Kolkata, Jan 18 (IANS) Faster growth of horticulture and animal husbandry is needed if India wants to achieve an agricultural growth rate in the range of seven to eight percent, an official said Wednesday.

“I feel that if we want the agricultural growth rate in the country to be in the range of seven to eight percent, the only way it can happen is if horticulture and animal husbandry sectors grow much more faster. Because as far as productivity of fruits and vegetables are concerned, literally sky is the limit,” Sanjiv Chopra, joint secretary in the central agriculture ministry, said at the valedictory session of “Horti Food Fest, 2012″ here.

Noting that the central government has announced 2012-13 as the ‘Year of Horticulture’, Chopra said, “The reason is that the focus on horticultural crops has not been given so far”.

“The contribution of horticulture to the agricultural GDP is about 35 percent. But in terms of the drawing of manpower, in terms of the resources, in terms of the quality products which are available in the horticulture sector, we find that it has not got the attention it deserves.”

He said as the Indian economy will grow, the demands for fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices and nuts will also increase.