Definition and Branches of Horticulture

Definition of Horticulture:

Horticulture may be broadly defined as the Science and art of growing fruits, vegetables and
flowers and crops like spices condiments and other plantation crops.

It is a science of cultivation of Garden plants.

The word Horticulture in derived from the Latin word Hortus meaning enclosure (garden)
and culture - meaning, cultivation,. Thus Horticulture mans culture or cultivation of garden
crops.

Branches of Horticulture:

Horticultural Science is the most distinct branch of Agricultural Sciences and call be divided
into four different branches as follow.

A) Main Branches:

Sr. No. Branch Description

1. Pamology It deals with cultivation of fruit crops.
2. Olericulture It deals with cultivation of vegetable crops
3. Floriculture It deals with cultivation of ornamental flowers and land scaping.
4. Fruit and  It deals with the principles of fruit and vegetable preservation.
vegetable
preservation

 
B) Sub Branches:

1.  Plantation and Medicinal plants. 

2. Ornamental Gardening 

3. Landscape gardening and 

4. Nursery plant production

Importance of Horticulture
1. Per Unit Area Yield is High:

As compared to the field crops per hectare yield of horticulture crops is very high.
            
From an fruit area of land more yield is obtained e.g. paddy gives a maximum yield of only
30 q/ha, while Banana gives 300 to 500 q/ha, Pine apple 450 q/ha and Grapes 90 - 150
q/ha. In present shortage of food and scarcity of land by growing fruits more food can be
produced.

2. High Returns per Unit Area:

From one unit area of land more income will be obtained e.g. Well kept orchard of apple,
grapes and sweet orange can give as much as Rs. 25,000 per ha as net income.

3. A Free Grower/Labour Remains Engaged for the Whole:

An opportunity for maintaining labours throughout the year like the cereals where one
cannot keep him self and employ the labours during the slack season.

4. Best Utilization of Waste Land: 

            
Some fruit crops can offer best utilization of waste land crops like wood apple, custard
apple, karonda, litchi etc. can be grown in such areas.

5. To meet the annual calories requirements of food per year one would have to cultivate
about 0.44 ha of wheat or 0.03 ha of banana or 0.06 ha of mango for satisfying once need.
Thus mango produces about 9 times more food energy than the wheat produced per unit
area.
 
6. Raw Material for Industries:

Fruit farming is the base for several industries like canning, essential oils etc which in turn
provide work for more people.
 
7. Use of Undulating Lands:

Fruit growing can be practiced in places where the gradient is uneven or where the land is
undulating and agronomical crops cannot be cultivated. In Konkan region, mango and
cashew are cultivated on large scales on hilly and hill back area.
 
8. Fruits and vegetables are the important energy giving material to the human body

Suggestions 
1. Crop improvement and management practices

Produce is not in line with the international standards and internationally demanded varieties. Research
organizations should develop varieties that best meet the needs of the global market. Development of
varieties rich in nutrients and having resistance against diseases, insect pests, drought, heat and frost will
need more emphasis and concerted efforts. Seed of promising varieties of vegetables should be produced
to ensure regular supply of true-to-type good quality seed. There is a need for improving and
strengthening the seed-producing agencies for better quality seed production and supply. Hybrid seed
production at lower cost should be encouraged. Emerging areas of science such as biotechnology,
bioengineering and tissue culture should be given due importance in research and multiplication of
planting materials. Policy of vegetable research has to be focused on solving chronic production problems
through development of disease and pest resistant varieties to fit into various cropping systems in
different agro ecological situations. Future strategies in vegetable production must consider increasing
demand for export. This has to be supplemented through crop improvement and better management
practices that can increase the production to meet domestic requirements and the potential increases in
exports.

2. Efficient irrigation system

Vegetables in general are heavy users of moisture and draw a large share of irrigation resources. The need
for high-yielding, short-duration varieties for water use efficiency is much more than low-yielding ones.
Water-saving devices like drip, trickle or sprinkler irrigation should be encouraged for growing different
vegetable crops. Rain fed and riverbed vegetable production should be promoted. Therefore, it is
necessary to conduct research on efficient irrigation system under our climatic conditions and to make
these technologies available to farmers.

