Vegetable
zone
As
the second largest producer of vegetables, India needs to spruce up
its production to increase its share in world exports, say experts
from Indian Institute of Vegetable Research
In
recent years, tremendous attention has been paid to increasing vegetable
production in India. As a result the country has emerged as the second
largest producer of vegetables after China. Currently, India’s
share in the world’s total vegetable production is 13.60 per
cent of the world’s total production of vegetables.
In the last decade, the country’s overall productivity of vegetables
multiplied one and half times. Tamil Nadu leads in vegetable production,
followed by Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. Productivity of some of the
states like Delhi, Rajasthan and most of the states comprising the
northeastern hill region, is less than 10 tonnes per hectare. Hence,
there is an urgent need to recast the vegetable production strategy
in these areas. To meet the increasing demand, vegetable production
in India needs to touch 25 tonnes/ha by 2005.
All
India Coordinated Research Project
An All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on vegetable
crops was started during the Fourth Five-Year Plan in 1970-71 to provide
a national grid for multi-location testing of the vegetable technologies
developed by various research institutes and state agricultural universities.
AICRP has developed 311 varieties in 22 vegetable crops that have
been identified for cultivation in different climatic zones. Out of
these, 195 are high yielding open pollinated, 35 are resistant to
diseases and 81 are hybrids. Similarly 187 production technologies
and 49 pest management recommendations have been made.
Organic
farming
Most
vegetables are succulent to pests, which are controlled by using pesticides.
These pesticides are hazardous, as they remain chemically active for
long periods, adversely affecting the environment. Some of these chemicals
can be carcinogenic. As a result, the demand for organic products
has increased globally.
The ‘Basic Standards’ put forth by the International Federation
of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) helps the member organisations
in designing organic farming and processing requirements according
to their specific climate and regional conditions. The markets of
US, EEC and Japan make up the largest share in the global trade of
organic agricultural products. These major markets have been regulated
through legislation enacted by respective countries that conform to
guidelines prescribed by IFOAM’s Basic Standards.
Pest
managementi
An alternate method of pest management through emphasis
on botanical formulations, biological and chemical practices needs
to be followed. Nursery management is helpful in curbing the carry
over of active and inactive stages of insects and viruses to the main
field. Brinjal seed treatment with imidacloprid at 2.5g/kg reduces
the incidence of little leaf and leafhopper incidence. Intercropping
of brinjal with coriander or fennel minimises the incidence of brinjal
shoot and fruit borer. For fruit and shoot borer, integrated pest
management techniques are also found to be highly effective.
Irradiation
of vegetables
Irradiation
is used to kill insects, moulds, bacteria and other potentially harmful
microorganisms in vegetables. Considerable scientific research over
the past five decades indicates that food irradiation is safe and
effective. The process has been approved in 40 countries including
US, China, France and Holland. The World Health Organisation (WHO),
the American Dietetic Association and the Scientific Committee of
the European Union also support the food irradiation technology.
Under
utilised vegetables
More than 70 types of vegetables are grown in India. Emphasis
is laid on cultivation of vegetables like tomato, brinjal, chilli,
cauliflower, cabbage, pea and some varieties of cucurbits. A number
of other vegetables such as faba bean, summer bean, lima bean, winged
bean, velvet bean, chive, leek, welsh onion, Brussels sprouts, Chinese
cabbage, Momordica cochinchinensis, Coccinia indica, C cordifolia,
Melothria heterophylla, Curry leaf, drumstick, agathi, waterleaf,
Indian spinach, parsnip, celery, lettuce, globe artichoke, sweet corn
and baby corn, are grown in different parts of the country.
Presently the area under these vegetables is limited, but their demand
is expected to grow. Recently, two improved varieties of broccoli,
Palam Samridhi and DOG PPB.1 have been developed. A network project
on improvement of underutilised vegetable crops has been sanctioned
by Indian Council of Agricultural Research to popularise these vegetables.
Export
of vegetables
The World Trade Organisation and its predecessor, the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade, has opened new opportunities for the country
to compete at the global level for exporting vegetables. Accordingly,
India is emerging as one of the major exporting countries for a number
of vegetable crops.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) has identified traditional vegetables including okra, bitter
gourd, chilli, onion, potato and non- traditional vegetables like
asparagus, celery, sweet pepper, sweet corn, baby corn, green peas,
French bean, cucumber, gherkins and cherry tomato to have high export
potential. The cultivation of new vegetable like gherkin, baby corn,
sweet corn, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zuchini, Chinese cabbage,
red cabbage, asparagus, celery and parsley is increasing. The vegetables
that are being exported include okra, tomato, baby corn, cucumber,
gherkins, chillies, French bean, capsicum, bitter gourd, bottle gourd,
onion and potato. Non-traditional vegetables are exported to European
countries, Australia, Gulf and South East Asian countries. Onion and
traditional vegetables, on the other hand, are exported to Malaysia,
Singapore, Gulf countries, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.
Seeds
Enjoying diverse agro climatic conditions, strong seed production
infrastructure and market opportunity, India holds significant promise
for export of seeds. There are about 150 organised seed companies
in India, in addition to the two public sector components, namely,
National Seed Corporation, State Farm Corporation of India and 13
State Seed Corporations. Several companies also have development departments
that are recognised by the Government of India and have released a
large number of varieties and hybrids of several crops. The investment
in research and development has increased manifold in the past few
years.....
contd...
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