eChapters

22.1 What is Livestock Product Marketing?

Livestock Products Marketing is the change of ownership of livestock derived food products. It links the livestock production and food consumption. There are three aspects of livestock market transactions:

1. Spatial – transactions occur across space

2. Temporal – transactions occur across time

3. Form – transactions occur in a certain form

21.1 Introduction

The egg industry has grown quickly in the last decade as people’s eating habits have become more aware of the importance of good and nutritious diets. Eggs are now widely accepted as a good source of high-quality protein. Increased demand in consumer choice has resulted in a wide variety of egg selection available in the retail market. Eggs of high quality are needed to sustain niche markets for specialty and designer eggs–seeking consumers. Egg quality defines those characteristics of an egg that affect consumer acceptability and preference. The parameters for egg grading include shell cleanliness, strength, texture, and shape; the relative viscosity of the albumen; and the shape and firmness of the yolk.

19.1 Introduction

Quality has been defined as the properties of any given food that have an influence on the acceptance or rejection of this food by the consumer. Egg quality is a general term which refers to several aspects of both internal and external quality. Internal egg quality involves functional, aesthetic and microbiological properties of the egg yolk and albumen. The proportions of components for fresh egg are 32% yolk, 58% albumen and 10% shell. The quality of an egg is at its best when the egg is laid. There is no known method by which this quality can be improved subsequently.

18.1 Introduction

The egg industry has grown quickly in the last decade as people’s eating habits have become more aware of the importance of good and nutritious diets. Eggs are now widely accepted as a good source of high-quality protein. However, at the same time, the eggshell that pollutes the environment is discharged into the open. This eggshell waste can be used to make a variety of items, including pharmaceuticals and medicines. Additionally, this raw material is inexpensive and conveniently accessible. Eggshells are ranked as the fifteenth biggest environmental pollutant.

17.1 Introduction

The plant layout needs a proper arrangement of each constituent area, along with their interrelationship. One of the most important considerations is the future expansion potential. The plant layout design should permit expansion readily and economically. One side of the building should be free of permanent installations such as compressors, septic tanks, toilets, drain fields, offices, and loading docks to permit the addition of building units without relocating these auxiliary facilities.

16.1 Introduction

Successful egg production is highly dependent on sanitation and decontamination, and producing clean eggs is the most major element of egg sanitation. Egg contents might become contaminated either vertically or horizontally. The ideal option for small farms can be to keep hatching eggs in a hygienic area and incubate them as soon as possible without sanitation but it’s not the same kind in case for commercial producers need to get a poultry veterinarian guidance on the proper egg handling and sanitation program depending on their needs. There are several preharvest techniques used to minimize egg contamination, including immunization, feed additives, home sanitation, bacteriophages, and biosecurity.

15.1 Introduction

In addition to serving as a means of reproduction, avian eggs are a staple meal in the diet of humans and include a natural balance of all the required components. However, eggs must overcome a few drawbacks in the current food market in order to compete for sales with an expanding number of other items. For instance, eggs are a delicate commodity that age-related quality reduction. Additionally, the intrinsic variability of the egg’s three primary parts—the shell, albumen, and yolk—does not meet the demands of contemporary customers for consistency. The successful sale of eggs depends on planned production techniques and effective quality control processes, both of which contribute to decrease this fluctuation.

14.1 Introduction

Eggs are an essential food for humans due to the high nutritional quality and quantity that they contain. Eggs are one of the most consumed foods all over the world because of its nutritious profile, range of uses, and relatively inexpensive cost as a food source. Intakes of total lipids, cholesterol, and saturated fatty acids in human diets can be attributed, in part, to the consumption of animal products. Due to the high amounts of cholesterol (about 200-300 mg/100 g) and saturated fat (approximately 3 g/100 g), eggs have been considered to be contentious foods by several health organisations and nutritional experts.

13.1 Introduction

Many changes have occurred in egg production and processing, as well as in the egg itself, over the last 40 years. All of these changes have contributed to the microbial challenges of the egg that we face today. In the past, production traits including egg size, feed conversion and egg output have received the majority of attention in genetic selection of laying hens. Microbial integrity hasn’t been given much attention. Until the 1990s, food safety concerns associated with shell eggs were not considered. Eggs were thought to be pathogen free until they were cracked.