3. Integrated pest management

An increasing awareness and sensitivity to environmental pollution and health hazards due to the
excessive use of pesticides has stimulated integrated pest management methods in vegetable production
which should be pursued.

I) Insect/disease management

Several diseases and insect pests seriously affect vegetable production. Cole crops like cabbage and
cauliflower are attacked by diamondback moth, cabbage butterfly, cabbage semi-looper and aphids.
Aphids are the main pests on root vegetables. Thrips are important in onion.  Fruit and shoot borer is a
widely distributed pest mainly on eggplant (brinjal) and is a very serious one. Red pumpkin beetle is a
common pest of cucurbits. Melon fruit fly is active throughout the year in various parts of the country.
Spotted boll worm and jassids are serious pests of okra. Tomato fruit borer is quite serious throughout the
country. Root knot nematodes seriously affect most vegetables, particularly in light soils, and cause
considerable damage. Insecticides dominate in the strategy of vegetable pest management in Pakistan.
However, care is required in selecting safe pesticides because residues left on the plants may cause health
hazards to people and animals. Integrated management of disease and insect pests in different vegetable
crops needs to be developed systematically. Since there is an overuse of hazardous insecticides, research
on integrated pest management with minimum use of insecticides has to be undertaken as a priority.

II) Weed management

The weed menace in vegetables is worse than for other crops since they are grown mostly on fertile soils
with frequent irrigation and heavy manuring. Generally, the summer and rainy season vegetables suffer
more due to weeds as compared to winter vegetables. Therefore, research with special emphasis on weed
control through organic mean is required.

4. Post harvest handling/value addition

Quality is a combination of agronomic practices, variety characteristics, grading, processing and finally
packaging. The absence of even a single factor makes the product inferior in quality and thus less
acceptable in international markets. Improper handling of the produce results in a reduction of the
market value, keeping quality and food value.

Vegetables are highly perishable in nature and have a very limited shelf life. They cannot be stored for a
longer period unless they are properly harvested and kept in a temperature-controlled environment (cold
storage). Cold storage facilities are not available in the country that results in very high post harvest losses
ranging from 25 to 40 per cent depending on the type of vegetable. Internationally accepted standards of
processing and packing are required to be established. All vegetables being exported are either
unprocessed or have undergone sub-standard processing and packaging. Research on post harvest value
addition of different vegetables has to be undertaken. There may be an increased demand for processed
vegetables in the coming years. Technology for proper handling, packing, transporting and storing
vegetables to preserve quality has to be developed locally or introduced.

Unless the productivity is substantially increased, there will be a shortfall in production to meet domestic
requirements. Increasing productivity will not be rewarding unless technologies are developed for
processing of vegetables, and the establishment of industries at the village level to generate employment
and increase incomes of the rural people. Endeavour should be made to initiate research to develop
simple agro-based industries that can be established in farming communities. Post harvest technology
development of value-added products needs considerable improvement. There is a demand for both fresh
and processed vegetables especially in the Middle East and European markets.

5. Effective transfer technology system

Most of the work done by agricultural research organizations has not reached the farmers due to weak
extension services and absence of any coordination between the entities. Vegetable growers are generally
small-scale, poor and marginal farmers. Therefore, vegetable production technology has to be developed
keeping the needs of these farmers in view, while also meeting the requirements of quality and taste of
middle-class society who are the major consumers of vegetables. Research to date has stressed
development of technology for increasing yield, and has not kept in view the limitations of the growers.
The technologies developed cannot research to farmers unless effective transfer technology system is
available. Therefore, close contact between research and extension scientists should be established.
Extension programs on improved technology of vegetables have to be strengthened. Extension workers
need to be fully trained in vegetable production technology. Vegetable production programs should also
be linked with other rural development programs.

