13.1 Horticulture is an important segment of agriculture sector, which, in turn, is one of the major components of national economy along with manufacturing, and services sectors. Therefore, the quality of relevant data inputs is extremely important in the context of realistic and effective policy planning process. It is rather ironical that despite unambiguous importance of horticulture data recognized and articulated repeatedly in different fora, there has been no systematic policy or conscious effort to address the underlying issues to improve either its reliability or quality. It is, thus, extremely important to seriously consider various issues and problems confronting horticulture data sector through appropriate policy intervention and support during the XI Plan so as to establish reliable horticulture database without further delay.
13.2 National Horticulture Board (NHB) is the main source of data on fruits, vegetables potato, spices, flowers and plantation crops as collected from State Horticulture departments. It compiles, checks, does necessary revision and publishes this data on area, production, productivity, prices etc. Similar data is also collected under a scheme called Crop Estimation Survey for Fruits and Vegetables, which is in operation in some States and financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, for selected crops. Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) in the Ministry of Agriculture also collects such data for some crops. Further, some data such as area covered under different crops (operational holdings) is also available through Agriculture Census at 5-year interval.
13.3 Reliability of data is one of the most crucial requirements. The problem is fairly acute owing to significant variations observed in the data provided by different agencies.
Even temporal inconsistencies exist in the data obtained from the same source due to periodic revision of data, which though may not be completely unavoidable on account
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of well-known factors but the problem actually arises in the event of abnormal fluctuations. In the absence of appropriate validation mechanism, it is often difficult to validate reconcile variation or the inconsistencies in data or determine its reliability as is the case in respect of similar data produced by other agencies.
13.4 Constraints in Data Collection: There are several constraints that restrict development of proper horticulture data system.
• The administrative constraints include lack of suitable authority in the absence of mandatory provision, to collect data that requires willingness and meaningful participation and coordination of others, systematic erosion of role, relevance and prestige of data collection personnel leading to their moralization and de-motivation.
• Financial constraints include absence of dedicated or exclusive funding, in most cases, for activities related to data development and management unlike specific allocations made for different activities or components such as rejuvenation, post harvest management, protected cultivation etc. under NHM.
• This means the present financial support or funding mechanism for development of horticulture data base is merely a kind of secondary support, at best, which is bound to cause the data development activities to suffer the most in situations involving scarcity of funds or whenever the economy measures have to be enforced.
• Technical constraints include lack of well-established methodology, improper or ineffective application of methods and procedures, inadequate training and HRD development and dwindling willingness to innovate.
• Infrastructural constraints include higher vacancies, resource difficulties involving constraints on acquisition of necessary equipment required for modernization of office.
13.5 The important remedial measures suggested are
i) Necessary capacity and capabilities for data system for which necessary policy intervention will be most crucial including providing sufficient financial support for acquisition of necessary equipment and creating basic infrastructure,
ii) Review the present policy and approach to ensure that the above objectives are fulfilled,
iii) Suitable directives may have to be issued to all concerned with the horticulture development as data partners having equal responsibility to cooperate and provide basic data,
iv) Adequate financial support is critical to allow effective functioning and accomplishing the task,
v) The most immediate priority is to reverse the process of neglect and degeneration of the data sector that has happened so far.
13.6 Data is the soul of any planning and is a most fundamental tool for making realistic assessment of the policy objectives and ascertaining how far the investment is justified.
It is the backbone for providing correct understanding about the situation for taking necessary remedial steps. While correct data is crucial and is required to set right policy direction, wrong data can result in policy drift causing misplacement of priorities.
13.7 It should be understood that a little conscious investment in horticulture data development could protect the huge investment being made in other horticulture development activities, especially in the backdrop of several other competing priorities for resources to be invested in the economy for development purposes. Accordingly, it
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is extremely important to address and tackle the issue of systematic development of comprehensive horticulture database during XI Plan. Appropriate policy thrust along with adequate administrative, financial and technical support should be considered vigorously being critical to pursue the expected inevitable task.
13.8 The setting up of extensive network of proper horticulture data establishments called Horticulture Information Systems (HIS) units in all the districts and at State level, preferably under the purview of State Horticulture Departments therefore gains importance. In addition, there should be an apex Unit (A joint secretary level post has already been provided in the Division of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture) at the Centre in the Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate, organize, consolidate, analyze data obtained from the States and disseminate the same that could be treated as official data for the benefit of various users and for reference purposes.
13.9 The proposed network of horticulture data establishments should have collective role and responsibility to plan, collect, compile and coordinate horticulture data required for various policy planning purposes on area, production, productivity, import, export of different horticultural commodities. Besides, it should also incorporate other ancillary data such as commodity prices, storage capacities, stocks, market arrivals, employment generation-direct and indirect, cost of cultivation and economy of farming, marketing facilities, institutional support including training or technical support available for the farmers etc., to develop more robust horticulture data system.
13.10 Horticulture census To identify and designate Nodal agencies in all the States to coordinate data collection, compilation and scrutiny, at district level data, for further consolidation to derive State level data. It is imperative to initially conduct Horticulture Census with the objective of generating reliable base-line horticulture data, particularly at panchayat level, that is currently non-existent. There is also an urgent need to collect authentic district level data classified by different components.
13.11 The major objectives of HIS would be
i) To fill up serious gaps in horticulture data that continue to haunt the policy planners in making correct assessment about the current status of horticulture and its growth in the country.
ii) To generate reliable horticulture data to attempt effective forward production planning and determining prospective investment policies to exploit huge horticulture potential, besides regulating marketing, transportation and distribution of horticulture commodities and products in the emerging dynamic scenario.
iii) For developing more robust and responsive data system to meet the emerging data needs periodic workshops and conferences would be conducted to accomplish the task.
iv) To study international data collection methodologies and practices, especially in some developed countries and/or equally placed countries in the context of planning, development and management of our horticulture data system, which will help in building greater compatibility and comparability with the international data.
13.12 While adequate administrative support may be obtained under the Collection of Statistics Act 1953 envisaging suitable amendments, it will be necessary to simultaneously consider dedicated funding exclusively for the purpose of data development activities. It will be important to earmark, say a minimum of 5% of the total budget or funds, to prevent neglect or dilution that has been witnessed so far, especially whenever any economy measures have to be enforced. Availability of committed administrative and financial support will be crucial for time-bound development of much needed effective horticulture data in the country to facilitate
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monitoring of the progress of achievement of objectives and justification of huge investment being made in the horticulture sector in the country.
13.13 For sponsoring comprehensive study on the data collection system by the expert agencies, adequate funds have to be earmarked. The tentative estimated financial requirements for setting up a network of Horticulture Information System (HIS) at districts, States and Centre is estimated Rs 300 crores during XI Plan. For horticulture census Rs. 250 crore is envisaged. For studying methodology by expert agencies Rs. 30 crores has been earmarked.