12.1 Introduction

The eggs represent very good basis that can be enriched with useful and beneficial substances and become functional food, since certain beneficial substances which layers consume in their daily diets transfer relatively easily into their products. However, enrichment of poultry meat and eggs can have adverse consequences in regard to their quality. Functional food is interesting also from the economical aspect, because it opens for poultry producers the possibility to introduce new products into their product range. Of course, main assumption is that consumers of enriched products are willing to pay premium price for these products, which is by 15-20% higher than average product price. On a global basis, eggs are one of the most recognized and accepted foods by consumers.

10.1 Introduction

The primary purpose of egg packaging is to keep the egg safe from damage, such as cracking, while in transit. By limiting gas exchange via the shell and shell membrane, the egg package may help safeguard the egg’s internal quality. Once an egg has been deposited, it is immediately exposed to the conditions of the henhouse. In this environment, it is exposed to many different microorganisms. Almost often, there are no negative effects on health. However, there are microbes that can ruin eggs and others that can cause food poisoning. Salmonella bacteria are found in the digestive tract of all animals and can contaminate the poultry houses.

9.1 Introduction

Many cultures throughout the world see the egg as nature’s perfect meal. Many other kinds of animals lay eggs, yet the vast majority of people eat chicken eggs. There are a number of reasons why the quality of an egg matters today. Grading eggs is so essential. Quality, size, shape, weight, and other characteristics are all taken into account while sorting eggs for grading. To put it simply, food quality refers to the traits of a product that determine whether or not it is accepted by the target audience. Egg quality is based on both industry standards and consumer expectations. Considerations from the outside include egg shell composition, hue, form, and feel. Air cells, egg white, egg yolk, etc., are all examples of internal quality.

8.1 Introduction

Egg is a perishable product having short shelf life. The table eggs are of highest quality when they are laid. Preservation of eggs should start from the point of production itself.

The following practices are recommended as routine for the production of quality eggs on the farm.

1. Collection of eggs at least 3 times daily.

2. Using a clean receptacle with ventilated sides and bottom, preferably filler f lats.

7.1 Introduction

From a nutritional standpoint, eggs are particularly interesting since they include important fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. They also provide a moderate calorie supply (about 140 kcal/100 g), have a wide range of culinary applications, and are relatively inexpensive. Indeed, it has been shown that eggs are the second-cheapest animal source for zinc and calcium and the lowest-cost source of proteins, vitamin A, iron, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and choline. Eggs include a wide variety of physiologically active ingredients in addition to offering babies and adults well-balanced nutritional needs. These elements are distributed throughout the many internal egg components. It must be noted that while eggshell membranes are edible, eggshell and its closely related eggshell membranes are often not ingested (Figure 7.1).

6.1 Introduction

The egg production in the country has increased from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 114.38 billion in 2019-20. India ranks 3rd in egg production in the world. Annual growth rate of egg production was 4.99 per cent during 2014-15, there after there has been a significant improvement in the egg production with 10.19 per cent growth registered in 2019-20 over the previous year. The per capita availability of egg was 86 per annum in 2019-20. Less than a generation ago the main supply of eggs was from small backyard unit. Processors, handlers, and distributors of eggs and egg products need an understanding of egg-production practices to cope more intelligently with problems of product quality and character

5.1 Introduction

The egg production in the country has increased from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 114.38 billion in 2019-20. India ranks 3rd in egg production in the world. Annual growth rate of egg production was 4.99 per cent during 2014-15, there after there has been a significant improvement in the egg production with 10.19 per cent growth registered in 2019-20 over the previous year. The per capita availability of egg was 86 per annum in 2019-20. Less than a generation ago the main supply of eggs was from small backyard unit. Processors, handlers, and distributors of eggs and egg products need an understanding of egg-production practices to cope more intelligently with problems of product quality and character.

4.1 Introduction

The egg is made up of three primary components: the egg white, the egg yolk, and the egg shell. The calcite crystals of the shell are enmeshed in a protein and carbohydrate complex matrix. About 58% of the weight of an egg is made up of the viscous, colourless liquid termed egg white inside the shell. About 75% of the weight of an egg’s edible component is made up of water, although proteins and lipids make up the majority of its nutritional worth (Table 4.1). There are also trace quantities of minerals, often known as ash, and carbohydrates, which take the form of simple sugars including glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, maltose, and galactose.

3.1 Introduction

Eggs are composed of three main parts; the eggshell with the eggshell membrane, the albumen or white, and the yolk. The yolk is surrounded by albumen, which in turn is enveloped by eggshell membranes and finally a hard eggshell.