Pakistan’s Agriculture Sector-3

(Horticulture)
Challenges and Response

Shahid Hussain Raja

Independent Consultant-Public Policy

www.sanoconsultants.co.uk

August 18,2013

Sequence

Introduction

Horticulture Sector-Profile

SWOT Analysis

Issues and Challenges

Recommendations

Conclusions

Introduction
Despite its significance in agricultural growth, commercial activities and poverty alleviation, the
horticulture sector has not received the attention it deserves.

Its slow development reflects a weak policy and regulatory framework, production and productivity
problems, post harvest losses, marketing problems and limited capital investment.

These problems have contributed to low quality standards, minimal export of horticulture products,
low rates of return on investment that consequently fail to attract new investment.

This presentation explains the ground realities about horticultural sector of Pakistan and suggests a
strategy to develop this sector to its full potential

Pakistan’s Agriculture-Significance

Despite its relative decline in formal economy in percentage terms, agriculture is still dominant sector
in overall economic structure

Pakistan’s survival and growth are directly dependent on its agriculture due to its socio-political
interconnectedness and its economic and financial linkages-backward and forward

Its performance still dictates all our macro indicators - GDP, Poverty, External Balance, Inflation etc

Agricultural Sector-Basic Facts

Out of total area of Pakistan of approximately 80 million hectares, about 58 million hectares have
been surveyed
The area under cultivation is 22 million hectares (38%) out of which nearly 19 million hectares is
irrigated; the rest is rain fed

The area under forest is 4 million hectares (7%) and the balance surveyed area 8 million hectares can
be classified as the cultivable waste

Coupled with suitable climate and availability of fairly good water resources, agriculture has been the
major activity for centuries in this part of the world

Agricultural Sector-Basic Facts

Agriculture sector of Pakistan comprises four sectors - livestock, crop, forest and fisheries

Livestock contributes 56% of the total agriculture production, crop sector adds 38% while fisheries and
forestry contributes 2% each

Out of crops sector ,horticulture occupies fairly significant position in terms of area, production, share
in GDP and employment.

A viable and profitable horticulture sector can provide a sustainable livelihood to the rural agriculture
community .However small land holding precludes the possibility of horticultural cultivation on
commercial lines

Horticulture-Sector Profile

Pakistan has a great potential for horticulture due to variety in land and climate which provide
opportunities for the production of a wide range of horticulture crops.

A large number of indigenous fruits, vegetables and floriculture commodities are produced in the
country while there is scope for cultivation of exotic crops.

In some fruits and vegetables, Pakistan occupies prominent world position in terms of production i.e.
apricots(6th),date palm(5th), Onion(7th),mandarin (6th),mango (4th) etc

With more than 435,000 hectares under vegetables, Pakistan ranks 17 th in the world while in
production it ranks 20th with a total production of around 5,500,1000 tons

Horticulture- Products Profile/Fruits

With an area around 200,000 hectares under production, Pakistan produces 2.15 million tons per
annum( 95% of world’s Kinnows) out of which around 370,000 tons worth Rs.10 billion is exported.

Apples are grown on 111,600 hectares and getting annual production of 366,000 tons out of which
----million tons worth --- are exported

Peaches are mostly grown over an area under 15,000 hectares and production is 54,000 tons.
Mango, the second important fruit crop, is grown on173,700 hectares and production is around 2
million tons. It produces approximately 6% of the world’s total production and is currently the third
largest producer.

Horticulture- Products Profile/Fruits

Grapes, a low water consuming crop, is planted over 16,000 hectares and increasing owing to rise in
demand. Production of grapes ranges from 65,000 to 70,000 tons.

Guava is widely grown in Pakistan with production of about 500,000 tons over an area of 62,000
hectares.

Produced in all the four provinces, the area under cultivation of dates is 90,000 hectares with
production of 531,000 tons.

