Sustainable Horticulture

Over the years there has been an increasing trend in the production of horticultural crops in the national scenario. During 2015-16 the food grains and horticultural production has been recorded as 269 and 283 MT respectively. Further, there has also been an increase in the area and production of fruit crops from 2001 to 2015 (4.01 to 7.21 million ha and 43.00 to 88.97 million tonnes respectively). This shows the positive outcome of emphasis given to horticulture growth and development in the last two plan period. The contribution of the north eastern states in the horticultural cropped area and production at the national level is about 8.45% and 5.24% respectively (Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, 2014-15). Horticulture has provided a viable alternative for diversification of agricultural land use, employment generation and for ensuring food, nutritional and livelihood security.The north eastern region of India comprising the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim has vast bio-diversity and is home to a unique but fragile ecology. The geo-climatic situation in the region offers excellent scope for growing different horticultural crops including fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, medicinal and aromatic plants. These states have been producing many such crops, which have very high potential for supplying to the export markets in fresh and processed forms. However due to the various problems such as lack of transport, infrastructure, poor connectivity and lack of awareness etc., the potential of these crops have not been explored satisfactorily. In order to bring about an understanding and to attempt connecting the missing links in the horticulture development in holistic manner, the National Seminar under the broad theme “Sustainable Horticulture vis-a-vis Changing Environment” was organised by the Horticultural Society of North East India during 26-28 February 2015. This Society was established on 24th May 2004 with the base at Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland. The need for such a society was felt to harness the vast potential of the unique flora of north eastern region and to encourage various areas of research studies in the process of human resource development. Over the years the society members have been actively involved in several extension activities such as Kheti Mela, Kisan Goshti and has also conducted several hands-on training for the farmers, imparting the agricultural and horticultural technology garnered from the research works carried out in the School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus. The society also aims to be a repository of the immense knowledge gained over time from all over so that they are fruitfully disseminated to the people of this region especially the farmers who form the backbone of the society. This book is a compedium of the lead papers and research papers presented during the National Seminar by eminent scientists covering wide area of topics pertaining to horticulture under the changing environment. To merit publication of this book, topics on emerging issues on horticulture technology have been added by members of the society who have had over fifteen years of experience in the field under the typical growing conditions of the north eastern hill region of India. The ethnic communities of the region still maintains a greatly evolved traditional system of cultivation. Such preservation and utilization of traditional knowledge is important to mitigate the vagaries caused by changing climate which we are now experiencing in recent times. This is being taken into consideration in various experiments carried out in the region. The scientific information and the blending of traditional knowledge of local people especially the farmers need proper documentation for...