Integrated Horticulture Development

Horticulture sector in Assam deals with the following crops and activities. (1)Fruits (2) Vegetables (3) Spices (4) Floriculture (5) Potato (6) Onion (7) Medicinal & Aromatics (7) Mushroom cultivation and (8) Fruits & Vegetables preservation and processing. Besides it deals with Bee keeping, Food processing, Micro irrigation and post harvest management including Cold-chain development. Major Fruit crops of the state – Banana, Pine apple, papaya, Assam lemon, Orange, Guava, Litchi, Jack fruit and Mango. Major tuber crops grown Potato, Sweet Potato and Tapioca, among Spices – Chilli, Turmeric, Ginger, Onion, Coriander, Garlic, Black pepper with different types of Rabi and Kharif Vegetables are grown in Assam. Flowers like Marigold, Gerbera, Anthurium, Lilium,Tube rose etc. high value crops like Straw berry, Passion fruit and Apple ber are gradually becoming popular for cultivation because of higher return. In addition Mushroom production is being considered as profitable farming activities for unemployed youths. Horticulture & FP Department, Assam is encouraging the farmers for area expansion of high value commercial fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Floricultural crops through different Central sector and State sector ongoing schemes, with an objective of increasing the production as well as productivity of these crops. The Department is giving emphasis on production and availability of quality planting materials of the commercial horticultural crops; so that higher production with better quality becomes possible, for which establishment of nurseries are encouraged under HMNEH and accreditation are advocated.