Other fruits like banana, persimmon, pomegranates, cherries and plums are also grown

Horticulture-Products Profile/Vegetables

Onions, grown in all the four provinces is cultivated on an area of 125,000 hectares and production is
1.70 million tons

Garlic is the second most widely used cultivated alliums after onion. It is grown in all the four
provinces of Pakistan over an area of 6,800 hectares producing 57,000 tons

Potato, fourth most important crop in terms of volume, is cultivated on an area of 140,000 hectares
with production of 3 million tons

Chillies are grown on 75,000 hectares with a production of 188,000 tons

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Huge area available for horticultural plantation

Climate suitable for cultivation of indigenous and exotic fruits and vegetables

Possibilities of fruit/crop inter-cropping

Year round availability of fruits/vegetables due to geographical spread

Increased awareness about tunnel farming/drip irrigation and its widespread adoption

Weaknesses

Low production, often geographically dispersed -less area/low yields

Side business to crops/livestock-less attention

Bad horticultural practices -huge production losses

Low technological base-less production/productivity

Poor marketing leading to lower profitability

Inadequate value addition-less profitability

Unsatisfactory processing-post production losses

Opportunities

Global corporate interest in food products

Growing population-domestic and world which expands the market

Growing prosperity-local ,regional and global which increases demand for luxuries

Improved transportation network saving time

Regional integration reducing costs of doing business

New technologies resulting in efficiency gains and time/costs reduction

Threats

Climate change and environmental degradation

Sudden death syndrome diseases affecting certain food trees, post harvest fungal disease

Increasingly strict food safety standards in developed and even in middle income countries

Renewed interest in bio-fuel production adversely affecting food security and horticulture

Challenge

How to meet the increasing demand of high quality horticultural products by increasing its
production on sustainable basis without adversely affecting the production of food/cash crops or
habitat for livestock in the face of looming threat of climate change and environmental degradation

Response-Horticultural Policy

We need to formulate a comprehensive horticultural policy which should indicate the broad direction,
create institutions and define their respective roles, make rules for coordination, set safety standards
and provide an incentive and rewards system for various stake holders
Within this framework the Government’s role should be confined to policy formulation, regulation,
capacity building and facilitation, while the private sector will take the lead in investment and value
chain development, on its own or on public-private partnership basis

Within the national policy settings, horticulture will be developed with the following five broad
objectives;

Response-Policy Objectives

Increase productivity by increasing efficiency in all horticultural operations through public as well as
private sector investment in R&D and Extension

Increase profitability by rationalizing input and output prices, reducing production and post
production losses and developing efficient marketing infrastructure

Make horticultural produce competitive in the rapidly globalizing world by reducing cost of
production, improving quality and ensuring Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) compliance

Response-Policy Objectives

 Ensure sustainability by promoting environment friendly good horticultural practices through

incentives and rewards, awareness campaigns and promulgation of appropriate legal
framework

 Ensure equitable distribution of gains from enhanced productivity by making available public
sector goods and services to all stakeholders without distinction

Response-Strategic Objectives

 Accelerating the national economic growth by increasing the rate of growth of this important
subsector of the economy

 Reducing unemployment by creating jobs in horticulture sector

 Increasing Pakistan's foreign exchange earnings by increasing quantity, quality and variety of
horticultural exports

 Ensuring food security and nutritional balance of the people’s food intake by providing them
vitamin rich horticultural products

 Helping the state in its poverty alleviation efforts by providing them a labour intensive, low
capital intensive investment

 Improving the condition and status of women by providing them opportunities to own
resources
Horticultural Policy-Main Thrusts

A. Horizontal expansion - increasing the area under horticultural products

B. Vertical expansion - increasing the yield of the horticultural products

C. Structural transformation - diversification and value addition

D. Cross Cutting Interventions - rural reforms

A.Horizontal expansion

1.Bringing new areas under horticultural cultivation

2.Reclaiming degraded lands

3.Intercropping

4.Urban/peri-urban farming

A/1-Bringing New Areas

There is a vast scope of horizontal expansion in respect of horticultural products due to their
agronomic qualities

New techniques of tunnel farming and drip irrigation has revolutionized this sector

Increased productivity in crop sector can release additional lands for horticulture

Even marginal/mountain lands, not fit for profitable cultivation of cash/food crops can be brought
under fruit/vegetables

A/2:Using Degraded Lands

Degraded lands, not fit for profitable cultivation of cash/food crops can be brought under
horticultural production with the help of technology, chemicals and water

New techniques and technology of saving water has made it possible to use these land for
horticultural production on profitable basis

A/3:Intercropping

Encourage eco-friendly inter-cropping practices as it increases the area under cultivation by cultivating
vegetables in between the rows.

