India

International Society for Horticultural Science

Horticulture Research International

India

General info
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Climate
Almost all types of climatic conditions exist in India. In the North-West and North-East Himalayan region, temperate climate prevails, thereby, occurrence of snow fall and minimum temperature of -20 °C. In the West, desert exists denoted by sand dunes, very low rainfall and arid vegetation. In the rest of India, the climate is tropical monsoon type with four seasons: (i) winter (January-February), (ii) hot weather summer (March-May), (iii) rain (June-September) and (iv) autumn or post monsoon (October-December). The climate of the country is affected by two seasonal winds, the North-East monsoon and the South-West monsoon. Thus, all types of horticultural crops are grown in the country.

Geography
The geological regions may be grouped into three regions, i.e., the Himalayas and their associated group of mountains, the Indo-Gangatic Plain and the peninsular shield. Himalayan region has temperate climate, Indo-Gangatic Plain, sub-tropical and peninsular region tropical climate. The soils are predominantly sandy loam, alluvial, black cotton soil and red laterite.

Horticulture
All aspects of horticulture are prevalent in India,i.e.the production of fruits, vegetables, potato, tubers, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices, plantation crops and mushroom: both in fruits and vegetables. India is the second largest producing country in the world.

Temperate fruits are grown in the north himalayan region while subtropical and tropical fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, mushroom, spices are cultivated in the rest of India. Spices and plantation crops are found in peninsular region. Arid zone crops are grown in western India.

Distribution of Horticulture
Temperate fruits are grown in the north himalayan region while subtropical and tropical fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, mushroom, spices are cultivated in the rest of India. Spices and plantation crops are found in peninsular region. Arid zone crops are grown in western India.

Research Thrusts
The research management is being done by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Private enterprises are very few.

Nature of Institutes
Management of horticulture research in the country is organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research either through its own institutions or through State Agricultural Universities.
Research on horticultural crops is conducted in 9 central institutes, having regional stations, 10 national research centres, and 16 All India Coordinated Research Projects with 223 centres. Besides, 6 other central institutes are also involved in horticultural research. All the State Agricultural Universities (27) have departments and faculties in horticulture which offer undergraduate and postgraduate specialization in horticulture and carry out the research on local horticultural crops. There is one university exclusively on horticulture and forestry at Solan. A few private seed companies also have their own research activities. Information on horticulture generated through research is published in various journals issued by societies of various horticultural commodities and research reports of various institutes.

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