India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables after China in the world. However, there is a tremendous untapped potential to improve the productivity and production of fruits, vegetables and flowers. In recent years, horticulture sector has emerged as an important component of Indian economy owing to its vast export potential in the WTO regime. Consequently, new series on national accounts statistics have included some new fruits and flowers. The horticulture crops also provide betteralternative for diversification of Indian agriculture in view of higher return. Keeping in view these facts, working group on horticulture set up by the Planning Commission for the X plan recommended an outlay of approximately Rs. 12,000 crores for horticulture development during the plan as compared to Rs. 1450 crores in the IX Five Year Plan.
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