SCOPE OF CULTIVATION OF FRUIT PLANTS

SCOPE OF CULTIVATION OF FRUIT PLANTS

As far as scope is concerned, the production of fruits and vegetables increased to a large extent. India is an ideal country as all the important fruits and vegetables can be produced due to varied soils and climatic conditions.

         So to avoid glut in the market, they can be processed, preserved and enjoyed in off season. Different bi-products can be prepared from fruits and vegetables.  By growing fruit and vegetables  farmers get more income from the field as they are cash crops. There is tremendous production of fruits and vegetables in a shorter period.

1. Need to Increase Production to Meet Dietary Requirements:

According to ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) the per capita consumption of fruits in India is 120 g/day but it is very low (10 kg/capita/year) as compared to other countries like USA (202 kg/capita/year), Pakistan (100 kg/capital/ year) etc. The low consumption of fruits is only due to very small fraction of the total cropped area under fruits. India needs to step up the production of fruits till the country becomes self sufficient and process of fruit fall to the level at which both rich and poor can afford to buy. The prices of fruits are so high, to keep fresh fruits out of reach of large population with more efficient production and marketing, the price could be reduced as to increase consumption of fruits and still provide good profits to the grower. 

2. Increasing Irrigation Facilities in Maharashtra:

Most of the commercial fruit tress requires perennial irrigation. The area receiving perennial irrigation which was 6% in 1960 reached a level of 12.5 to 13% today. By exploiting all the resources the maximum area that can be brought under irrigation would be 25% of the total cropped area. Thus, there is still scope to increasing irrigated area in near future as government is giving priorities to such to works. This would be definitely help to increase area under fruit crops.

3. Scope for Increasing Area under Dry Land Fruits:

It is not entirely true that all the fruits enquire perennial irrigation. There are many fruit trees like ber, custard apple, cashew nut, anola etc. which are hardy in nature and can be grown under purely rainfed condition. In India 86 million ha land is available for development of sound technology of rainfed horticulture; there is good scope to put these lands under dry land fruit crops. This would also be necessary to arrest shrinkage of land available for cultivation on per capita basis due to population pressure.

4. Increasing Urbanization and Charge in Food Habits:

Increasing urbanization due to industrial growth has increased demands for fruits. Change in food habits to organic food is also being noticed due to education and assured income which has also helped in increasing demands for fruits.

5. Increased Transport Facilities:

Most of the fruits are highly perishable, having less storage life and need quick disposal after harvest. Lack of good transportation system was one of the major constraints in are expansion of fruits.  However, now a day quick transport facilities by road rail and air are available enabling growers to transport fruits, to long distance markers in good condition in a short period of time. Increasing in transport facilities in transport facilities provide scope for fruit farming.

6. Increasing in Cold Storage Facilities and Precooling Centers:

Fruits have highly perishable and have less shelf- life. During the peak harvesting period the market gluts reduce prices of fruits. Cold storage facilities help to regulate market supply and stabilizes the market rate. Similarly, to extend shelf life, pre cooling after harvest is necessary.

7. Scope for Agro- Based Industries:

Even after so much of industrial progress, our country depends on agricultural sectors for employment. Development of agro- based industries to generate employment is a must to keep our economy sound. Besides sugarcane, fruit farming is the only area where we get potential scope to develop agro-based industries like canning and preservation etc.

8. Development of New Techniques:

Use of growth regulators, in-situ grafting, drip irrigation for water economy, tissue culture special horticultural practices like ringing, girdling, notching, bahar treatment, high density planting etc have helped to increase productivity and also to bring more lands under cultivation.

9. Evaluation of New High Yielding Varieties and Introduction of New Crops:

Development of high yielding cultivar of fruits like pomegranate (Ganesh, P-23, P-26, G-137), mango (Ratna, Amrapali, Malika, Sindu), grapes (Thompson seedless), guava (Sardar and L-49), cashew nut (Vengurla No. 1,2,3,4 and 5) etc, which are having specilized feature like disease and pest resistant, high yielding, diverse acclimatization etc, brought more area under fruits. Similarly, introduction of commercial cultivation of some of the new crops like ber anola etc. also indicates scope for area expansion.

10. Availability of Loan Facilities:

Fruit crops being capital intensive, lack of capital was one of the major problems for the expansion of area under fruit crops. Now a day there are several cooperative and commercial banks providing finance for fruit farming which has increased the scope for it.

11. Government Incentive:

Realizing the need for area expansion of fruit crops, the governments have started a very ambitious programme of fruit development under which it gives 100% subsidy to marginal farmers and farmers from backward communities and 70% subsidy for others on establishment and maintenance of fruit orchard for a period of 3 years. This would increase the area under fruits. It is expected that due to this pregame, the area under fruits will increase.

12. Scope for Export of Fruits:

Market surveys in Europe and other markets have revealed that is a good scope or export of grapes, mango, banana, pomegranate, citrus, ber, cashew to gulf and European markers. The availability of these markets would be increase area under these fruits.

13. Availability of cheap labour.

Agricultural sector needs more skilled labour forces to conduct the daily activities. The labour supply in India is much cheaper than the other countries, hence providing greater opportunities for maintaining the different activities of the farm.

14. Very high production of fruits.

         The productivity of horticultural crops is much more than other crops like cereals, pulses etc from the same piece of land. 

15. Suitability of climate for fruits.

India is bestowed with diverse climatic condition such as tropical climate, temperate climate and subtropical climate, which are feasible for all most all the fruit crops. 

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