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Horticulture And Floriculture

Horticulture is an aspect of agriculture that includes the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. It also covers floriculture, or the cultivation of flowers, and other agricultural practices.

Over the years horticulture has grown from a kitchen-garden kind of activity into an organised area of agriculture. The increasing demand for fresh and hygienically packaged fruits and vegetables offers new challenges for those entering this field.

In the area of floriculture too, while the annual demand for flowers in the domestic market continues to grow at a rate of 20% a year, the demand in the international market is currently Rs 75,000 crores and supply is only 60% of this figure. The export potential for these products is very good and therefore the prospects for horticulture specialists are extremely bright.

With technological advancement, great emphasis is also being put on improving regular varieties of fruits and vegetables for processing purposes, creating exotic species for decorative and commercial purposes, and mass scale multiplication of species for increased productivity.

With the liberalisation of the Indian economy the demand for agri-products has greatly increased.

Moreover, India’s advantageous geographical location, with its varying soil and climatic conditions and the advantage of three harvests a year, as well as an abundant labour force, provides ample opportunities for the growth of a range of agri-products throughout the year.

WORK
The work in horticulture and floriculture broadly covers growing and maintaining horticultural and floriculture farms, parks and gardens, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable processing, preservation and marketing of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and involves -

Production which covers the growing and harvesting of raw fruits, vegetables and flowers carried out mainly by farmers. Much of the work is that of farming, involving management and supervision of agricultural practises for maximising yields. With the widespread commercialisation of this activity, there are now industrial houses which handle large scale and scientific cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Processing covers all aspects of handling fruits and vegetables for distribution whether in their natural form or as processed foods. New and scientific methods of farming have made it possible to extend the shelf life of these perishables. Processing involves various tasks, from the procurement of the raw material to the final distribution of the end product, which may remain in its natural form or be packaged. In floriculture, this would involve the work of procurement of seeds, and the collection and distribution in natural or packaged form for the domestic and export market. Experienced horticulturists can become plantation assistants or quality inspectors for commercial canning in quick-freezing stations or packaging for the domestic and export market.

Gardening involves all aspects of cultivation of flowers, flowering plants, shrubs, and ornamental trees for decorative purposes in gardens. Grafting, collecting seeds and de-budding are some of the other functions which have to be performed. Development and maintenance of town and country parks, picnic areas, golf courses , as also landscaping of gardens, lawns , hot-houses and nurseries are other areas handled by horticulturists.

In the area of Research, horticulturists look for ways to improve and breed new varieties of fruits and vegetables or flowers, by the application of scientific techniques such as tissue culture, micro-propagation, and embryo culture etc. This would generally be undertaken in government-funded research institutions , although there are research and development laboratories being set up by private sector companies in the business of processing or marketing horticultural foods and flowers. Development also includes multiplication and distribution of planting material and establishment of nucleus production centres.

There are also opportunities in Teaching and Advisory Services which would include motivation of fruit growers, and liaison with marketing agencies within the country and abroad.

ENTRY
Although it is possible to enter into the fields of horticulture and floriculture without any formal training, it is advisable to have obtained some formal training.

To become a horticulturist, a candidate should join the agricultural stream for a B.Sc. in agriculture or horticulture. Most colleges do not conduct a separate course for horticulture at the under-graduate level, but treat it as part of the academic curriculum of agriculture. An MSc in horticulture however, offers specialisations in floriculture, pomology (cultivation of fruits), and olericulture
( cultivation of vegetables).

Eligibility :
The basic eligibility criteria for a B.Sc. in horticulture is 10+2 with sciences including Physics and Biology. For an M.Sc. in Horticulture, one must have a B.Sc. degree in Agriculture or a related subject.

Duration :
Courses in horticulture are available at some universities, and are normally of 2-5 years duration, depending on the course.

Intitutions :
Some of the prominent institutions offering courses in Horticulture are listed below :
College of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, HP.
College of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
College of Agriculture, Pune, Maharashtra.
Faculty of Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Coimbatore.
College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur, Kerala.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
Patience ; ability to put in long hours, often outdoors , and in varying climatic conditions ; perseverance ; knowledge of seasonal plants, local plants and soil etc.

JOB PROSPECTS
Qualified horticulturists and floriculture specialists can be employed at various levels

As supervisors, farm managers and estate managers at horticultural farms or estates.

In Government organisations, the department of horticulture appoints horticulture officers, horticulture assistants, directors, deputy directors etc.

Managerial positions with private organisations involved in the processing and marketing of fruits, vegetables or flowers

Various avenues for self employment are open, including setting up one’s own farm for growing fruits, vegetables or flowers, or ornamental plants ; running nurseries or being employed in an advisory capacity with an organisation that deals with horticultural activities.

Research openings, particularly in the area of genetic engineering, for creating better and hardier strains of horicultural produce.

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