Similarly farmers can plant crops in orchards to increase their profitability

Agro-forestry is another profitable option for the farmers and the country
However farmers must be given proper technical support for this practice to be cost effective and eco
friendly

A/4.Urban/Peri-Urban Farming

Increased urbanisation is devouring fertile lands for construction of spacious houses and
infrastructure

Besides formulating appropriate land use policy, government should encourage urban and peri-urban
farming by utilizing the vacant areas and promoting kitchen gardening

Modern techniques and technology have made it technically feasible and financially cost effective to
go for this form of micro farming

Proper guidance, availability of urban farming infrastructure and timely technical support can provide
incentives for urbanites to become part time farmers

B.Vertical expansion

1.Agricultural Education and Research

2.Skill Formation

3.Farm Mechanization

4.Inputs

Seeds

Chemicals

Water

Credit

B/1:Research,Development and Extension

Our agricultural Research& Development and Extension suffer from many structural, and
management weaknesses-low funding, weak coordination and linkages among research, education
and extension, inadequate technical and professional capacities of the agricultural research
institutions, infrastructure etc

Government should promote demand driven quality based R&D and extension services by
encouraging public-private partnerships that are linked to horticulture value chains

Research and development programs must focus on finding solutions in terms of increasing
productivity, broaden harvesting time of crops and increase farmers’ profitability.
B/1:Research,Development and Extension

New varieties should be introduced. Seedless varieties of some new horticultural crops such as
persimmon, cherries, strawberry, lychee and others have already been introduced and established as
commercial crops.

Potential new crops should be identified; especially high value horticultural crops suitable for local
climatic conditions.

Biotechnology as a tool for rapid multiplication of quality planting material, virus cleaning, genetic
transformation, have significant potential but requires capacity building and safeguard procedures to
be developed.

B/2.Skill Development

Skill development through in-service training at different R&D institutions can enhance capabilities of
extension staff.

Postgraduate programs in fruits, vegetables, floriculture, medicinal and spices crops and post harvest
management should help providing skilled human resource for the horticulture industry.

Such programs should be initiated in agriculture universities and research institutes in all provinces.

Skilled labor should be attracted and retained through competitive minimum wages for the
agricultural labor and the development of industry vocational training programs

B/3.Farm Mechanisation

Intensification and diversification of farm mechanization by ensuring easy access of the farmers to
essential horticultural machinery

Its efficient and optimal use by incentivizing the private sector for opening machinery leasing/hiring
outlets in villages

Federal Government should exempt the duties and surcharge on import of horticulture machinery like
grading units, cold storage chambers, greenhouses and trickle irrigation accessories such as micro-
tubes, mini sprinkler and bubblers for interested businessmen

Expansion and modernization of local machinery manufacturing by providing them training, incentives
and technical/financial support to produce horticultural implements as per international standards

B/4.Inputs-Seeds

Limited availability of true to type root stock is the biggest handicap in establishing state of art fruit
and vegetables nurseries in the country
State should promote the establishment of such nurseries by providing appropriate legislative cover,
financial support and technical guidance

All nurseries must work according to the approved nursery protocol, developed in consultation with
technical experts and stakeholders

Only registered nurseries should be eligible for support and facilities offered by the government

B/4.Inputs-Chemicals

There are various estimates of production losses due to non-use of appropriate chemicals by the
farmers

Ignorance, fear and costs of using are the general reasons for this neglect

There is need to create awareness among the farmers for judicious use of chemicals for reducing the
production losses

There are eco friendly measures to reduce this loss for those who are excessively conscious of use of
chemical inputs

B/4.Inputs-Water

Water was already scarce but its scarcity is becoming acute due to its increased demand, misuse,
wastage and climate change.

