Horticultural producers have a fundamental
interest and pivotal role in protecting, and where necessary and practical,
enhancing and restoring natural resources.
The quantity and quality of food we produce is
directly affected by the condition of natural resources– including
biodiversity, soil, water, native vegetation, and oceans.
Assuring the long-term sustainability of natural
resources directly affects the long-term sustainability of horticultural
businesses.
Advantages of Horticulture:-
1. Horticultural crop produce
of higher biomass than field crops per unit areas resulting in efficient
utilization of natural resources.
2 .Highly remunerative for
replacing subsistence farming and thus alleviate poverty level in rainfed,
dryland hilly arid and costal agro-systems.
3. Potential for development
wastelands through planned strategies.
4. Need comparatively less water than food crops.
5. Provide higher employment
opportunity.
6. Important for nutritional
security.
7. Environment-friendly.
8. High value crops with high potential of value-addition.
9. High potential of value
addition.
10. High potential for foreign
exchange earnings.
11. Make higher contribution to
GDP, (Gross Domestic Product) i.e.24.5% from 8.5 % area under these crops.