This document discusses the scope and importance of fruit and plantation crop industries in India. It notes that India is the second largest fruit producer in the world, producing over 86 million metric tonnes annually. Fruits provide high yields compared to other crops and are an important source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrition. Economically, fruits generate higher profits than other crops and provide raw materials for agro-industries. Plantation crops also offer export potential, employment, crop diversification opportunities, and ecosystem services. The industries will continue growing due to increasing domestic demand, export potential, availability of technology, and government support.

1. Production technology for fruit and plantation crops-
HT-244 (2+1)
PRESENTED BY:
RAKESH KUMAR PATTNAIK
Asst. Prof. Horticulture
MITS INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Dt- 16-04-20
LECTURE 1. SCOPE & IMPORTANCE OF
FRUIT AND PLNTATION CROP INDUSTRY IN
INDIA

2. FRUIT: A fruit is a seed bearing structure that
develops from the ovary of a flowering plants.
PLANTATION CROP: A group of commercial
crops of perennial nature, cultivated extensively in
tropical and subtropical situations which need
employment of labour through out the year and the
produces of which are usually consumed after
processing.
 India is now the second largest producer of fruits in the
world and is the leader in several horticultural crops,
namely mango, banana, papaya, cashew nut, areca nut.
 During 2014-15 India produced 86.602 million metric
tonnes of fruits from the area of 6.110 million hectares.
(NHB)

3. LECTURE 1. SCOPE & IMPORTANCE OF FRUIT AND
PLNTATION CROP INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Importance of fruit growing:
 Fruits crops are capable of giving higher tonnage of yield per unit area than other field crops. E.g. wheat
12-15 T/ha, Rice 24 t/ha where as Banana 35-40 T, papaya 40-60 T, Mango 25 T/ Ha.
“It is generally stated that the standard of living of the
people can be judged by per capita production and
consumption of fruits”
I. Nutritional importance
 Rich source of vitamin & mineral.
 Mango and papaya fruits have been estimated to be very good sources of readily available beta-carotene.
 Oranges, lemons, limes and grape fruits besides being principal sources of vitamin C and folate. (effective
against cancer.)

4.  Sweet orange is the most common food recommended for a patient suffering from
very high fever. It has a cooling effect.
 Peyan, a variety of banana fruit is administered to patients suffering from chicken
pox. (reduce temp.)
 Fruits are the excellent source of Vitamin A (which is good for hair and eyes),
 Vitamin C (helps in neutralizing free radicals),
 Potassium (which regulates blood pressure) and
 Magnesium (helps in relaxing muscles and protecting the heart against diseases).

5. II. Economic importance.
 High productivity
 High net profit
 Source of raw material for agro based industries
 Efficient utilization of resources
 Utilization of waste and barren lands for production
 Foreign exchange
o Eg- Wheat/GN/Ragi- 3.0 -4.0
tonnes/ha-25-35,000-00/ha,
Grapes/Mango/Banana-20-
40t/ha-1.5-2.5 lakh/ha.

6.  Need to Increase Production to Meet Dietary Requirements
 Increasing Irrigation Facilities in Maharashtra
 Scope for Increasing Area under Dry Land Fruits. (86 million ha dry land)
 Increasing Urbanization and Charge in Food Habits.
 Increased Transport Facilities
 Increasing in Cold Storage Facilities and Precooling Centers
 Scope for Agro- Based Industries
 Development of New Techniques
 Evaluation of New High Yielding Varieties and Introduction of New Crops:

7.  Availability of Loan Facilities
 Government Incentive:
 Scope for Export of Fruits
 Availability of cheap labour
 Very high production of fruits
 Suitability of climate for fruits

8. Scope for plantation crops:
Expansion in non-traditional areas
Export potential
Employment generation
Crop diversification
Availability of technology and yield gap
Eg. Coconut provides for 78
man days/ha/yr. Amounting to
70 million man days/year in
Kerala alone
Eg. CPCRI Kasargod, Kerala.
NRC on Cashew, Shantigod, Puttur (D.K). and
Various Agril. Universities, Res. Stations etc.

9. Economic importance of plantation crops
 Export earnings:
 Leading position in the world (Eg: Tea, Cashew, Arecanut, Coconut and Rubber)
 Employment opportunity (Eg: Tea- 20 lakhs people- Cashew-5 lakhs people)
 Industrial importance (Eg: Coconut Fiber (obtained from husk) production in India is about 2.2
lakh tones.)
 Conserving soil and ecosystem (Eg: Tea and coffee with shade trees planted on hill slopes
Cashew in barren and waste lands – Both are protect soil from water and wind erosion.)