Potential of Arid Fruits Cultivation in Madhya Pradesh, India: A Comprehensive Review

The arid and semi-arid regions of India cover a significant portion of the country, including parts of Madhya Pradesh, presents a unique set of agricultural challenges and opportunities. These regions are characterized by harsh climatic conditions, such as high temperatures, low and erratic rainfall, and poor soil quality. A comprehensive review was made to give an insight on the potentials inherent in the underutilized arid fruit crops like Indian jujube, Indian gooseberry, Bengal quince, Custard apple and tamarind, discussing the nutritional and economic importance and adaptability of arid and semi-arid zones. It also explore the significance of arid and semi-arid fruit crops in enhancing food security, income generation, and sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions, with a particular focus on Madhya Pradesh.

This study offers policy recommendations, which include providing subsidies to arid-fruit cultivators for attracting policy change, value addition, and advancement of profitability, as also the creation of targeted marketing strategies. Strengthening the research-extension networks in the arid fruit agronomy sector and bringing these under a government initiative such as 'One District, One Product' can increase the uptake of arid fruit cultivation. A more prudent future for the agricultural economy can be imagined with such strategic moves for arid fruit farming.