There is thus need to rationalize its use even for farming purposes where it is wasted the most.

New water saving techniques and technologies have provided hope for mitigating its impact

Innovative methods such as rain water harvesting and recycling of sewage water for kitchen
gardening need to be encouraged

B/4.Inputs-Credit

The sector is informal and profit margin is low which has diverted investment to other sectors

Lack of financial resources and high interest rates of financial services available ,at the disposal of
farmers is biggest handicaps for its growth

Government should facilitate soft loans for promotion of horticulture industry for a period of five
years

The government should facilitate the stakeholders involved in horticulture business to access
commercial credit by reducing compliance and transaction costs

C. Structural Transformation
 1. Processing

2. Marketing

3. Value addition

4. Diversification

5. Production Relations

C/1.Processing

Provide information to the growers on harvest technologies of fruits, removal of field heat, grading of
the produce and appropriate packaging.

Post harvest losses must be examined and programs planned to minimize these losses, when
financially viable, through linking production to agro industrial transformation and through
encouraging private sector to build cold storages.

The development of appropriate packaging technologies that minimize product damage.

C/2.Marketing

The marketing of horticultural products is supply based with producers being price takers and
receiving lower prices during high supply periods.

The Government should develop integrated value chains with producers and producer groups as an
integral component of these value chains.

The building of contract farming, collaborative marketing arrangements with processors etc be
prioritized

Market information system should be established including price-clearing houses of agricultural

commodities in provincial/federal capital.

C/3.Value Addition

Government should promote public-private partnerships and provide incentives/ support for value
addition and value creation through development of:

Environment-friendly packaging/ packaging industry

Cold chain infrastructure

Wholesale market infrastructure

Fruit and vegetable processing and dehydration industry

 Integrated pest management industry and services

Organic and herbal/ medicinal crop production/processing

Enhanced quality should be enforced in accordance with World Trade Organization’s (WTO)
requirements

C/3.Value Addition

Horticulture production should be based on quality that will promote exports for which accredited
quality control and testing laboratories must be established to certify quality of the produce for
exports and in the domestic market.

A coherent sanitary and phyto sanitary (SPS) management system for strong coordination and
effective interaction between various departments involved in inspection, testing and other related
activities should be facilitated

The regulations and procedures of export and import of horticulture industry commodities should be
reformed to reduce compliance and transaction costs as part of achieving efficiency gains

C/4.Crop Diversification

Besides increasing the production of indigenous fruits and vegetables, we have to diversify our
horticultural portfolio by promoting the cultivation of exotic fruits and vegetables which are in
demand at global level

This is a centuries old process and is continuing all over the world. We will not face much problems as
our terrain and climate suitable for production of variety of exotic horticultural products

We need the services of marketing people and researchers to find those products which are globally
trades and can be grown here from agronomic point

Organic farming is another niche area which needs to be exploited by providing appropriate legal
framework and proper incentives and support should be promoted

C/5.Production Relations

Production relations relate to the way land is owned, cultivated and crops are disposed of

In Pakistan only two types of production relations are in vogue i.e. owner cultivation and tenant
cultivation

We need to also promote three other modes which are essential for modernising our horticultural
transformation –cooperative, contract and corporate
These are in operation in some areas but with limited success. Time has come to provide a
comprehensive legal framework and institutional mechanism to streamline these production relations

D.Cross cutting Interventions

Formulation of comprehensive Land Use Policy

Improving Rural Infrastructure

Environmental Sustainability

Creating Linkages and promoting Investment

Gender Mainstreaming

Rural Non-farm Sector

D/1.Land Use Policy

Developing a national land use policy for rational use of land resources is the need of the day as
valuable arable land is being converted for non-farming purposes at alarming rates

