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Chapter – 1

Horticulture Science and Profession

K.V. Peter1, Binoo Bonny2 and T. Pradeepkumar3

The word horticulture was first used in 1600’s and comes from two Latin words,hortus and cultûra which mean the culture of garden plants. Relf (1992) provided acomprehensive definition of horticulture as an applied science and art of growing fruits,vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, tubers, aromatic and medicinal plants, plantation crops,mushrooms and ornamental plants which include shrubs, flowering plants and turfsstimulating minds, spirits and emotions of individuals, enriching health and wellness ofcommunities, and linking human beings to nature and its landscaped exteriors for wellnessand wellbeing. It is a science as it applies the basics of Biology like botany, morphology,anatomy, cytology, cytogenetics, biochemistry, ethnopharmacology and physiology andapplies them to growing of crops. It also uses related sciences like Material science,Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics. It is also an art requiring creative facultiesfor vegetative propagation like grafting, budding, layering,topworking, micro-propagationand conceiving floral and landscape architecture and designs. Horticulture forms a branchof agriculture concerned with intensively cultivated plants directly used by people forfood, for medicinal purposes or for aesthetic gratification (Janick, 1979).

History and Evolution of Horticulture as a branch of science are intimately connectedto the history of Agriculture and as such it forms a part of 10000 years of human historyfrom hunter-gatherer existence to settled civilizations. Both continued to evolve togethertill the middle ages when Horticulture separated as a distinct branch from agriculture.Though both share common practices like weeding, fertilizer application, irrigation etc,.Horticulture is distinguished by vegetative propagation, parthenogenesis and apomixis. Itrequires more intensive management and higher labor inputs and offers higher gross returnper unit area per unit time compared to agriculture. Many historians believe that Horticultureformally got evolved around 3000 B.C. from the Egyptian temple gardens where fruittrees, palms and grape vines were cultivated and land preparation, irrigation and pruningwere practiced. Archeological evidences showed that the Egyptian gardens contained manyhorticultural components like symmetry, water features, pargolas, edges, hedges andanimations. Meanwhile Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Assyria established pre-moderngardens like hanging gardens of Babylonia built by Nebuchadnezzar that cultivated roses,

Basics of Horticulture: 2nd Revised Edition Pp 1-10 © Editor K.V. Peter, 2015New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi - 110034, India

1World Noni Research Foundation, 12, Srinivasa Nagar 2nd Street, Perungudi, Chennai – 600 0962Department of Extension, Karela Agricultural University, P.O. Mannuthy, Thrissur – 680 656, Kerala2Kerala Agricultural University, P.O. KAU, Thrissur – 680 656, Kerala

2 Basics of Horticulture

figs, dates, grapes, and olives. Theophrastus who was a student of Plato and Aristotle isconsidered as the first scientific horticulturist and is credited with the authorship of Historyof Plants and The Causes of Plants. Later as the Renaissance evolved, creation of formalGardens inspired by the romanticized garden of paradise was reported from varied placesacross the world. Gardens of Versailles, Belvedere in Vienna and Mughal gardens of Indiawere examples of ancient formal gardens. The use of new plants and plant productseventually led to the advent of new operational branches within Horticulture which can begrouped into two broad sections – ornamentals and edibles (Table 1).

1. Major Branches of Horticulture Science

Table 1: Major Branches of Horticulture Science

Sl. No. Name of Branch Definition

1. Olericulture (Vegetable Science) Study of production and marketing of vegetables2. Pomology(Fruit Science) Study of production and marketing of fruits and nuts3. Floriculture/ ornamental Horticulture Study of production and marketing of flowers4. Greenhouse Management Growing and study of plants in greenhouses5. Viticulture Study of production and marketing of grapes6. Turf Management Study of production and maintenance of turf grass for

sports, leisure use or amenity use7. Arboriculture(Silviculture in forestry) Study of, and the selection, planting, care and removal

of, individual trees, shrubs, vines and other perennialwoody plants

8. Landscape Horticulture Application of design and horticultural principles toplacement and care of plants in the landscape

9. Interiorscaping Application of design and horticultural principles toplacement and care of plants in indoor environments

10. Horticultural Therapy Use of horticultural plants and methods as therapeutictools with disabled and disadvantaged people

