Future strategies for the development of horticulture in the State are:-
- Improvement of productivity of existing horticulture plantations.
- Quality improvement of horticulture produce.
- Diversification of the horticulture industry.
- Modernization of the nursery production programme for the production of virus free certified planting material on suitable rootstocks.
- Introduction of improved fruit varieties and rootstocks from advanced countries and their multiplication for supply to the farmers.
- New orientation to the planting density in the fruit orchards from the present low-density plantation to medium and high-density plantation, with the objective of obtaining higher productivity of quality fruits per unit area.
- Minimum use of pesticides with emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Biological Control of pests and diseases.
- Utilization of the information technology for the dissemination of technical know how and marketing information to the fruit growers.
- Improvement of water management practices in the orchards through adoption of scientific water harvesting, storage and application practices.
- Utilization of high-tech horticulture technologies like protected cultivation of horticulture produce, use of biotechnology, micro irrigation technologies, use of plastics etc. for the improvement of horticulture productivity.
- Creation of scientific post harvest management infrastructure.
- Value addition and diversification in processing industry.
- Market promotion through branding, advertisement and exports.
The ultimate objective of the future strategy is to develop horticulture as an enterprise with the three dimensional objectives of:
- Economic development
- Nutritional Security
- Environmental conservation