Add to it the declining fertility of our agricultural lands due to non sustainable agricultural practices
plus the degradation of our lands due to water logging and salinity going on for decades, a negative
side effect of our irrigation practices

Lastly we are misusing our scarce land resources as we are cultivating crops on lands extremely
suitable for horticultural use

All these issues needed to be addressed by formulating a long term comprehensive land use policy by
the government

D/2.Improving Rural Infrastructure

Government should facilitate developing modern infrastructure (wholesale markets, pack houses,
cold stores, reefer containers) under public - private partnerships led and managed by the private
sector

All-out efforts should be made for the improvement of infrastructure like roads for the safe
transportation of horticulture commodities

The focus should be on developing airport facilities for wide bodied cargo planes to land at airports in
the main production areas, improving handling facilities at ports providing one window operation and
establishing of effective and viable cold chain development

D/3.Environment /Climate Change

  There is an urgent need to create awareness among the farmers about the looming threat of
climate change/environmental degradation and popularizing the good sustainable
agricultural practices among them

We will have to synchronise the extension services of the provincial agricultural departments and
marketing outlets of the private agro services providers to promote environment friendly practices

 Government should promulgation legislation for stopping of practices aggravating the threat
of climate change and allocate resources for carrying out research to develop varieties
responsive to climate change

 They need to look into adjusting the cropping pattern and fine-tuning the planting and
harvesting schedules, practicing crop rotation and diversifying crop mix

Climate Change-Indian Scene

Recent growth has wrought enormous environmental destruction in India.

In a recently released report commissioned by the Indian government, the World Bank estimates that
environmental degradation annually costs India a horrific 5.7 percent of GDP.

This shaves off almost all of the annual six percent per capita GDP growth recorded between 2000-01
and 2010-11. Outdoor pollution alone kills 1.16 lakh people every year.

Almost a quarter of India’s child deaths can be attributed to inadequate availability of clean water
and sanitation, itself related to environmental degradation.

D/4.Investment and Linkages

Government should not only allocate substantial funds for investment in the rural areas but also
provide necessary legal framework and proper fiscal and financial incentives to encourage private
sector for investing in critical areas

Government should invest in improving the rural infrastructure, skill formation, research institutions
and establishment of common facilitation centers

It should encourage the private sector to come forward in cool chain, storage and reefer containers
value addition and scientific modern processing and new technologies

D/5.Gender Mainstreaming

All the non-crop agricultural activities provide excellent opportunities for accelerated gender
mainstreaming

Even presently women play an important role in livestock husbandry, poultry farming, dairy
production and horticultural cultivation
Targeted attention to create gender balance through skill formation, awareness campaign, financial
assistance and technical support can yield handsome dividends in short period

It will also help government in its efforts to reduce poverty, bulk of which is in the rural areas

D/6:Rural Non Farm Sector

 Agricultural sector in general and horticultural sector in particular cannot grow to its full
potential unless the rural non farm sector develop along with its formal farm sector

 Sustained growth of the rural economy lies in the development of efficient and effective
agri-based supply chains that link the agriculture sector with their corresponding
upstream and downstream links in the rural non-farm (RNF) to the national and
international markets

 RNF provides 40-60% of incomes/jobs in rural areas, much of its activity occurs in the
trading, services and processing sector having strong forward and backward linkages
with agriculture

 Informal and low capital using entities catering mostly to domestic markets, RNF
presents opportunities for providing value addition to primary production at the farm
level

Conclusion

Pakistan has a great potential to increase its horticultural production by bringing in new areas under
cultivation of horticultural products, introducing new exotic products in its horticultural portfolio,
improving the productivity, adding value and increasing its exports

In order to do so it will have to put more resources in research and development, extension,
improving marketing infrastructure improving processing etc

This demands lot of resources which can be provided by the private sector ,local and foreign, if we
fine-tune our legal framework supported by appropriate institutional mechanism and added by a
strict dispute resolution mechanism

Thanks