HORTICULTURE IN HOSHIARPUR The Department of Horticulture Punjab mainly deals with the cultivation, processing and marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and mushrooms. The Department also produces quality nursery plants of fruits, quality seeds of different crops etc. and gives these to the farmers at nominal prices. Out of 206757 hectares total cultivated area of Hoshiarpur district, about 9072.25 hectares area is under fruit crops and 27607 hectares under vegetable crops. Major fruit crops are Kinnow, Mango, Guava, Peach, Litchi etc. and among the vegetables Potato has the major share followed by Peas, Carrot, Cauliflower etc. In Punjab area under fruits & vegetables is around 3.7% and in comparison this figure in Distt . Hoshiarpur is about 11%. Department has 3 Govt. Gardens and Nurseries at Bhunga (Traditional) and Chhauni Kalan, Khiala Bulanda modern nurseries which produce true to type, healthy and disease free fruit plants. However these nurseries can cater only 8% of the total demand and rest is to be met from licensed nurseries run on traditional lines and there is a need to replicate these modern nurseries.Govt. Potato Seed Farm Khanaura produces quality seeds of Potato, Peas, Radish etc. Department also has one Fruit Preservation Laboratory and Mushroom Spawn Production Laboratory at Chhauni Kalan. Due to higher and regular yield, Kinnow emerged steadily as major fruit crop of this area and due to its higher juice percentage, bright golden yellow colour, longer shelf life and market span and lately found anti- cancerous properties of Limonin present in Kinnow, it is gaining popularity in distant domestic markets. Productivity levels of Kinnow can be doubled from present 15MT/ Hectare, if proper and timely technical Know-how be provided to growers by strengthening the extension network of Department of Horticulture Punjab.