 Vegetable and fruit cultivation and the industry for its processing in India are largely decentralised. After liberalisation and pulling out excise duty on vegetable and fruit products, a significant rise in the industry has been recorded. Of temperate fruits, apples, plums, peaches, almonds, apricots and grapes are grown in abundance. While Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh lead in the fruit production of the temperate region, others are grown in various parts of peninsular India and Northern Plains. The north eastern region of India holds huge horticulture potential. States like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur have favourable soil and climatic conditions and also have great scope for temperate fruit cultivation to augment business management.
Fruit cultivation in India has received additional impetus in the form of various state governments realising their functionary role in boosting a nationwide commerce. Like for instance, the state government of Haryana has been lending grants for setting up orchards under the National Horticulture Mission. There is ample investment opportunity for the expansion of export market for fruit cultivation in India. A modified acceptance of new products with market development effort has also been witnessed since long, given the fact that there exists a good international demand for certain fruits and vegetable products. For increasing the fruit production of India, several efforts are being taken up by the Government of India.
Deciduous fruit cultivation in India primarily takes place in the northern parts of India in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The north-east, including Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Manipur, also produce several deciduous fruits in a restricted scale. As a result of initiation and preparation of low chilling cultivars including plum, peach and pear, these are presently grown commercially in several regions of plains of north India. From among the deciduous fruits, the most vital with regard to the extent and production is apple.
From among the healthy and umpteen and palatable deciduous fruit cultivation in India, apple calls for incredible attention. Indeed, the British introduced apple at Kullu Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh during 1865. On the other hand, in the year 1917, the coloured delicious apple cultivation was introduced in Shimla. Another Indian fruit is Apricot which was seen growing in the drier regions of Himalaya's north-western region. Recently, cultivation of sour cherry is introduced in India from the United States of America, while sweet cherry is introduced in India from Europe prior to the Independence of India. The Japanese and European plum kinds are cultivated in low and high hill areas.
Thus, it can be said that cultivation of fruits in India mainly depends upon the quality of soils, harvest, plantation and a perfect ambience of brilliant minds. India stands second in fruit production in the world. The annual production of the fruits in India is nearly 41 million tonnes.
|
