🌿 Importance of Horticulture in Himachal Pradesh
- Horticulture is a cornerstone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, identified as a growth engine by the state government.
- Significant improvements:
- ✅ Adoption of universal cartons for apple growers → improved marketability
- ✅ ₹153 crore disbursed under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to clear pending payments
📊 Area Under Horticulture
| Parameter | Figures |
|---|
| Area under horticulture (1950–51) | 792 hectares |
| Area in 2023–24 | 2,36,950 hectares |
| Growth (2007–08 to 2023–24) | +17.60% |
| Share in total agriculture area | 26% of 8.91 lakh hectares |
| Horticulture value share | ₹4,461.59 crore (22% of agri produce value) |
🍏 Apple Cultivation in Himachal Pradesh
- Most important fruit crop of the state
- Share in total area under fruit crops: 49.06%
- Share in total fruit production (2023–24): 79.51%
| Year | Area under apple (hectares) |
|---|
| 1950–51 | 400 |
| 1960–61 | 3,025 |
| 2023–24 | 1,16,240 |
| Growth (2007–08 to 2023–24) | +21.4% |
🚨 Fluctuating apple production in recent years → led to renewed government focus and diversification efforts across agro-ecological zones.
🍊 Area Under Other Fruits (2023–24)
| Fruit Type | Area in 1960–61 (Ha) | Area in 2023–24 (Ha) |
|---|
| Temperate fruits (excl. apple) | 900 | 27,373 |
| Nuts and dry fruits | 231 | 9,277 |
| Citrus fruits | 1,225 | 26,432 |
| Other sub-tropical fruits | 623 | 57,628 |
🍇 Fruit Production & Plantation Activity
- Total fruit production (FY2023–24): 6.37 lakh tonnes
- Up to Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024–25): 5.92 lakh tonnes
- Plantation drive:
- Area brought under plantation: 1,295.61 hectares
- Fruit plants distributed: 3.31 lakh
🍎 Fruit-Wise Contribution in Total Production (2023–24)
| Fruit Category | Contribution (%) |
|---|
| Apple | 79.51% |
| Citrus | 5.54% |
| Other fruits | 14.46% |
| Nuts & Dry Fruits | 0.49% |
✅ Summary Points for Exams
- Apple remains the dominant horticulture crop (nearly 80% of fruit output)
- Horticulture area: 2.37 lakh hectares (26% of agricultural land)
- Government focus on diversification and market accessibility
- Subsidy schemes, universal packaging, and area expansion underway
- Fruit production shows slight drop in 2024–25 (as of Dec), likely due to climate/rainfall variations