During the last ten years there has been commercial scale introduction of

protected cultivation of cut flowers all across the country. A number of floric
units have become exporters of cut flowers to Europe, Middle0East, Japan, USA,
Australia and SE Asian Countries. Improvement in varieties and PHM practices and
development of market, even the segment of cut flowers has initially recorded
impressivegrowthratewhichhassloweddownduringXIthplanperiodmainlydueto
lack of packaging and long distance transport solutions. It is noteworthy that
consumerdemandforflowerslikeMerygold,JasmineandRoseisnotverymuchprice-
elasticandcontributestocalculationofinfletion.Inthesegmentofcutflowerstoo,
ourexportshasnotbeenveryencouragingduringXIthplanperiodwhich tooneeds
attention during XIIth plan period for achieving sustainablehigher growth rate of
horticulturesectoringeneral.

New Initiatives taken by NHB during XIth Plan Period for Improving Post Harves
Management ofHorticulture Produce-DuringXIth Plan period, folowing new initiativ
have been taken by NHB jointly with cold storage industry, BIS, BEE, ITs,CONCO
ICARInstitutionstoaddresstoabovementionedissuesrelatingtopostharvesthandling
andcoldchainforfreshhorticultureproduce-
a. TechnicalStandards have been firmed up for cold storages for different types
horticulture produce, scientific fruit ripening chambers and specialised transport
vehiclesincludingrefrigeratedvans/containers,
b. Differentialcostnormsforcoldstorages,promotingadvancestackingsystemand
mechanisedhandlinghavebeenintroduced,
c. Trainingmodules for certificate course in cold storage operation&maintenance
have been designedand courses for training of cold storage operatorsaregoing
on,
d. Technical Specifications for mechanised sorting & grading system for potatoes,
onionandappleshavebeenfirmedupand introducedunderitsschemes,
e. Technical design features and cost norms for conveyor belts for handling hav
beenintroducedformezzaninetypetraditionalcoldstorages.
f. Financialincentiveavailableunder ongoingplan schemeshavebeenextended to
hi-tech, commercial vegetable production related projects which include
componentsofpostharvestinfrastructure,
g. NHBalongwith CONCOR has takeninitiative to introduceinsulated&ventilated
freightcontainersforthepurposeoflongdistancetransportofperishables,results
ofwhichareyettobeseen.
h. AnewschemeofHorticulturePark/CommonFacilityCentrehasbeenintroduced
which facilitates higher amount of investment in Common Facilities for post
harvestmanagementofhorticultureproduce,
i. Appliedresearchinitiativeshavebeenundertakentodevelop/validateprotocols
for post harvest management, packaging, long distance transport in scientific
mannerkeepinginviewnotonly technicalviabilitybutalsoeconomicviabilityof
prescriptions.In thisprocess,experimentshavebeencarriedout for transportof
Dashehari Mangoes in refrigerated transport from Rahamankheda, Lucknow to
Dubai, packaging and transport of litchi in refrigerated containers from
Muzaffarpur(Bihar)toNewDelhiandsoon.

j. NationalCentre forColdChainDevelopment (NCCD)hasbeenpromotedbyNHB

jointly with stake-holders for promotion of quality regime in cold chain
infrastructuredevelopment andmanagement,

Information technology has also increased the pace of discovery. The capacity of
establishing and maintaining worldwide databases has linked environmental, rese
arches around the globe. The advancement in computer, communication, satellite a
nd other technological developments have enabled engineers or environmentalists
to gather relevant information simultaneously from many sources.
Ministry of Environment, Government of India has established a Environmental Inf
ormation System (ENVIS) in 1982. This has been established as a decentralized in
formation system network whose purpose is collection, storage, retrieval and dis
semination of environmental information to decision makers, policy makers, plann
ers, scientists, engineers, environmentalists, researchers and general public al
l over the country.
The ENVIS network has its focal point in the Environmental ministry along with t
hirteen subject oriented centers, known as ENVIS Centers, set up in the various
institutions organizations of the country in the priority areas of environment l
ike pollution control, toxic chemicals, energy and environment, environmentally
sound and mangroves, corals and lagoons, media and environment etc.
New communications links are particularly vital to make use of such information
sources as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a computer- based system for ga
thering, manipulating, and analyzing environmental data.
GIS databases are commonly established with information obtained from remote sur
veys via satellite and a variety of atmospheric and ground level surveys. GIS so
ftware packages and databases, which have almost unlimited applications, have a
crucial relevance for national and local environmental management and learning.
GIS allows for the simulation of hypothetical models of environmental management
and can demonstrate how subtle changes in one element of a landscape may have a
powerful effect elsewhere.

Role of IT in environment:
Remote Sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) provides data and knowled
ge concerning the global environment as it is used for mapping and monitoring va
rious natural resources.
Database is the collection of inter-related data on various subjects. It Ls usua
lly in computerized form and can be retrieved whenever required. In the computer
the information of database is arranged in a systematic manner that is easily m
anageable and can be very quickly retrieved.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has taken up the ta
sk of compiling a database on various biotic communities. The comprehensive data
base includes wildlife database, conservation database, forest cover database et
c.
Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and Government of India (GOI)
ated an Environment Information System (ENVIS). Different ENVIS centers
up in different organizations for information collection, storage which
ards boosting the relationship between trade and environment. This data
use during environment impact assessment(EIA)

have cre
are set
work tow
is made

IT is used for computer based modeling and simulation of environmental scenarios

for analysis and prediction.
National Management Information System (NMIS) of the Department of Science and t
echnology has compiled a database on Research and Development Projects along wit
h information about research scientists and personnel involved.
Remore Sensisng is used to monitor forest cover, impact of disasters like forest
fire, floods etc on forests and corrective meassures can be planned efficiently
.
Role of IT in Human Health:
Database is the collection of inter-related data on various subjects. It Ls usua
lly in computerized form and can be retrieved whenever required. In the computer
the information of database is arranged in a systematic manner that is easily m
anageable and can be very quickly retrieved.
It enables environmental scientists and researchers around the world to communic
ate, collaborate and coordinate.
Role of IT in in human health
IT can be used for audio, visual and data communications for medical consultatio
n, diagnosis, treatment, nursing and medical education.
IT is used for testing of DNA, creating DNA database and genetic information abo
ut population. Medical records and finger prints which are used by investigating
agencies to identify missing persons and criminals.
IT helps in spreading awareness about endemic, epidemic and communicable disease

s. With the help of Remote Sensing and GIS there is identification of several i
nfested areas which are prone to some diseases like malaria etc. based upon mapp
ing of such areas.
National Management Information System (NM1S) of the Department of Science and t
echnology has compiled a database on Research and Development Projects along wit
h information about research scientists and personnel involved.