What is Horticulture?
Horticulture is the aspect of agricultural sciences that deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts and ornamentals. The term “Horticulture” is derived from the Latin ‘hortus’ (garden’ and culture (cultivation), which means garden cultivation. It also covers floriculture, or the cultivation of flowers, and other agricultural practices.
With technological advancement, great emphasis is being put on improving regular varieties of fruits and vegetables for processing purposes, creating exotic species for decorative and commercial purposes, and mass scale multiplication of species for increased productivity.
Moreover, India’s advantageous geographical location, with its varying soil and climatic conditions and the advantage of three harvests a year, as well as an abundant labour force, provides ample opportunities for the growth of a range of agri-products throughout the year.
Nature of Work
The work in horticulture and floriculture broadly covers growing and maintaining horticultural and floriculture farms, parks and gardens, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable processing, preservation and marketing of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and involves -
Production which covers the growing and harvesting of raw fruits, vegetables and flowers carried out mainly by farmers. Much of the work is that of farming, involving management and supervision of agricultural practises for maximising yields. With the widespread commercialisation of this activity, there are now industrial houses which handle large scale and scientific cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
Processing covers all aspects of handling fruits and vegetables for distribution whether in their natural form or as processed foods. New and scientific methods of farming have made it possible to extend the shelf life of these perishables. Processing involves various tasks, from the procurement of the raw material to the final distribution of the end product, which may remain in its natural form or be packaged. In floriculture, this would involve the work of procurement of seeds, and the collection and distribution in natural or packaged form for the domestic and export market. Experienced horticulturists can become plantation assistants or quality inspectors for commercial canning in quick-freezing stations or packaging for the domestic and export market.
Gardening involves all aspects of cultivation of flowers, flowering plants, shrubs, and ornamental trees for decorative purposes in gardens. Grafting, collecting seeds and de-budding are some of the other functions which have to be performed. Development and maintenance of town and country parks, picnic areas, golf courses , as also landscaping of gardens, lawns , hot-houses and nurseries are other areas handled by horticulturists.
Research and Teaching -In the area of Research, horticulturists look for ways to improve and breed new varieties of fruits and vegetables or flowers, by the application of scientific techniques such as tissue culture, micro-propagation, and embryo culture etc. This would generally be undertaken in government-funded research institutions , although there are research and development laboratories being set up by private sector companies in the business of processing or marketing horticultural foods and flowers. Development also includes multiplication and distribution of planting material and establishment of nucleus production centres.
There are also opportunities in Teaching and Advisory Services which would include motivation of fruit growers, and liaison with marketing agencies within the country and abroad.
Job Prospects
Govt Sector
For M.Sc and Ph.D in Horticulture
(i) Scientist: Examination conducted by the Agriculture Scientist Recruitment Board, ICAR, New Delhi offers opportunities for scientist.
(ii) In Education: Lecturer, Reader, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor in Agricultural Universities and Colleges.
(iii) Training Organizer & Training Associate in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).
For Graduates
(i) Civil Services: Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (U.P.S.C) for IAS/IFS (Civil Service & Allied)
(ii) As District Horticulture Officer/ District Agriculture Officer through examination conducted by State Public Service Commission.
(iii) Technical Assistant / Technical Officers in Agricultural Universities ICAR, DRDO, IARI, & CSIR
(iv) Horticulture Inspector / Fruit & Vegetable Inspector / Marketing Inspector.
(v) Training Assistant in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)
(vi) Farm Supervisor.
(vii) Section Officer (Horticulture / Landscaping), Horticulturist or Supervisor (Horticulture).
(viii) Agriculture Development Officer
(ix) Village Level Worker
(x) Agricultural Inspector.
Private Sector
(i) As Horticulturist / Horticulture Officer or Supervisor (Landscape) in Industries, Farm Houses, Hotels, Golf Courses & Construction Companies etc.
(ii) As Horticulture officer in processing companies of agriculture production
(iii) Marketing job also in pesticides and insecticides companies.
Self Employment
(i) As Horticulture Consultant provide advice, design, evaluation, supervision of garden or orchard etc.
(ii) You can start the Agriculture clinic. Government provides money (up to 10.00 Lac) for this work.
(iii) Raise commercial nursery of fruit plants, flower and ornamental plants.
(iv) Seed producer of vegetables and flower crops.
(v) Fruit/ Vegetable / Flower grower.
(vi) Floral decorator/ florist shop
(vii) Horticulture Services Contractor
(viii) Mushroom grower
(ix) Seed dealer / Merchant
(x) Proprietor-cold storage
(xi) Processing work of Horticulture production
(xii) You can start establish an institute for vocational education (Horticulture/ Landscape)
How to start a career in Horticulture
To become a horticulturist, a candidate should join the agricultural stream for a B.Sc. in agriculture or horticulture. Most colleges do not conduct a separate course for horticulture at the under-graduate level, but treat it as part of the academic curriculum of agriculture. An MSc in horticulture however, offers specialisations in floriculture, pomology (cultivation of fruits), and olericulture (cultivation of vegetables).
Eligibility :
The basic eligibility criteria for a B.Sc. in horticulture is 10+2 with sciences including Physics and Biology. For an M.Sc. in Horticulture, one must have a B.Sc. degree in Agriculture or a related subject.
Duration :
Courses in horticulture are available at some universities, and are normally of 2-5 years duration, depending on the course.
Institute Index
College of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan, HP.
College of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
College of Agriculture, Pune, Maharashtra.
Faculty of Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Coimbatore.
College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur, Kerala.
College of Agriculture Dapoli 415712, Ratnagiri
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture Parbhani 431402
College of Agriculture, Murtizapur Road, Krishnagar, Akola 444104
South Gujarat University, Udhana Magdall Rd., Surat 395007
College of Agriculture, Hebbal, Bangalore 560024
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002
Dr. BR Ambedkar Univ., Rae Barelly Road, Lucknow 226016
