In the face of rising climate variability, population growth, and shifting agro-ecological challenges, ensuring sustainable and profitable horticultural production is a national priority. This book, Agro-Advisory Services in Horticulture, provides a comprehensive and science-based exploration of how real-time, location-specific advisories can support fruit and spice crop growers across India’s diverse agro-climatic zones.

The book compiles contributions from leading scientists, extension specialists, and agronomists who have worked extensively in the field of horticulture. It emphasizes the importance of agro-advisory systems as a bridge between research and field-level application, particularly for small and marginal farmers facing the impacts of climate extremes.

Topics include canopy management, insect and disease control, nutrient scheduling, harvesting and post-harvest protocols, and ICT-based mobile advisory systems. Specific focus is placed on subtropical fruit crops like mango, guava, and citrus, as well as spice crops such as cardamom, turmeric, and black pepper. Region-specific case studies, including those from Maharashtra, Kerala, and saline-sodic zones, offer actionable insights into field-level impacts and adaptive management practices.

The book also highlights the critical role of women in horticultural sustainability, the significance of farmer engagement through micro-level advisories, and the necessity of resource conservation practices for long-term productivity.

This publication is an invaluable resource for:

• Extension professionals involved in agri-communication

• Researchers and academicians in horticulture and climate-resilient agriculture

• Students of agricultural sciences

• Policy planners and development agencies aiming to strengthen farmer support systems

By combining scientific knowledge with field-tested advisory models, the book aims to empower India's horticulture sector to thrive amidst both environmental and market challenges.

1. Importance of agro-advisory services in horticulture - T. Damodaran and P.K. Shukla
2. Recent scientific efforts in agro-advisory services for the benefits of subtropical fruit growers - Tarun Adak, P.K. Shukla, Gundappa, and Dushyant Mishra
3. Canopy management and crop regulation practices for agro-advisory in subtropical fruit crops - S.K. Shukla, Dushyant Mishra, and G. Pandey
4. Canopy development and management of guava for high-quality fruit production - K.K. Srivastava
5. Agro-advisory services for management of mango insect pests - Gundappa and Singh H.S.
6. Major issues in disease management for agro-advisory in subtropical fruit crops - P.K. Shukla
7. Harvesting and post-harvest protocols for agro-advisory in subtropical fruit crops - Akath Singh, Abha Singh, A.K. Trivedi, A.K. Gupta, Karma Beer, and Ravi S.C.
8. Agro-advisory services for fruit growers of Pune, Maharashtra - Aliza Pradhan, P. B. Taware, G.G. Jena, V. D. Kakade, V.N. Salunkhe, and S. B. Chavan
9. Farmer’s advisory for sustaining productivity in small Cardamom, Black Pepper, and Turmeric - C. N. Biju, A. Jeevalatha, M. Alagupalamuthirsolai, and M. S. Shivakumar
10. Impact of micro-level agro-advisory services for the farming community with special reference to horticultural crops and extreme events - Saon Banerjee, Abhilashaa Das, Piyali Sarkar, and Sarathi Saha
11. Extension strategies for technology adoption in horticultural crop growers - Naresh Babu, Tarun Adak, and Arvind Kumar
12. Role of farm advisory for seed spices growers’ benefits in India - M. D. Meena, S. Lal, and S. S. Meena
13. Role of farm advisory and resource management for fruit, vegetable, and agroforestry growers under saline-sodic agroecosystem - Rajkumar, Mukesh Kumar Mehla, Satish Sanwal, Ashwani Kumar, Anshuman Singh, Rajkumar, Akshay, and Rakesh Banyal
14. Agro-advisory services and their implication for sustainable horticultural production - Yogesh Kumar, Ved Prakash, Dharmendra Singh, Rakesh Kumar, and Ashutosh Upadhyaya
15. Role of farm women in sustainable production of horticulture crops - Ankita Sahu and Monika Patel