3.2 Eggshell

The eggshell is composed of a foamy layer of cuticle, a calcite or calcium carbonate layer, and two shell membranes. The ultrastructurally the eggshell includes shell membranes, mammillary zone, calcium reserve assembly, palisades, and cuticle, with 7,000 – 17,000 funnel shaped pore canals distributed unevenly on the shell surface for exchange for water and gases

2.1 Introduction

The biochemical environment for egg production and ovulation egg fertilisation is provided by the poultry oviduct. The chickens have two ovaries and an oviduct when they are hatched, but the growth of the right ovary and oviduct stops and regresses over time. The left ovary and oviduct are still functioning and help produce eggs. The oviduct is a long tubular structure that is divided into five functionally and histomorphologically distinct segments: the infundibulum, which is the site of fertilisation, the magnum, which produces egg white components, the isthmus, which forms the egg shell membranes, the shell gland or uterus, which produces the calcified eggshell, and the vagina (oviposition or egg laying).

1.1 Introduction

Poultry is one of the fastest-growing areas of India’s agricultural industry, with an annual growth rate of around eight percent. Over a span of four decades, the chicken industry in India has seen a paradigm shift in structure and operation, transforming from a simple backyard occupation to a significant commercial agri-based enterprise. Constant efforts in upgrading, modifying, and using new technologies opened the path for the multiplication and diversification of poultry industries. The expansion is not just quantitative, but also qualitative, sophisticated, and productive. This transition has necessitated substantial expenditures and increases in breeding, hatching, raising, and processing. The rise of the poultry industry in India is also characterised by the expansion of chicken farms.

Classification of Living Organisms

The classification of living organisms has passed through several changes and has reached the present stage with the gradual assimilation of more and more knowledge about them. The classification is mainly based on the morphology, anatomy, life style, habits, habitats, metamorphosis and such other characteristics. Though the concept of classification of living organisms was perhaps started by Aristotle between 384 - 322 BC, it was the Swedish Scientist Carl Linnaeus (1788), who presented the classification, which was acceptable to most of the Taxonomists. He propounded the binomial nomenclature of naming each and every organism of animal and plant origin with a genetic and species name. In his classification he was consistent in using Latin names for all the organisms.

Insects generally reproduce by laying eggs or ‘ova’. The initiation of growth inside an egg, which in most cases is preceded by fertilization, leads to a long series of changes, finally attaining the adult stage and in due course to sexual maturity and finally to reproduction of a new generation. This chain of events from the egg stage to adult constitutes the ‘life history’ or ‘life cycle’ of an insect.

Similar to animals of the higher order, insects also possess all important internal systems of organs necessary for the proper performance of the various vital functions. The most important of the systems are the alimentary or digestive system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the reproductive system and the excretory system. The fundamental arrangement of the various organs is more or less similar in all insects and does not exhibit much remarkable variations as seen in the external morphological features. The dorsal blood vessel or heart runs along the median line immediately below the dorsal wall. The digestive system including the alimentary canal and its appendages lie in the middle, below the heart. The nervous chain lies below the alimentary canal and immediately above the ventral wall.

The insect body is made up of multicellular tissues. The body is bilaterally symmetrical and is covered by a hard, chitinous exoskeleton. The chitin at the junction of the segments is thinner and pliable and hence insects can bend their bodies. The exoskeleton is made up of several layers of non-living cells produced from the epidermis. Because of the hard chitin us exoskeleton of the body, the growth of the insect is affected beyond a certain extent. So, to facilitate further growth,, this exoskeleton is cast off a few times and this is known as ‘molting’. The number of moultings in a particular species is more or less constant.

General Aspects About Insects

‘Insects’ are almost ubiquitous. They are found all over the world, in the icy regions of the poles, deserts, forests, mountain peaks, oceans and even in oil wells. They can adopt themselves to any climatic conditions and can live in any habitat where food is available. Insects are mostly small, air-breathing organisms of the animal world. Most of the insects live freely in nature. Many species are wild and harmless to human beings. Many are beneficial because of their role in the ecosystem. Some are a part of the food chains of wild creatures, while others through predation and parasitism hold in check many other species of insects. Insects also play a vital role in pollination. Relatively only a few species are harmful to man and are his chief competitor on earth.

Government of Andhra Pradesh has identified Horticulture sector as one of the growth engine with a focus to increase the production, productivity and quality all horticultural crops coupled with value chain development and marketing linkages for better price realization. Total area under horticultural crops is 17.95 lakh ha with a production of ` 314.78 lakh tonnes. Horticulture sector has recorded 10.17 % growth over previous year and contributing ` 49,189 crores during 2020-21 to GVA of Andhra Pradesh (DH, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, 2021).

Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide variety of chemical compounds that are used to perform important biological functions, and to defend against attack from predators such as insects, fungi and herbivorous mammals. Many of these phyto chemicals have beneficial effects on long-term health when consumed by humans, and can be used to effectively treat human diseases. At least 12,000 such compounds have been isolated so far; a number estimated to be less than 10% of the total (Tapsell et al., 2006; Lai and Roy, 2004). These phyto-chemicals are divided into: (1) primary metabolites such as sugars and fats, which are found in all plants; and (2) secondary metabolites (SM) – compounds which are found in a smaller range of plants, serving a more specific function (Meskin, 2002). For example, some secondary metabolites are toxins used to deter predation and others are pheromones used to attract insects for pollination.

Nutrition affects the development of human body immune system, playing a vital role in modifying the threat of exposure and susceptibility to infectious patho gens, acuteness of morbidity and success of treatment. Keeping in view the pres ent pandemic and emerging viruses such Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Hantavi ruses, Nipah viruses for which no effective preventive and curative treatment is in hand, a healthy immune system could be one of the most important defences to f ight off (El-Gamal et al., 2011). Vegetables are rich source of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibres; however, certain vegetables hold more significance in view of boosting immunity.

Ecological engineering has recently emerged as a paradigm for considering pest management approaches that rely on the use of cultural techniques to manipulate farm habitat and to enhance biological control. In contrast to the intensive use of ecosystems, these days to enhance productivity can affect agro-ecosystems through soil and water depletion, biodiversity loss, challenging pest problems and disruption in flow of ecosystem services. Ecological engineering for pest management mainly focuses on increasing the abundance, diversity and function of natural enemies in horticultural crops habitats by providing refuges and alternate or supplementary food resources and also attracts different kinds of pollinators like honeybees.

Arecanut is an important traditional plantation crop of India and South-Eastern Asia. Also known as “betel nut”, the kernel is obtained from its fruit. It is mostly used by the people as masticatory and is an essential requisite during several religious, social and cultural functions of India. Arecanut has been widely used in East Africa, South-East Asia, and the Pacific Ocean islands, providing economic security for millions of people and for many sole means of livelihood in the Indian sub-continent. Arecanut is commercially cultivated in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Its current world production is 17.96 lakh tonnes from 12.26 lakh ha (FAO STAT, 2020).

Plant tissue culture is the process in which mass multiplication is possible from the somatic cells of the plant by utilizing the principle of totipotency. Each plant cell can grow into a plant by converting the somatic nature of the cells to embryogenic ones. In tissue culture, plantlets can be produced either directly through organogenesis or indirectly by somatic embryogenesis. Organogenesis is the process in which shoots develop from the explants directly and then rooting is induced. In indirect somatic embryogenesis, the explant cells pass through a callusing stage where the cells get multiplied. These cells then obtain embryogenic potential and develop somatic embryos. These somatic embryos later germinate and develop into plantlets

Vertical farming is a system of growing crops in multiple layers in skyscrapers, to maximize the use of land by having a vertical design, whereby plants, animals, fungi and other life forms are cultivated for food, fuel and fibre by artificially stacking them vertically above each other (Despommier, 2009; Kalantari et al., 2017). It is estimated that nine acres in a horizontal farm is equal to 1 acre in a vertical farm. The concept of vertical farming started during the mid 90s by Dr Dickson Despomier, professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University

An emerging, promising, affordable, and sustainable method of providing micronutrients to a large population with limited access to varied meals and other micronutrient therapies is referred to as biofortification. The biofortified tuber crops, particularly sweet potato, cassava, yam, and taro, are giving the targeted people adequate amount of nutrients. When genetic diversity is present in a gene pool of targeted crop, biofortification through conventional breeding approaches has been most successful. The breeding strategies used to elevate micronutrients include pre-breeding, large-scale germplasm screening, molecular marker development and understanding genetic control and Genotype x Environment interaction (GxE).

Pandemic brought in tough times, especially for different business sectors. However, the floriculture business was one such sector that people embraced, especially in India. In the current scenario, the floriculture industry in India has emerged as a huge trend setter and a survivor, albeit with a drop in earnings and the convenience of working from home. Flower Market report summarizes top key players overview as Syngenta, Floret Flowers, among others. The Indian economy has been starved of sustainable ideas, especially when the outbreak of COVID-19 saw the loss of jobs and the reverse migration of rural people. The floriculture business provided a vast opportunity that involves specific technical know-how and provided flower and allied business as a medium to earn income and generate opportunity for others.