11. Oenology Includes all aspects of study of wine and winemaking12 Post harvest Technology Study of maintaining the quality of and preventing

the spoilage of horticultural crops

Influence of discovery, cultivation and trade of horticultural crops are quite significantin human history. Explorations by Europeans in the middle ages were mostly related to thesearch of these high value crops like spices,aromatic and medicinal plants and for developingtrade routes for rapid transportation. This eventually led to colonalization of major Asianand African countries which produced rich and diverse Horticultural crops like Coffee,Tea, Cocoa and Spices-black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon- by European countries.Importance of Horticultural crops in international Commerce and Trade was quite significantfrom time immemorial and led to its emergence as one of the fastest growing sectors inagriculture . The growth was quite radical in countries like India where fruits, vegetables,tuber crops, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants,mushrooms, spices and plantation cropsare grown in their diverse agro-climatic regions (Table 2).

Horticulture Science and Profession 3

2. Potential Production Zones of Various Horticultural Crops in India

Table 2: Potential Production Zones of Various Horticultural Crops in India

Name of the crop Key production zones

FruitsMango Maharashtra (Alphonsa), Gujarat(Kesari), A.P. (Banganapalli),

U.P, (Chausa and Dasheri), West Bangal (Himasagar)Grapes Maharashtra, A.P. and KarnatakaLitchi W.B., Bihar, Uttarakhand, Parts of U.P, Parts of A.PCashew Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, NE StatesWalnut J&K, High hillsMandarins including Kinnow Maharashtra, Darjelling, Punjab and Rajasthan for KinnowPomegranate Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan.

VegetablesPotato W.B., U.P and PunjabOnion Kharif onion. Eastern states (Bihar, Orissa and W.B) Punjab,

Maharashtra and Karnataka.Chilli Maharashtra, Rajasthan and A.P.Bitter gourd and okra Kerala, Maharashtra, W.B., Bihar

SpicesBlack pepper Kerala, Maharashtra, and KarnatakaGinger Kerala, NEH including Sikkim and Darjeeling hillsTurmeric Kerala, A.P., Meghalaya and OrissaCumin Gujarat and RajasthanLarge cardamom Sikkim and NE States

FloricultureRose Maharashtra, and KarnatakaOrchid (Cymbidium) Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and DarjeelingAnthurium Kerala, Karnataka and NE StatesCut greens Kerala, Karnataka, A and N Islands and NE StatesDry flowers Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Source: Pradeepkumar et al., 2008

3. Indian Horticulture

Modern and scientific horticulture was borne in 1928 when Imperial Council ofAgricultural Research later named as Indian Council of Agricultural Research wasconstituted in India. It gained focused attention only from the third Five year plan, thoughsystematic research on fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops began in 1954. Establishmentof the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) at Bangalore and starting of eightAll India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) to cover different horticultural crops in4th Five Year Plan (1969-74) gave impetus to horticultural development in India. Horticultureeducation is now offered in 46 colleges (35 in State Agricultural Universities(SAUs), 8affiliated to SAUs and 3 others). Fourteen SAUs have facilities for education in this fieldat graduation level and 32 at post –graduation level. The intake capacity has sharplyincreased from 1,100 in 2000-01 to 3,000 in 2009-10 with expansion of intake in SAUs,


including entry of private colleges affiliated to SAUs and other general universities. Againstactual admitted strength of about 2,282 during 2009-10, 1,465 graduates passed out.Diplomain Horticulture is offered as a part of skill development by School of Agriculture, IGNOU.The Regional Centre ,IGNOU Cochin offers a Post Graduate Diploma in PlantationManagement. TNAU Coimbatore offers B.Tech (Horticulture) emphasizing engineeringaspect of Horticulture.The Krishi Vijyan Kendras offer training on nursery management,cropcanopy management, protected cultivation, tissue culture, biocontrol and biofertilizers,watermanagement, packaging and recently retailing to unemployed youth. Training on coconutclimbing using a climber has empowered men and women.There is considerableemploybility in urban, peri-urban and even abroad especially middle east and North EastAsian countries.

