Speakers - 2026

Title: Horticultural sciences: Olericulture, pomology and floriculture

Abstract

Horticultural science is an important branch of agricultural science concerned with the production, improvement, management, harvesting, and utilization of high-value crops. It plays a significant role in ensuring nutritional security, economic development, employment generation, and sustainable agriculture. Horticulture is broadly divided into major disciplines including olericulture, pomology, and floriculture, each focusing on a distinct group of crops with important food, nutritional, medicinal, aesthetic, and commercial values.

Olericulture deals with the scientific production and management of vegetable crops. Vegetables are essential components of a balanced diet and provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fibre, and other bioactive compounds. Modern olericulture emphasizes improved varieties, protected cultivation, efficient irrigation and nutrient management, integrated pest management, precision farming, and sustainable production technologies.

Pomology is the branch of horticulture concerned with fruit and nut crops. Fruit crops such as mango, guava, citrus, banana, apple, pomegranate, grape, and papaya are important sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibre. Pomological research focuses on varietal improvement, rootstock selection, propagation, orchard management, canopy management, crop regulation, quality improvement, post-harvest handling, and value addition.

Floriculture deals with the cultivation, production, improvement, and marketing of flowering and ornamental plants. Flowers and ornamentals have considerable importance in landscaping, decoration, religious and social functions, urban beautification, and the cut-flower industry. Advances in protected cultivation, greenhouse technology, fertigation, plant growth regulation, post-harvest management, and value addition have enhanced the commercial potential of floriculture.

The presentation will provide an integrated overview of these three major branches of horticultural science, highlighting their importance, production technologies, recent developments, and future prospects. It will also emphasize the role of horticulture in sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, livelihood generation, nutritional security, and climate-resilient crop production.

The Audience Take Away:

1. Understand the scope and importance of olericulture, pomology, and floriculture in modern horticulture.
2. Learn about major vegetable, fruit, and flower crops and their production requirements.
3. Understand important technologies such as protected cultivation, precision irrigation, fertigation, propagation, and integrated crop management.
4. Identify opportunities for commercial horticulture, value addition, entrepreneurship, and employment generation.
5. Understand the contribution of horticultural crops to nutritional security, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient production.