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PurposeThe present study provides evidence on export advantages of horticultural commodities based on competitiveness, trade balance and seasonality dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThe study delineated horticultural commodities in terms of comparative advantage, examined temporal shifts in export advantages (mapping) and estimated seasonality. Product mapping was carried out using the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) and Trade Balance Index (TBI). Seasonal advantages were examined through a graphical approach along with the objective tests, namely, modified QS-test (QS), Friedman-test (FT) and using a seasonal dummy.FindingsCucumbers/gherkins, onions, preserved vegetables, fresh grapes, shelled cashew nuts, guavas, mangoes, and spices emerged as the most favorable horticultural products. India has a strong seasonal advantage in dried onions, cucumber/gherkins, shelled cashew nut, dried capsicum, coriander, cumin, and turmeric. The untapped potential in horticulture can be addressed by handling the trade barriers effectively, particularly the sanitary and phytosanitary issues, affecting the exports. Proper policies must be enacted to facilitate the investment in advanced agricultural technologies and logistics to ensure the desired quality and cost effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsCommodity-specific studies on value chain analysis would provide valuable insights into the issues hindering exports and realizing the untapped export potential.Originality/valueThere is no holistic and recent study illustrating the horticulture export advantages covering a large number of commodities in the Indian context. The study would be helpful to the stakeholders for drawing useful policy implications.

Agricultural infrastructure has the potential to transform subsistence farming into commercial and dynamic farming system. Adequate markets, roads, irrigation, extension services, credit facilities, storage etc. facilitate lowering of farming costs and increase in farm income. The study, carried out during 2017-20 at ICAR-NIAP, presents methodology for measuring adequacy status of rural infrastructure and its categorisation into five classes using a case study of Bundelkhand region.The results show that there is ample scope for agricultural productivity enhancement in Bundelkhand by focussing on agricultural markets, credit institutions, roads, agricultural extension and storage infrastructure.The proposed methodology can be replicated for other regions, states and districts.

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With food sufficiency being achieved, emphasis of policy makers is now on to sustainable intensification in line with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Widening discrepancy between the water-resource supply and demand necessitates relook into the cropping pattern of the country. Based on district-level secondary data of area, productivity and level of groundwater extraction, this study aims to identify critical and potential area for cultivation of three major water-intensive crops, i.e. rice, wheat and sugarcane. Study found that 1.93 million ha of area under rice, mainly in north-western and western India, need a gradual shift. Nearly 43% of the rice cultivated area in eastern and north-eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Assam has potential for further intensification of rice cultivation. In case of wheat, around 0.65 million ha of area, mostly in Rajasthan, is critical in terms of sustainability. Livestock is an integral part of agriculture in this region and hence diversification of wheat would require mixed strategy of shifting to alternative dual-purpose crops and wheat cultivation with water conservation technologies. Study further found that around 13543 ha of sugarcane in mainly in western Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is deterring the groundwater resources. Recommendations emanating from the study include differentiates agricultural price policy, payment for ecosystem services and greater focus on productivity enhancement in eastern India.