Horticultural research in the country is being carried out at 10 ICAR institutes (with24 regional stations), 7 National Research Centres (on major crops),6 network projects/outreach programmes and 6 Project Directorates . Area specific multi-disciplinary researchis also being conducted under 13 All India Coordinated Research Projects each on Tropical,Subtropical and Arid Fruits; Vegetables, Potato, Tuber Crops, Mushrooms, Floriculture,Medicinal and Aromatic crops, Palms, Cashew, Spices and Betel vine; and Post HarvestTechnology at 251 research centres located at various research Institutes anduniversities.There are four full fledged Universities of Horticulture and Forestry; 56 StateAgricultural Universities and one Deemed University(IARI) where teaching,research andextension on horticultural crops are in progress. In addition, a few R&D establishments ofcrop/commodity boards (Coffee Board, Tea Board, Spices Board, Coir Board, RubberBoard, Coconut Development Board, Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development,Directorate of Spices, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants) and private sectors are providingresearch and development support to Indian horticulture. Research is being funded byDBT, DST, DRDO, AERC and DOS in basic and strategic areas.

The period 1991-2003 saw planned investment in rapid expansion of infrastructurewhich helped emergence of horticulture as a sustainable livelihood option in India and isheralded as the period of golden revolution. This led to emergence of India as the secondlargest producer of fruits and vegetables,largest producer of mango, banana, coconut,cashew, papaya and pome granate, largest producer and exporter of spices and ranks firstin productivity of grapes, banana, cassava, peas and papaya. It is estimated that all thehorticulture crops put together cover nearly 21 million hectares with an annual productionof 240.5 million tones. Horticulture crops occupy 11% of the total cropped area in Indiaand constitute nearly 30.4% of agricultural GDP. Its contribution to national economy isabout four % and is one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture. It is a thrust area tostimulate agricultural growth, spurred by the changing domestic food habits towards morenutritious food and increasing overseas demand (Table 3).


4. Current Production and Projected Demand of HorticultureProducts

Table 3: Current Production and Projected Demand of Horticulture Products

Commodity Production in million tones Annual Growth Rate required (%)

Production in Demand in Demand in 2008-09 to 2008-09 to2008-09 2011-12 2020-21 2011-12 2020-21

Fruits 68.47 81.00 98.00 5.7 3.0Vegetables 129.08 185.00 220.00 12.7 4.5Spices 4.15 5.50 6.50 10.3 3.9Others 13.02 29.50 35.50 29.9 8.7All commodities 214.72 300.00 360.00 11.7 4.4

Though its performance in production is laudable, in value addition, processing andexport segments, India’s contribution is not as expected. The major horticulture cropsexported from India include spices, mango, grapes, orange, apple, banana, potato andvegetables. Major importers of Indian horticulture products are Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE,UK and Malaysia. Today horticultural crops cover about 25 % of total agricultural exportsof the country. Apart from bringing in revenue from exports, horticulture plays a significantrole in improving the livelihood of rural population. Flower harvesting, nursery maintenance,seed production and tissue culture, propagation of fruits and flowers and food processingare highly remunerative employment options for women in rural areas. This sector providesemployment to around 19 % of the total labour force in rural India by generating direct andindirect employment opportunities.

Horticultural products are referred to as protective foods and assume great importancein nutritional security of people. According to estimates, the per capita consumption offruits and vegetables in India is around 46g and 130g against the Indian Council of MedicalResearch (ICMR) recommendation of 92g and 300g respectively. This is aggravated bythe fact that more than 20-22% of the total production of fruits and vegetables are lost dueto spoilage at various post harvest stages. In India ,only less than 2% of total vegetablesproduced are commercially processed as compared to 70% in Brazil and 65% in USA(Table 4). This leaves great scope for technology adoption both in traditional horticulturalenterprises and in commercial horticulture sectors. Moreover, a major shift in consumptionpattern of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables along with greater interest shown bycorporate sector, horticulture holds great promise for huge influx of investment withdiversification and value addition holding the key. The 11th Plan initiated a massive NationalHorticulture Mission (NHM) with an outlay of Rs. 20,000 crores and is being continued in12th plan(2012-2017) with additional investment. The NHM was launched in 2005-06with a mandate to promote integrated development in horticulture, to help in coordinating,stimulating and sustaining the production and processing of fruits and vegetables and toestablish a sound infrastructure in the field of production, processing and marketing witha focus on post harvest management to reduce losses.


