-safety-traceability system in the country and as per the farm registration records of the Government of Maharashtra, the registered farm area under Grapenet is still ~45 per cent. For the products from these registered farms, it is possible to track all the details of grape consignments, right down to the location of the vineyards, where each one-hectare area is given a unique registration code. The network system maintains the records of all quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) processes that are coordinated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-NRC (National Research Centre)  for Grapes (NRCG) and the Department of Agriculture/Horticulture of the concerned state governments. The system includes traceable services of ISO17025 accredited laboratories, which carry out the sampling and residue testing as per the harmonised protocols implemented by NRCG. The entire system is meticulously managed, to ensure that every consignment passing through Grapenet for export is 100 per cent MRL (maximum residue level)-compliant.

It is often a challenge to register the smaller grape growers for such traceability systems, but farmers have been resolving the problem by organising themselves into groups based on the concepts of cooperative farming or farmer producer organisations. One of the main hurdles to maintaining the quality of the produce is the emergence of contaminants. For example, in 2023, the internal monitoring data revealed that residues of a veterinary insecticide were detected in certain grape samples. This was observed mostly in spurious, unregistered products that claimed the insecticides were nutritional supplements used to aid vine growth. The use of such dubious agrochemical formulations pose a major challenge to the grape industry. Their use often results in MRL non-compliances, pest resistance and resurgence, adversely impacting the economic returns of the stakeholders.     

To read more click:https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

 By Dr Kaushik Banerjee, Director, ICAR-National Research

Agrotech, Horticulture, India, Start ups

The horticulture sector plays a vital role in ensuring food security and promoting sustainable farming practices in India. In recent times, this sector has witnessed a significant transformation with the emergence of agri-startups. These innovative businesses are revolutionising the horticulture supply chain by empowering farmers, enhancing production, bridging the gap between farmers and consumers, and promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.

The concept of farm-to-fork, also known as farm-to-table or farm-to-plate, has gained momentum, advocating for locally sourced ingredients in various food establishments, including institutional dining halls and school cafeterias. In the Indian startup ecosystem, “Farm to Fork Supply Chain Startups” typically refer to enterprises that enable farmers to directly sell their produce to consumers or facilitate the distribution of locally grown food.

In the predominantly unorganised fruit and vegetable industry, farm-to-fork supply chain startups leverage technology to streamline operations, resulting in improved prices for both farmers and consumers.

According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), Indian farmers experience staggering post-harvest losses amounting to Rs 93,000 crore. Local agritech startups play a critical role in addressing this issue by implementing advanced supply chain models and reducing food waste, benefiting farmers across the country.

By harnessing the potential of agritech solutions, these startups are transforming the horticulture sector, driving advancements in farming practices, and minimising post-harvest losses. With their innovative approaches and technological interventions, agri-startups are revolutionising the way farmers connect with consumers and paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient horticulture supply chain.

“Along the whole agricultural value chain, new goods, services, and apps developed by agritech startups can make a significant impact. As a result, boosting the industry’s competitiveness will depend heavily on making the most of this pool of expertise. The outcomes of the Indian government’s initiatives to support the growth of startups have been encouraging, but more focused efforts by the proper combination of partners and with defined objectives are needed to fulfil their full potential,” stated Ashok Varma, Partner, Government Reforms and Infrastructure Development, PwC India.

The pandemic opened new doors

The COVID-19 pandemic opened up new opportunities for companies involved in the production and sale of perishable goods. The concept of delivering fresh food directly to people’s homes gained significant traction during this time.

In the past, farmers typically relied on brokers and wholesalers to sell their produce, resulting in a less efficient distribution system. However, many of these intermediaries disappeared during the pandemic. As a result, farmers turned to agritech farms and startups as more sustainable and collaborative partners for the long term.

“There was also a conscious shift among a significant portion of the population towards prioritising healthy living in the aftermath of COVID, and even during the pandemic itself. People started favouring activities that promoted their health and happiness. During this time, there were also major developments in the concept of mindful eating,” explained Avinash BR, Co-Founder at Deep Rooted.

