Deshmukh calls for boosting horticulture across India

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Horticulture will be India's greatest strength in future years, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said today while calling for cold-chain infrastructure near production sites, during transport and at export dispatch centres like airports and seaports.

Grape, banana, citrus and apple account for over 60 per cent of world's fruit production. India produces all of them in abundance, he said.

''But 30 per cent of fruit produced in the country goes waste and not ever two per cent is processed,'' said Mr Deshmukh while addressing 53rd meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) here.

On the other hand, he said, processing industries have huge unutilised capacity. Low yield pushes up market prices, making processing unviable. Post-harvest handling, storage, transport facilities are grossly inadequate.

India's share in world's export of fruits is negligible, said Mr Deshmukh. Research output for many horticulture crops is virtually non-existent. Technology prescriptions on greenhouse cultivation are not available.

''There are too many loose ends and all of them need to be taken care of, if the country has to harness its true potential in horticulture,'' said the Chief Minister.

More UNI