5. Extent of Value Addition in Fruits and Vegetables

Table 4: Extent of Value Addition in Fruits and Vegetables

Country Extent of Value Addition (%)

Brazil 70France 50USA 60-70Malaysia 83Thailand 50Israel 50New Zealand 40China 10India < 2

Source: Pradeepkumar, et al., 2008

6. Horticulture as Profession

Horticulture, being one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture, opened a widerange of career opportunities and jobs requiring knowledge, skill and continued trainingin horticulture. Direct jobs in Horticulture require a basic level of training that could bevocational certificate/diploma at Polytechnic/Rural Institute/distance education mode ordegree in horticulture or agriculture at college level. The work may be indoors or outdoorsor both. Supply: demand trends in Horticulture with 2010 as base year are given as Fig.1.College education provides more in depth knowledge of the field and offers job opportunitiesat extension,consultancy, supervisory or managerial levels and to conduct research-basicand applied. Areas of Employment of Horticulture Graduates in government/private sectorand the required qualifications are given in Table 5.

Fig. 1: Projected Demand for Horticulture Professionals in 2020

7. Projected Demand for Horticulture Professionals in 2020


8. Major Career Opportunities in Horticulture

Table 5: Major Career Opportunities in Horticulture

Sl. No. Minimum Job description Posts Recruitment AgencyQualification

Public Sector1. M.Sc Ag. /Hort and Research Scientist Agriculture Scientist

PhD in Horticulture Recruitment Board, ( ICAR)Education Lecturer, Reader, Agricultural Universities

Assistant Professor,Associate Professor etc.

Transfer of Training Organizer Krishi Vigyan KendraTechnology & Training Associate

2. Graduate in Administration Civil Services Union Public ServiceHorticulture/ Commission (U.P.S.C)Agriculture

Development/ Horticulture Officer/ State Public ServiceTOT Agriculture Officer CommissionResearch/ Training Assistant/ Agricultural Universities,Training Technical Officers/ ICAR, DRDO, & CSIR

Farm SupervisorQuality Control Horticulture State Department

Inspector / MarketingInspector

Private Sector1. Graduate in Technical Expert As Horticulturist Industries, Farm Houses,

Horticulture/ /Horticulture Hotels, Golf Courts &Agriculture Officer or Supervisor Construction Companies

(Landscape)Technical Expert Horticulture officer Processing companies

Marketing Field marketing Pesticides, seeds andOfficer insecticide companies

Professionals with the skill for Total Quality Management (TQM) are required inareas of Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture and Land Scape Architecture, seedproduction and processing industry, spices, medicinal and aromatic crops. Majorprofessional areas in floriculture industry cover trade of i) cut flowers ii) nursery andpotted plants, seeds and bulbs iii) micropropagated plants and iv) essential oils from flowersfor perfumes. It is estimated that annual growth rate of domestic trade of floriculture productsis about 25-30 %. The exports of medicinal and aromatic plants and their products havesignificant potential particularly to advanced countries like U.S.A., Japan and Europe.Herbal medicine is explored as alternatives to antibiotics, steroids and hormonal drugs foravoiding side effects on body functions. The international market of medicinal plants relatedtrade is estimated US $ 60 billion per year having a growth rate of 7 %. Another promisinghorticulture sector is spices and India commands 46% in global trade in terms of quantityand 28% in terms of value/ annum.


Vegetable seed production is a remunerative enterprise compared to fresh vegetableproduction. Vegetable seeds, which are low in volume but high in value, have attractedprivate investments. Production of genetically pure seed requires high technical skill andexpertise. India ranks 10th position in the world regarding production of seeds. In vegetables,major crops in which seed production are being carried out are tomato, cabbage, gourds,melons, brinjal, cauliflower and chilli. India is the largest producer of gourd’s seeds. Twentyfour national and multinational companies are involved in the production and distribution ofgourd seeds. Thirty % of requirements of OP varieties are met by private companies, 15 %by public sector and remaining from farmer’s own seeds. F

1 hybrid seed production is a

monopoly of private seed industry in India. Graduates specialized in vegetable seed productionand breeding have greater employability as breeders in public, corporate organizations andprivate companies. The employment opportunities in seed industry range from technicians,farm supervisors, farm/estate managers, seed experts and supervisors and project coordinators.Research and teaching are other avenues of employment both in India and abroad.

