The relevance of horticulture development in India's large andvaried agricultural environment was yrst recognised duringthe countr4's Fth -iveYPear (lan 196-6796)F., The primar4 concernduring that time periodx howeverx was feeding a rapidl4 eCpandingpopulationx hence e2orts were directed mostl4 on eCpanding grainproduction 10hand et al,x 8AAj., bfter two decades of stead4 eCYpansionx horticulture is now a maGor participant in the agriculturalscene and a maGor contriDutor to the countr4's kE(, In addition to itsoDvious positive e2ects on human health and wellDeingx horticulturealso provides a wealth of opportunities for diversif4ing and Dolsteringrural economies, There is a lot of potential for the industr4 to addvalue through smart marLeting and processing that is made possiDleD4 a wellYoiled suppl4 chain,
