Horticulture

Horticulture is the art, science, and business of growing fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and turfgrasses. It is an industry of major importance to the world economy. The industry continues to employ many professional and technical people. Recent trends in the demand for horticultural products and services have resulted in the growth of this industry and a large variety of career outcomes. While growth in the horticulture sector presents many opportunities for growing rural economies and improving the livelihoods of many of the world’s poor, the rapidly changing dynamics of horticultural markets often act as barriers to participation in the value chain for small farms and firms. Because horticultural development and marketing are strongly dependent upon knowledge, human capital and technical inputs must be provided if interventions and growth are to be sustainable. A dedicated emphasis on research and development initiatives focused on integrating producers and firms into the growing horticultural marketplace will contribute to alleviating poverty, growing economies, and enhancing the quality of life for a significant portion of the world’s population. This book presents a comprehensive and authentic account of current practices and issues in horticulture. It analyses various horticultural techniques and strategies for development in various fields of horticulture. It will be a very useful reference tool for scientists, researchers, students, horticulturists, traders, industrialists, and policy makers.