The food processing industry ranks fifth in its contribution to value addition but topsthe list in terms of employment opportunities with approximately 15 lakhs people employed.It contributes 19 % of total Gross Domestic Product in the industrial sector. Every 10million rupees invested in fruit and vegetable processing in the organized sector generatesemployment to the tune of 140 persons per year. The same level of investment in SmallScale Investment (SSI) units creates employment to 1050 persons per year. The SSI unit infood industry employs 4,80,000 persons, which account for 13% of all SSI units employed.The graduates can work as consultants, plant managers and sourcing specialists after propertraining. One can also be an entrepreneur and offer employment to others. Avenues existin teaching, research and training. R&D area is the most attractive as product developmentleads to immediate market application (Table 6).

9. Level of Employment (%) in Horticulture Processing Sector

Table 6: Level of Employment (%) in Horticulture Processing Sector

Level of Agriculture Education Vegetable and Fruit processing units Alcoholic beverages units

No qualification in agricultural subjects 89.04 59.44Certificate/training 2.25 33.57Diploma 1.74 1.40Graduates 5.82 5.58Post Graduates 0.78 0.00Doctorates 0.37 0.00All levels 10.96 40.56

For persons with formal qualification in Horticulture, self employment opportunitiesas Horticulture Consultant who provides advice, design, evaluation, supervision of gardenor orchards is in vogue. Government support to the tune of Rs.10 lakhs is available forqualified professionals to start Agri-clinics which provide technical advice and inputs tofarmers. Commercial nurseries, seed production and marketing, fruit and vegetable farms,florist shop, landscape architect, cold chain proprietor, processing enterprises and mushroom


production are other vocations popular among horticulturists. The horticultural industryhas also spawned a number of supporting or service industries where indirect jobs arecreated.Outsourcing for quality seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones,biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, implements, potting media, mulches, rain shelters, protectedcultivation structures, vegetable forcing, hydroponics, aeroponics, packaging and marketinghave spurred job opportunities in this sector. Similarly perishable nature of horticultureproduces and products warrant special handling on transportation to retain their qualityfor a long time. This led to the development of cold chains in storing, handling andtransportation from the areas of production to marketing outlets creating job opportunities.Secondary and tertiary industries related to processing of horticulture products, developmentof roads and other infrastructural facilities have also gained prominence leading togeneration of skilled and trained employment.Retailing in the context of Foreign DirectInvestment is assuming further employability.

10. Conclusion

Horticultural crops are essentially high value crops ensuring maximum returns togrowers with multiple scope for value addition. Industry prefers these crops due to theirconsumer appeal. This sector is providing diversification of agriculture owing to betterland use, creation of employment opportunities and overall nutritional security. Manpowerratios in the sector show a large demand for professionals and skilled manpower. It isestimated that for every graduate, three para-professionals are in demand. Even thoughthere is need for 50% more graduates, quality concerns are to be addressed stringently.Many non-government jobs need a degree in agriculture/horticulture but does not specifyany specialization. Of the emerging sciences, Food Technology, Biotechnology andAgribusiness Management are in demand, which are at present produced more in traditionaluniversities. Horticultural Education in Private Universities is emerging but need legaland statutory regulation for quality and standards. Central Agricultural Universities offeringbroad based courses in Horticulture and it’s related disciplines are in anvil. .

11. References

Janick, J. (1979). Horticultural Science. 3rd ed. San Francisco, Freeman and Company. pp327.Kumar, P and Kumar,K.( 2003). Demand, Supply and Trade Perspective of Vegetables and Fruits in India.

Indian Journal of Agricultural Marketing 17: 121-130.Pradeepkumar,T, Suma, B., Jyothibhaskar and Satheesan,K.M. (2008). Management of Horticultural Crops,

: Vol. 11:Horticulture Science Series: In 2 Parts , Peter, K.V. (Series Editor). New India PublishingAgency, New Delhi (www.bookfactoryindia.com).

Relf, P.D.(1992). Human issues in Horticulture. HortTechnology. 2(2): 159–287.

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