Horticulture and Plantation Crops:A Unique Opportunity for Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu

Background/Objectives: Tamil Nadu has a large potential to invest on agro-based industry, because the state is the largest producer of bananas, flowers, tapioca, the second largest producer of mangoes, natural rubber, coconut, groundnut and the third largest producer of coffee, sapota, tea and sugarcane. This study analyses the potentiality in the production of horticulture crops and also discuss new opportunity for entrepreneurs in agro processing.

Methods/Statistical analysis: The present study is entirely relay on secondary data. Data are collected from concerned research articles, Books, Journals, magazines, web sites, various reports and publications relating to horticulture in Tamil Nadu.

Findings: The total area covered under horticulture crops in the State moved up from 10.01 lakh hectares in 2011-12 to 10.81 lakh hectares in 2012-13 (8.0%) and would further rise to 11.46 lakh hectares in 2013-14 (6.0%). Fruits, vegetables, spices and condiments and plantation crops together claimed a share of 96.0 percent of the total area covered under horticultural crops. Considering the wide-ranging and large raw material base, the state offers tremendous opportunities for large investments in food processing.

Improvements/Applications: The government should continue to support the industry with an enabling and growth oriented policy, through which the state will become largest supplier of processed food in the country.