India's demand for horticulture items to touch 360 mn tn: Study

NEW DELHI: The country's demand for horticulture products is expected to grow by over 20 per cent to touch 360 million tonnes in 2020-21, according to a study.

A study done by 'The Horticulture Society of India' revealed that rising income will create more demand for horticultural products, which will further push the production of such crops in India.

"As the income level would grow, the demand for products such as fruits, edible oils and other products will pick up and will provide good incentive for growing them," The Horticulture Society of India president KL Chadha told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.

The horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of commodities, including fruits, vegetables, potatoes, tuber crops, ornamentals, medicinals and aromatic crops.

While, the new problems are emerging, the sector has grown tremendously in terms of increase in area, total production and introduction of new crops, Chadha said.

However, there is a gap in terms of skilled persons required and available for the sector. Keeping this in mind Horticulture Society of India and National Skills Foundation of India have come together to organise the 4th Indian Horticulture Congress.

Some of the major themes, which would be discussed include climate change, biodiversity management, innovations in hi-tech horticulture, mechanisation and post harvest management, Chadha said.