Unlocking opportunities in horticultural value chains in India: challenges, innovations and strategic interventions

In recent years, horticulture has emerged as a pivotal Agri-growth accelerator within the Indian ecosystem, driving the development of robust infrastructure that stimulates revenue generation through both domestic and international monuments for tourism, while contributing substantially to income creation, employment generation, and nutritional security. Yet, the sector’s vast potential remains underutilized due to persistent inefficiencies across horticultural value chains, particularly in relation to infrastructural development. Addressing these gaps is essential to attract strategic partners, strengthen the socio-economic Agri-system, enhance financial resilience, and optimize production mix activities involving critical resources, ultimately reinforcing value chain efficiency and ensuring sustainable growth. The present study offers a critical analysis of the structure and performance of horticultural value chains in India, with particular emphasis on identifying key challenges, emerging opportunities, technological innovations, and strategic interventions aimed at enhancing value chain efficiency. This analysis is grounded in a comprehensive review and synthesis of secondary information, drawing upon published research articles, government reports, and institutional publications related to horticultural production, post-harvest management, value addition, market integration, and policy initiatives.