Floriculture is most diversified and potential component of horticultural industry in India. It is one of the fastest growing sectors in domestic and international trade markets and holds high business potential and prospects for trade. In ancient era, the flowers were used mainly for religious offering but now floriculture sector has emerged as a commercial venture. There is a dynamic shift from sustenance production to commercial production in this era and thereby significant increase in trade of flowers at domestic level because of rapid urbanization, increase in income level, etc. Flower business is considered as a most profitable business as commercial floriculture has higher potential. The cut and loose flowers have opened various avenues for establishment of flower business.

Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions with or without the use of an inert medium such as gravel, soil, vermiculite, rock wool, peat moss, saw dust, coir dust and coconut fibre-provide mechanical support. The term Hydroponics was derived from the Greek words ‘hydro’ means water and ‘ponos’ means labour and means water work. The word hydroponics was coined by Professor William Gericke in the early 1930s; describe the growing of plants with their roots suspended in water containing mineral nutrients. Researchers at Purdue University developed the nutriculture system in 1940. During 1960s and 70s, commercial hydroponics farms were developed in Arizona, Abu Dhabi, Belgium, California, Denmark, German, Holland, Iran, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation and other countries.

Microgreens, popularly known as “vegetable confetti,” are tender young greens that are grown from seeds of cereals, vegetables, and herbs. These shoots are typically harvested 7-21 days after germination when they are just (2.5-7.5 cm tall. At this stage, microgreens have a central stalk, two mature cotyledon leaves, and a second pair of tender true leaves. Compared to baby greens and sprouts, they are bigger than sprouts and smaller than baby greens. Their distinctive color, texture, and flavour can be either sweet or spicy.). Microgreens are especially important because of their high amount of micronutrients and bioactive substances.

India is the second-largest producer of vegetables in the world (FAO, 2021). Its diverse soil and climate condition provides ample opportunity to grow a variety of crops (be it tropical, semi-temperate, or temperate type). Vegetables form a significant part of the total agricultural production of the country. India grows vegetables in an area of 10.86 mha with annual production of 200 million tonnes (NHB, 2021). Vegetables alone contribute 66.97 % of the total horticultural production (341.63 million tonnes). During 2021-22, India exported vegetables worth Rs. 5,745.54 crore. The growth in vegetable production is largely due to an increase in productivity of average productivity is 18.18 tonnes per hectare, The increase in productivity has led to improved per caput availability of over 250g.

Nursery is a place where planting material, such as seedlings, saplings, cuttings, etc., are raised, propagated and multiplied under favourable conditions for transplanting in prepared beds. In other words, “A vegetable nursery is a place or an establishment for raising or handling of young vegetable seedlings until they are ready for more permanent planting.” There are some vegetables whose seed need to be sown directly in the main plot such as cowpea, okra, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, sponge gourd, ridge gourd, peas, beans, and similar others. Similarly, certain vegetables cannot grow by seeds directly and need to multiply by vegetative means like pointed gourd, ivy gourd, kakrol, kartoli, garlic, zinger, colocasia, Aravi, water chestnut etc.

Underexploited

Unexploited fruit crops, jackfruit, tamarind, jamun, karonda, star fruit, etc having high nutritive value, are gaining popularly among the people. Similarly, many exotic fruits, Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp), Avocado (Persea Americana Miller), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L), Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims), Durian (Durio zibethinus L.,) Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour) have been introduced in India. Exploitation of their genetic diversity could provide nutritional and livelihood security. There is a need to know about nutritional composition and health significance of these crops. Therefore, efforts have been made to know their potential nutritional and health benefits

Precision viticulture aims to optimize vineyard management, reduce use of resources, reduce environmental impact and maximize yield and quality of grapes. New technologies as UAVs, satellites, proximal sensors, variable rate machines (VRT) and robots are being developed and used more frequently in some parts of the world in recent years. Developments and abilities of computers, software and informatic systems to read, analyze, process and transfer a huge amount of data are major milestones in precision viticulture. In addition, different decision support systems (DSSs) for making better crop management decisions at the right time also assist vine growers.