“In summary, startups helped growers to get over some of the obstacles the epidemic presented and to establish more resilient businesses by expanding producers’ access to markets, lowering the cost of transportation, and providing them with the skills and resources to optimise their operations,” added Avinash BR.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

The horticulture sector plays a vital role

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Horticulture, India, Industry Reports / Analysis

Recently, the government has permitted five private firms to undertake cluster farming of specific horticulture crops on a pilot basis in approximately 50,000 hectares with an investment of Rs 750 crore. The government is progressively adopting a cluster value-chain-based approach to position Indian horticulture as a leader in the global market. The utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in providing end-to-end solutions for growers and buyers, the establishment of more horticulture clusters, financial support from the government and private sector, and improved infrastructure for storage and logistics will contribute to making the horticulture supply chain more robust.

The horticulture sector, which contributes approximately 33 per cent of the gross value of agricultural GDP, is emerging as a key driver of economic growth and transitioning into an organised industry encompassing seed trading, value addition, and exports. India holds the second position globally in fruits and vegetable production, following China, as per data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). In the fiscal year 2021-22, the country exported fresh fruits and vegetables worth Rs 11,412.50 crore, with major destinations including Bangladesh, UAE, Nepal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the UK, Oman, and Qatar. The total horticulture production in 2021-22 stood at approximately 341.63 million tonnes, comprising fruit production of around 107.10 million tonnes and vegetable production of around 204.61 million tonnes. APEDA has set an export target of $23.56 billion for the agricultural and processed food products basket in 2022-23, with $13.77 billion already achieved in the first half of the fiscal. During April-September 2022, processed fruits and vegetables witnessed a remarkable growth of 42.42 per cent, while fresh fruits recorded a growth of 4 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

However, the export growth is hindered by challenges such as inadequate adherence to international quality standards, marketing difficulties, inadequate transportation infrastructure, fragmented supply chains, and insufficient storage facilities. These factors lead to delays, wastage, and discourage farmers from improving the quality of their produce. The perishable nature of fruits and vegetables poses additional challenges to the horticulture marketing chain, making efficient storage and transportation problematic. Poor logistics, limited cold storage and warehousing facilities contribute to further delays and wastages. To address these challenges, the government has allocated Rs 2,200 crore in the Union Budget of 2023 for the development of the horticulture sector. This provision aims to promote the availability of disease-free, high-quality planting material for valuable horticultural crops. Additionally, the government has permitted five private firms to undertake cluster farming of specific horticulture crops on a pilot basis in approximately 50,000 hectares with an investment of Rs 750 crore. The government is progressively adopting a cluster value-chain-based approach to position Indian horticulture as a leader in the global market. The utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in providing end-to-end solutions for growers and buyers, the establishment of more horticulture clusters, financial support from the government and private sector, and improved infrastructure for storage and logistics will contribute to making the horticulture supply chain more robust.

On April 10, the Indian government granted permission to five private firms to undertake cluster farming of specific horticulture crops on a pilot basis in about 50,000 hectares. This initiative, entailing an investment of Rs 750 crore, including government subsidy, aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Indian produce and boost farmers’ income.

The selected companies for pilot cluster farming through a bidding process are Desai Agrifoods, FIL Industries, Sahyadri Farms, Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, and Prasad Seeds. Under the recently launched central scheme Cluster Development Programme (CDP), implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) with a budget of Rs 2,200 crore, the centre will provide financial assistance of up to Rs 100 crore, depending on the project’s size.

This marks the first time in India that the government is encouraging market-led development of the entire value chain of specific horticulture crops through financial support. These five companies are spread across an area of almost 50,000 hectares and cover around 55,000 farmers. The investment within these clusters is about Rs 750 crore.

Desai Agrifoods will develop a ‘Banana cluster’ project in Ananthapura, Andhra Pradesh, with a budget of Rs 103 crore. Sahyadri Farms will establish a ‘Grapes cluster’ project in Nasik, Maharashtra, with a budget of Rs 205 crore. Meghalaya Basin Management Agency will develop a ‘Turmeric cluster’ project in West Jaintia Hills, with a budget of Rs 52 crore. FIL Industries will focus on an ‘Apple cluster’ in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, and Prasad Seeds will undertake a ‘Mango cluster’ project in Mahabubnagar, Telangana.

The primary crops of focus for these companies will be banana, apple, grapes, turmeric and mango. The projects are expected to be completed and operational within a timeline of four years. The government’s goal is to develop 55 different clusters identified across the country, each dedicated to a specific crop. Initially, the pilot phase will cover 12 clusters and focus on seven crops.

To read more click on: https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

Recently, the government has permitted five private