Horticulture Led Entrepreneurship in Semi-Arid Regions: Potential and Prospects

Author(s)	Dr. N. Venkatanarayana
Country	India
Abstract	Horticulture has emerged as a dynamic driver of agricultural diversification, income enhancement, and rural entrepreneurship, particularly in semi-arid regions where conventional crop farming faces ecological and economic constraints. This paper examines the role of horticulture-led entrepreneurship in semi-arid regions with special reference to Ananthapuramu district. Using secondary data, policy analysis, and district-level empirical insights, the study explores how horticulture contributes to employment generation, value addition, climate resilience, and rural industrialization. The findings reveal that horticulture-based enterprises such as fruit cultivation, vegetable production, floriculture, nursery management, and agro-processing offer significantly higher income potential compared to traditional dryland crops. However, water scarcity, market volatility, infrastructure gaps, and credit constraints remain key challenges. The study suggests strengthening irrigation, value chains, entrepreneurship training, and institutional support to realize the full potential of horticulture-led entrepreneurship in semi-arid regions.
Keywords	Horticulture, Rural Entrepreneurship, Semi-Arid Regions, Agribusiness, Value Addition, Climate Resilience, Ananthapuramu
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-30
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.80854

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