India is floristically extremely rich with about 33 per cent of its botanical wealth (over 15,000 species of higher plants) being endemic. There are about 141 endemic genera distributed over 47 families (Nayar, 1980) the 4,900 endemic species, a large number are localised in the Himalayas (about 2,532 species), compared with the peninsular tract (1,788 species), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (185 species). Indian region is a major centre of domestication and diversity of crop plants (Zeven and de Wet, 1982; Arora, 1991). About 33 per cent of the cultivated plant species have theirorigin in this region (Damania, 2002). The Indian sub continent is a centre of domestication and diversification of several economically useful wild plant species comprising about 3,000 plants of edible value, 4,000 species having known reputed medicinal value, 700 plants of traditional and social significance, 500 fibre-yielding species, 400 fodder plants, 40 plants having insectivorous uses, 300 gum and dye yielding plants and 100 aromatic and essential oil-yielding species (Arora, 1991).

Agriculture is biggest user of water, accounting 70% of all withdrawals. It is major water-consuming sector due to intensification of agriculture (CWC, 2021). With changing climatic condition, demand of water will increase. Hence, conservation and efficient management of limited water has become the need of the hour for sustainable fruit production. Since per unit returns from horticultural crops are higher, their production system improves the net return of farmers and would impart resilience to aberrant weather (Meghwal et al., 2018). Therefore, immense opportunities for quality production of water-economizing horticultural crops. In arid and semi-arid regions, uncertain, erratic and scanty’ rains coupled with meagre irrigation facilities leads to low and unstable yields.

A large number of arid and semi-arid fruit crops are used by the local inhabitants. These fruits are better known as protective food as cultivation is restricted and are grown mainly as wild. Being tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses, these fruit crops are suitable for growing in drought prone areas. Semi-arid fruits are the oldest fruit tree crops with wide distribution, reflecting their adaptation to a wide range of edapho-climatic conditions. Development of viable agro-techniques, propagation methods, canopy management, and biotic and abiotic stresses management are equally important for improving productivity and quality of arid and semi-arid fruit crops.

Prevailing climate and weather conditions play crucial role in production and quality of various fruits including mango (Mangifera indica L.). In India, mango has 2.3 million ha area with annual production of 20.5 million tonnes and average productivity of 8.9 t/ha. However, erratic precipitation and high temperature during flowering and fruit setting induced mainly due to climatic disturbance in the recent past had adversely impacted the production potential of mango in subtropics. Analysis of twenty years (2001-02 to 2021-22) weather data of ICAR CISH, Lucknow, indicated that average annual rainfall of the region is 956.41 mm spread over 25-30 number of rainydays.

Perennial fruit crops are largely cultivated under borderline conditions leading to various physiological disarrays. An environment-friendly technique for escaping or reducing losses in production due to biotic and abiotic stresses is their propagation onto rootstocks, which can reduce the adverse effects of external stresses. The scion and rootstock grow together, although genetically different but working infusion and grow as a single entity. The rootstock provides the root system, thus anchoring the tree and acts as an absorbing organ for water and mineral nutrients. The rootstock also influences the tree size, precocity in bearing, fruit quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Indian subcontinent is a mega-center of crop plant diversity, as well as wild relatives and other useful taxa (Zeven and de Wet 1982). Diverse agroclimatic conditions, agricultural practices, and ethnic diversification have resulted in the development of a rich diversity of crop plants among native and introduced taxa (Arora 1991). Fruit crops contribute significantly to nutrition and health because they are high in dietary energy and contain a significant amount of vitamins and minerals (Pareek et al., 1998). Most of these species serve multiple functions, such as food, shelter, timber, fuel, medicine etc. As a result of their numerous applications, tropical fruits significantly contribute to food and nutritional security, income generation, ecosystem and environmental sustainability.

India is the home to a number of fruit species including mango, banana citrus etc. which have global importance. The North-Eastern (NE) region is particularly endowed with tremendous diversity of banana and citrus and a number of wild/ minor species. However, India has been and continues to be highly interdependent for germplasm sharing with many countries. In the early times, development in Indian fruit industry brought about largely by making selections from indigenous variability for large scale production. Selection from natural or introduced diversity was performed by the local growers, often patronized by rulers, continued over the years and resulted in the development of several popular types of different fruits.

With time it has been well proved that protected cultivation is a better technology to enhance productivity and quality of the crops by providing a logical and technical solution to manage the major and minor biotic and abiotic stresses encountered under open field cultivation of major horticultural crops. The effectiveness of the technology has also been observed in many parts of the world (Singh, 2013). Presently, the area under different forms of protected cultivation is around 4.5 million ha in the world. During the last two and half decades, the area under protected cultivation has increased exponentially in various countries and around Mediterranean sea.