Which recent IIHR varieties and technologies have the greatest potential to transform farmers’ incomes?

IIHR has released over 350 crop varieties and numerous production technologies. Recent high-impact innovations include Arka Abhed (tomato), Arka Meghana (chilli), Arka Savi ( Rose), improved guava, dragon fruit, avocado and pomegranate varieties, along with precision fertigation and protected cultivation technologies. These technologies typically enhance farmers’ incomes through higher productivity of 20–40%; better tolerance to diseases and climate stress; have improved shelf life and market quality and reduced input costs through efficient water and nutrient management. Adoption of these varieties is expanding through state horticulture departments, KVKs, FPOs and licensed seed partners across several states.

What are the major gaps between research and large-scale adoption? How is IIHR trying to bridge this research-to-farm gap?

The greater challenge than innovation is last-mile delivery. Major gaps include limited availability of quality planting material, inadequate extension support, low awareness, fragmented value chains and weak market linkages. IIHR is addressing these through large-scale breeder and foundation seed production, technology demonstrations and farmer participatory trials, establishment of mother blocks and nurseries, collaboration with KVKs, state departments, FPOs and private entrepreneurs, digital advisory and capacity-building programmes. The objective is to shorten the time between laboratory innovation and field adoption.

Climate change has become the norm. What climate-resilient varieties and technologies is IIHR developing?

Climate resilience is now central to IIHR’s breeding programme. We are developing varieties tolerant to drought, heat, erratic rainfall and emerging pests and diseases in tomato, chilli, brinjal, onion, mango, papaya, guava and other horticultural crops. Important technologies include climate-resilient rootstocks, micro-irrigation and fertigation, rainwater harvesting, protected cultivation, precision nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management using biological solutions.

These technologies help maintain productivity while reducing water and chemical inputs.

How vulnerable is Indian horticulture to climate change?

A: Horticulture is more climate-sensitive than many field crops because fruits, vegetables and flowers are highly dependent on temperature, humidity and rainfall during flowering, fruit set and quality development. Even a 1–2°C rise in temperature or untimely rainfall can reduce yield, fruit quality and shelf life. Therefore, climate adaptation in horticulture requires not only resilient varieties but also improved water management, protected cultivation and weather-based crop advisories.

Which crops and regions face the greatest risks of climate change, and what adaptation strategies do you recommend?

High-risk crops include mango, tomato, onion, chilli and cut flowers. Vulnerable regions include arid and semi-arid areas prone to high temperatures, coastal belts affected by salinity, and low lying regions prone to flooding. Recommended adaptations are climate-resilient cultivars, crop diversification, efficient irrigation, mulching and soil organic carbon enhancement, protected cultivation, weather-based decision support, integrated pest surveillance and biological control.

A location-specific adaptation strategy is more effective than a single national solution.

Quality is still an issue. How can Indian horticulture become a high-value, quality-driven sector?

The next phase of growth must focus on quality rather than quantity. Key technological interventions include high-quality hybrid and disease-resistant varieties, precision nutrition and irrigation, protected cultivation, residue-free production, grading and standardization, sensor-based quality monitoring, stronger farmer aggregation through FPOs. Consumers increasingly pay premiums for uniform, safe and traceable produce, making quality the new driver of profitability.

What post-harvest technologies has IIHR developed, and why is adoption limited?

IIHR has developed technologies for scientific harvesting and maturity indexing, low-cost storage structures, packhouse and grading systems, edible coatings, minimal processing, dehydration and value-added products, improved packaging for longer shelf life. Adoption is constrained by fragmented supply chains, limited cold-chain infrastructure, high initial investment and insufficient access to processing facilities. Public-private partnerships and village-level post-harvest infrastructure are essential for wider adoption.

Precision agriculture is gaining ground. How is IIHR integrating new technologies in horticulture? Are they viable for small farmers?

IIHR is integrating drones, IoT sensors, AI-based disease diagnosis, remote sensing and precision fertigation into horticultural research. IIHR is standardising protocols for spraying plant protection chemicals using drones. For small farmers, the ownership of expensive equipment may not be practical. However, the custom hiring and service-provider model makes these technologies economically viable. FPOs, agri-startups and rural entrepreneurs can provide drone spraying, sensor monitoring and digital advisory services at affordable costs. The future lies in technology as a shared service, not individual ownership.

What is needed to make Indian horticultural exports globally competitive?

India has enormous export potential in fruits, vegetables, flowers and planting material, but competitiveness depends on consistency and quality and meeting regulatory requirements of different countries. Priority areas include export-oriented varieties, certified disease-free planting material, residue-free cultivation, GAP certification, digital traceability, modern packhouses and cold chains, rapid residue testing and phytosanitary compliance. Building integrated export clusters from production to logistics will substantially improve global market access.