PHOTO P.K ANANTH KUMAR.-
5th Nov 2025
11th Indian Horticulture Congress and International Meet-2025 to Focus on ‘Horticulture for
Inclusive, Equitable and Sustainable Growth’
The 11th Indian Horticulture Congress (IHC) and International Meet will be held at the University
of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, from November 06 to 09, 2025.
Organised under the aegis of the Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences (IAHS), New Delhi in
association with University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, University of Horticultural
Sciences, Bagalkot and Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru with support of
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. The four-day event will bring together leading
scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, research scholars and farmer representatives
to deliberate on the 11 themes. A press meet cum curtain raiser event was held on 5th
November,2025 at UAS, GKVK,Bengaluru.
At the outset Dr. V. B. Patel, ADG (Fruits and Plantation Crops), ICAR, and Secretary, IAHS,
elaborated on the Indian Horticultural Congress. He mentioned that 22 international delegates
will be delivering keynote lectures, 200 invited plenary lectures and more than 1000 participants
from across the country will be attending the conference to showcase their work on various
aspects of horticulture. The event will encompass nine Technical Sessions, Eleven Crop Specific
Ten Workshops to showcase new technologies and varieties. Key focus areas contributing to the
vision of Viksit Bharat will also be discussed. Additionally, Hort-Expo-2025 with 25 stalls
representing different horticultural institutes, universities, KVKs, FPOs, and industries will be set
up during the conference to showcase the latest developments in horticulture sector.
Dr. N.B. Prakash, Dean (Agri), UAS Bengaluru, Local Organising Secretary briefed that
11th Indian Horticultural Congress (IHC) at GKVK is being organized with the support
and involvement of many staff members. He emphasized that the conference will
greatly benefit scientists, farmers, and students of Indian and Karnataka state in
particular.
Dr. Tusar Kanti Behera, Director, ICAR IIHR, Bengaluru and Co-Chairman Local
organising committee expressed that organizing such a Mega Conference in
Karnataka is highly appropriate, given the state’s prominent role in horticulture sector
in the country.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, DDG (Horticulture), ICAR and Chairman National organising
Committee of the 11th
Horticulture Science Congress highlighted that the theme of
this conference is highly relevant to the current scenario. He also highlighted that the
Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences (erstwhile the Horticultural Society of
India) established in 1942 in Lyallpur (West Punjab) now in Pakistan, is a premier
Horticulture Academy of India involved in the promotion of overall horticulture. He
noted that horticulture contributes about 34% to the agricultural GDP with all time
high production of 367.72 MT. He also mentioned that the Horticultural Academy
will honour outstanding scientists and entrepreneurs for their exceptional
contributions in various fields of horticulture, and Progressive farmers will be
recognized with Honorary Fellowships.
Significance and Objectives
The Congress aims to redefine the roadmap for India’s horticultural development by identifying
priorities for different crops, promoting new-age technologies, and strengthening farmer-oriented
innovations.
Horticulture contributes nearly 34% to India’s agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and is a key
pillar in achieving national food, nutritional, and economic security. India’s total horticultural
production for 2024–25 is estimated at 372.72 million tonnes, showing a 2.07% increase over the
previous year.
The deliberations will focus on ensuring inclusive growth, building resilience to climate change,
and leveraging horticulture as a driver for India’s Vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 — to become a
developed and sustainable nation.
Event Highlights
Over the four days, the Congress will feature plenary lectures, technical sessions, and thematic
workshops spanning nineteen major subject areas, including:
● Precision Horticulture and Smart Farming Technologies – AI-based and weather-guided
decision tools, Controlled Environment Horticulture, UAVs, and ICT applications.
● Breeding and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops – genome editing, speed
breeding, and plant variety protection.
● Post-Harvest Biology and Management – smart packaging, cold-chain optimization,
and quality monitoring systems.
● Secondary Agriculture and Value Addition – circular bioeconomy, nutraceuticals, and
zero-waste processing.
● Trade and Market Linkages – cluster-based approaches, global market trends, and
entrepreneurship in horticulture.
Special Workshops and Farmer Interface
Specialised crop-based and thematic workshops will focus on:
● Banana, Mango, Pomegranate and Exotic Fruits
● Organic and Natural Farming in Horticulture – soil health, microbial bioinputs, and
certification standards
● Plantation Crops, Spices, and Aromatic Plants
A dedicated workshop on “Kisan Sarathi Kosh: Connecting Farmers with Horticultural
Innovations” will showcase India’s largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform, connecting
farmers with ICAR and KVK experts across 13 regional languages
