Plantation & Horticulture

1. Horticulture – Definition
   Horticulture deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops, and medicinal plants.
2. Importance of Horticulture
   It enhances farm income, employment, nutritional security, and export earnings.
3. Plantation Crops
   Plantation crops include tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, and arecanut, grown on large estates.
4. Difference Between Plantation and Field Crops
   Plantation crops are perennial and capital-intensive, while field crops are seasonal and annual.
5. Fruit Crops
   Fruit crops provide vitamins and minerals and contribute significantly to nutritional security.
6. Vegetable Crops
   Vegetables are short-duration crops with high yield potential and market demand.
7. Flower Crops
   Floriculture includes the cultivation of flowers for decorative and commercial purposes.
8. Spices and Condiments
   Spices add flavour and have medicinal value, contributing to export earnings.
9. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
   These plants are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.
10. Climatic Requirements of Horticultural Crops
    Temperature, rainfall, and humidity play a crucial role in growth and yield.
11. Propagation Methods
    Sexual and asexual methods, such as grafting and budding, ensure quality planting material.
12. Nursery Management
    Proper nursery management ensures healthy and disease-free seedlings.
13. Training and Pruning
    Training and pruning improve plant shape, yield, and quality of produce.
14. Manures and Fertilisers in Horticulture
    Balanced nutrition improves fruit quality and productivity.
15. Irrigation in Horticulture
    Drip irrigation is widely adopted for water conservation and higher efficiency.
16. Mulching
    Mulching conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health.
17. Protected Cultivation
    Greenhouses and polyhouses protect crops from adverse weather conditions.
18. Post-Harvest Management
    Proper handling, storage, and processing reduce losses and increase shelf life.
19. Value Addition
    Processing fruits and vegetables increases income and reduces wastage.
20. Organic Horticulture
    Organic practices improve soil health and meet rising consumer demand.
21. Export Potential
    Indian horticulture has high export potential due to diverse agro-climatic conditions.
22. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
    MIDH promotes the holistic development of the horticulture sector.
23. Plantation Crops and Sustainability
    Sustainable practices maintain long-term productivity and environmental balance.
24. Employment Generation
    Horticulture creates year-round employment in rural areas.
25. Horticulture and NABARD
    NABARD finances plantation development, cold storage, and value-chain projects.