Horticulture as Growth Engine: RBI Bulletin Findings
Why in the news
An RBI Bulletin research article says India’s farm focus is moving from rice and wheat to fruits and vegetables, which can raise incomes, jobs and nutrition, especially for small and marginal farmers.
Key facts
- India ranks second globally, behind China.
- Horticulture yields more value per hectare than cereals and creates rural jobs.
- Grape and sapota yields stayed flat or fell between 1992-93 and 2021-22.
Concerns
| Area | Problem |
|---|---|
| Climate | Unseasonal rain damages perishables |
| Markets | Boom-bust cycles in tomato, onion, potato; weak price discovery |
| Post-harvest | ₹1.5 trillion wastage; few cold chains and processing units |
| Trade | Tariffs such as recent US ones; narrow export markets |
Way forward
- Spend more on R&D and extension; use weather tools and intercropping ideas from CGIAR.
- Strengthen FPOs, digital price platforms and fair contract farming.
- Build cold storage and processing; follow WRI’s Target-Measure-Act framework.
- Export to West Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia; use GI tags (Alphonso mango, Nagpur orange).
Exam angle
- Analysis source: RBI Bulletin.
- Framework against food loss: Target-Measure-Act.