India’s farm debate is shifting from staples to high-value crops like fruits and vegetables that better sustain incomes and nutrition
Horticulture offers higher value per hectare than cereals, while generating rural jobs and meeting rising demand for healthier diets
Challenges include stagnant yields in some crops, climate shocks, and market volatility that hurt both farmers and consumers
Stronger research, weather tools, and farmer-producer organisations can help improve productivity, stability, and bargaining power
Post-harvest losses of ~₹1.5 trillion demand cold chains, storage, and processing facilities to cut waste and raise farm incomes
With technology, better markets, and fair contracts, horticulture can become a durable growth engine, complementing staples