Importance of Fruit Growing

Fruit growing is one of the important and paying branches of horticulture. It has been practiced in India since times. The art and science has now developed into one of the most deviled skilful and intensive forms of land utilization. The standard of living of the people of countries is judge by the production and per capita conservation of fruits. Fruit growing has several economic advantages.

Economic Importance:

1. Per Unit Yields are Height:

 Well maintained and established orchards bring better returns than many of the fields crops. From a unit area of land more yield/ income is realized than any of the agronomic crops. The average yields o papaya and banana are 10 to 15 times more than of agronomical crops.
Out of the total area under cultivation grain crops account for 72% with a production o 210 million tons. While due to very high productivity fruit corps yields over  60 million tons from only 0.7 % of the total cultivable area.

2. High Net Profits:

Though the initial cost off establishment of an orchard is height. It is compensated by higher productivity or due to high value of produce. In cashew though the average per tree yields is less (4 to 5 kg / plant) due to its market value (200 to 250 Rs / kg) it fetches higher economic returns (800 to 1000 Rs/plant.).

Following table illustrates the yielding ability of crops.

Source of Raw Material for the Agro Based Industries:

Fruit farming provides raw material for various agrobased industries like canning and preservation (fresh fruits).

1. Efficient Utilization of Resources:

Agronomic crops are seasonal in nature and hence, farmers have to engage themselves in other occupations during slack seasons, but fruit growing being perennial in nature, en abeles grower to remain engaged throughout the year in farm operations and utilize full the resources and assets like machinery, in farm, land, water for production purpose through the year.

2. Utilization of Waste and Barren Lands for Production:

Although most of the fruit crop requires perennial and good soils for production, there are many fruit drops of hardy in nature like mango, ber, cashew, custard apple, anola, phalsa, jamun etc. which are grown on poor, shallow, undulated soils considered unsuitable for growing grain/ agronomical crops. Traditional farming proves uneconomic on waste lands. Development of cashew and mango plantations on hill slopes in Kankan where even ragi or nachani cannot be grown, have brought additional revenge to the growers.

3. Ability of Earning Foreign Exchange:

Many fresh fruits and processed products and spices are exported to several countries earning good amount of foreign exchange. Out of the total exports of agricultural produce of Rs. 2900 million. Horticultural crops which mostly include fruits and its produce contribute Rs.15460 million (52% of total export of argil. Produce). India earns a foreign exchanges of Rs. 277 .4 cores by exporting spices.

1. One Time Capital Investment:

Most of the fruit crops are perennial in nature and hence, there is no recurring expenditure o planting and layout of a fruit orchard.

2. Continuous Flow of Money:

Harvesting of most of the fruit is of continuous in nature and being and being highly perishable, need to be marketed immediately after harvest.  This provides a source of continuous flow of inputs and for other expenses of immediate nature as against agronomic crops which are harvested at home time.

i. Fruit growing in kitchen garden gardens helps to reduce family budget on purchase of fruits.

ii. Planting of trees helps to maintain ecological balance and to increase precipitations of the locality. Fruit trees for such planting programmers also generate economy.

iii. Fruit tree farming also reduce soil erosion, silting tanks and air pollution.

iv. Generate employment: Fruit tree faming being highly intensive and skilful enterprise,

v. Generate employment even for trained persons.

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