Due to its climatic variations, Chhattisgarh offers immense potential to produce horticultural crops, whose area under cultivation has increased more than four times in recent years. Output has also increased five-fold.
The main fruits grown in the state are mango, guava, lemon, litchi, cashew, walnut and chiku. Apart from these, custard apple, vine, plum and amla are also produced.
The total area of the fruit crops in Chhattisgarh in 2019-20 was 258,630 hectares and production totalled 2.5 million tonnes.
Most vegetables like Solanaceae crops, cucurbits, beans, cabbage and cauliflower are widely grown. The total area for vegetable crops in 2019-20 was 525,147 hectares and the production was 7.1 million tonnes.
Chilly, ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander and fenugreek are the major spices grown in the state. The total area of spices is 55,376 hectares and production 354,525 tonnes.
An official communication said on Tuesday that to meet the growing demand of flowers in the state, it is necessary to promote commercial floriculture.
Major flowers such as marigold, tuberose, gladiolus, roses, gaillardia, chrysanthemum and orchids can be grown very well without much care.
The area under floriculture in the state is 13,493 hectares and the production 76,219 tonnes. The area for aromatic and medicinal crops is 8,957 hectares and production 59,172 tonnes.
To promote horticulture, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey laid the foundation for the Mahatma Gandhi Horticulture University on October 2 in Sankra Patan area of Durg district.