Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

The state of Rajasthan is the predominantly depends on agriculture and blessed with the various agro climatic conditions. Horticulture produce in the state has strong economic significance for farmers in semi-arid areas of Rajasthan due to its high-income potential. The total area under horticultural production during the period 2019-20 in the state was 1656037 thousand hectares and in the year 2010-11 was 1175881 thousand hectares. Over the last decades there is overall 40% growth in horticulture sector in the state (480156 hectares). Some major constraints in production stage are in-consistent weather pattern, high cost of seeds and farmers not following PoP. The horticulture crops suffer significant post-harvest loss due to handling at various stages in the value chain. Further, cost of cultivation of horticulture crops can be reduce through reducing the cost of seeds and enhancement in productivity through good agriculture practices. The post-harvest losses also need to be reduced through proper education of farmers and other components in the value chain. The Farmers shares are differed from crop wise farmers shares and post-harvest losses are differed from crop wise. The farmers share in Coriander crop value chain is 62%. The farmers share in Potato crop value chain is 60% and post-harvest losses are 20%. The farmers share in Mustard crop value chain is 41% and post-harvest losses are 20%. The farmers share in Isabgoal crop value chain is 9%. The farmers share in Groundnut crop value chain is 25% and post-harvest losses are 30%. The farmers share in Kinno crop value chain is 28% and post-harvest losses are 12%. The farmers share in Soyabean crop value chain is 22% and post-harvest losses are 9%. The farmers share in Garlic crop value chain is 45% and post-harvest losses are 12%. It depends on the involvement of the farmers in the value chain. Most of the profit is being retained by high end processors. Processing is also out of reach of small companies due to large investment required in plant and machinery. Significant amount of raw material goes out of the state for the processing. Developing of food processing setup in the state is in the largest interest of the whole state agricultural economy. Unless farmers become the value chain partner rather than just actors, till farmers will not have significant share in the agriculture value chain. Therefore, Farmers Producers Companies (FPC) of farmers would be an ideal platform for evolving the role of farmers from being chain actors to chain partners by doing both backward and forward integration of activities related to horticulture value chain in the state of Rajasthan. Farmer�s producer companies can also help in in reducing cost of cultivation by undertaking bulk purchase of agri input at wholesale price and selling farmers at a price equal to or lower than the retail price at the back end. At the front end of the value chain, the FPC can undertake direct collection of raw material from the farmers and thereby reduce both the wastage and cost of visit to mandi for farmers. The FPC can further undertake primary processing of the agriculture produce and supply directly to large processors and other value chain factors. The state of Rajasthan has tremendous potential for the further growth of agricultural economy. Strategic efforts are required to counter the challenges exits in the horticulture value chain by which horticulture sector of the state would flourish.

Biography

Parashram Patil is affiliated to The Institute for Natural Resources, India. He is a recipient of many awards and grants for his valuable contributions and discoveries in major area of subject research. His international experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study. His research interests reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals.