Horticulture takes root in Haryana :

1. Horticulture is catching the fancy of farmers in Haryana as some of them are shifting from the traditional pattern of paddy and wheat. More and more farmers are reaping dividends from the farming of vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, and fruits, besides beekeeping.

2. Considering investment and other issues of managing traditional crops, horticulture is becoming popular due to the availability of subsidy from the Horticulture Department.

3. Union and state governments extend 65 per cent subsidy (50 plus 15) to farmers for setting up poly-houses and net houses. The poly-house costs around Rs 34 lakh on one acre, while the cost of a net-house is Rs 24 lakh on one acre.

4. The proximity to Delhi, where the demand for fruits, vegetables and flowers is high, gives Haryana’s farmers an edge over those from other states, while they are also catering to the local market.

5. The introduction of protected cultivation in the state has given further boost to vegetable production, particularly tomato, capsicum and cucumber. The varieties for protected cultivation are different than those for open cultivation. The quality of produce is very good and fetches remunerative prices in the market. The introduction of micro-irrigation drip sprinkler and micro-sprinklers has given a fillip to horticulture in the state. The main advantage of micro-irrigation is saving in water and enhancing the quality of production.

6. The state Horticulture Department has established centres of excellence in vegetables, fruits, sub-tropical and tropical fruits, and beekeeping in collaboration with Israel. Haryana boasts of four Indo-Israel projects — Centre of Excellence for vegetables, Gharaunda, Karnal; Centre of Excellence for citrus fruits, Mangiana, Sirsa; Centre of Excellence for sub-tropical fruits, Ladwa, Kurukshetra; and Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre, Ram Nagar, Kurukshetra.

7. Farmers are adopting protected cultivation through poly-houses, net-houses, walk-in-tunnels and low tunnels,  are producing capsicum of various colours, tomatoes and seedless cucumber. Also impart four-day residential training to farmers, professionals and corporates for protected cultivation. Govt. is also helping the farmers in raising nurseries of different vegetables under hi-tech poly-houses at 50 per cent subsidy,

8. The introduction of hybrid seeds of vegetables by the private and public sectors has increased the yield manifold compared to traditional methods and seeds.

State dossier :

The Haryana Government has established Potato Technology Centre at Shamgarh in Karnal, where tissue culture-based, virus-free seed production of potato is being done. Government will soon have aeroponic technology which will help in increasing mini-tuber production manifolds. Farmers are adopting protected cultivation for vegetables as the state and Union governments are providing subsidy of 65 per cent. Accordingly horticultural crops require less water, keep environment clean and provide more employment opportunities compared to the general agricultural crops.