How has horticulture encouraged Indian rural development?

Question

Accepted Answer

Horticulture plays an important role in providing food and nutrition to the rural population, besides addressing employment concerns, particularly disguised and seasonal unemployment in villages. It gives employment to around 19 percent of the total labour force.

- The horticulture sector contributes nearly one-third of the value of agriculture output and 6 percent of the GDP of India. India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, and a world leader in the production of mangoes, bananas, coconuts, cashew nuts and a number of spices.

- It has improved the economic condition of many farmers and has become a means of improving livelihood for many unprivileged classes too.

- Flower harvesting, nursery maintenance, hybrid seed production and tissue culture, propagation of fruits and flowers, and food processing are highly remunerative employment options for women in rural areas.