Horticulture Growth in State :

Horticulture would provide additional employment opportunities and additional income to the farm families. The State is endowed with agro-climatic conditions conducive for growing a wide range of horticulture crops such as fruits, vegetables, spices crops, and flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants. The area and yield of major horticultural crops remained stagnant during the periods 2001-2002 to 2007-2008. But from 2007-08, when awareness about both crops and eating habits of the people changed, this sector has been witnessing an upward trend, from 3033843 ha in area in 20014 -2015 to 3952798 ha. in 2016 – 17; similarly the production grew from 493.00 lakh tonnes(2014-15) to 571.28 lakh tonnes in the year 2016-17. The production of vegetables registered an increase from 141.21 Lakh Ton of 2014-15to 172.69 Lakh tonns in the year2016-17 similarly, the production of spices increased from 4466510 in 2014-15) to 4119621 tonnes in the year 2016-17, and flower production from 2.08 lakh tonne in the year of 2014-15 to 3.51 lakh tonne in year 2016-17. The production is having positive trend.

Fruits :

The main fruits grown in Madhya Pradesh are mango, guava, banana, citrus fruits and melons. The production of mango and guava is high and these fruits also have a large processing potential for the tinned and pulp products Mango has been traditionally grown in Madhya Pradesh, in both forests and in individual farms. 

Vegetables :

Among vegetables, potato, onion, tomato and green peas are the major crops in terms of area. Vegetable cultivation is one of the fast growing activities in the state due to higher demand in urban and semi-urban areas and also due to diversity in number of crops. Some of the vegetable crops have distinct identity i.e. potato produced in the Malwa region has gained a good reputation for production of potato chips. 

Spices :

The major spices grown in Madhya Pradesh are Chillies, Coriander, Turmeric, Ginger, and Garlic. In almost all the spices there is an upward trend in production, and productivity.

The districts that are contributing to cultivation of horticulture :

The districts that are contributing to cultivation of horticulture crops in the state, shows that it is the Malwa region where horticulture has flourished to a great extent and the seven districts, namely, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Guna, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Jabalpur and Chhindwara have comparatively higher share of area as a proportion to the state level area under horticulture crops . The other nine districts with comparatively fair share of area under horticulture crops include, Neemuch, Ujjain, Dhar, Indore, Barwani, West Nimar, East Nimar, Sagar and Chhatarpur. Further the growth in Horticulture sector noticed in Area expansion of crops like Mango crop area increase from 18332 ha (Maximum during 2012- 12) to 43607.05 ha in the year 2016-17 Orange crop area increase from 44197 ha (Maximum during 2011-12) to 150839.21 ha in the year 2016-17 Banana, area increase from 24783 ha (2011-12) to 26969.80 ha in the year 2016-17.

Horticulture Training Centers in M.P. : 

The department is running four training centres, at, Pachmari, Rehli (Sagar district), Govindgarh (Rewa district) and Indore. While the centre at Pachmari is for training officers, the other three centres are for training gardners. 

Horticulture Nurseries in M.P.  :

Horticulture Nurseries in Madhya Pradesh: To promote and encourage horticultural crop growth in the state, the department is running 307 nurseries and farms; that includes; 253 nurseries; 45 station gardens and 9 vegetable seed farms. 

Food Preservation Training Centres  :

A Food Preservation Training Centre is also being run at Indore, where food processing trainings for making Jam, Jelly and pickles etc. are imparted. The centre also provide class/campus trainings, which is need based.