**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will visit Lucknow on May 6 and 7, 2026, to participate in "Fruit Horizon 2026," an initiative aimed at boosting India's horticulture and export ecosystem. The two-day event focuses on enhancing fruit production, quality, and processing through direct deliberations between the government and industry stakeholders. Key objectives include formulating export strategies and integrating technology to create better market opportunities for farmers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Objectives and Scope**
* Promote fruit production, quality enhancement, processing, and exports across India.
* Provide a common platform for farmers, scientists, exporters, and industry leaders to align on a new direction for the fruit sector.
* Accelerate the growth of the horticulture sector specifically in Uttar Pradesh and throughout the country.
**Schedule of Activities**
* **May 6 (Hotel Renaissance, Lucknow):** The Union Minister will hold direct interactions with progressive exporters and directors to discuss market challenges and export strategies.
* **May 7 (ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture):** Sessions beginning at 10:00 AM involving interactions with farmers, nursery stakeholders, and representatives from the processing sector.
* **Main Session:** Attended by the Union Minister and Uttar Pradesh Government Ministers to address broader sectoral goals.
**Strategic Focus Areas**
* **Quality and Standards:** Discussions regarding quality improvement, value addition, and achieving "zero rejection" in international trade.
* **Organizational Support:** Strengthening the role of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the fruit sector.
* **Innovation:** Adoption of new technologies and innovation to open fresh avenues for market growth.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fruit Exporters**
**Impact:** They receive a high-level platform to communicate market challenges and help shape national export strategies.
**Action Required:** Participate in the May 6 interaction to provide feedback on trade barriers and formulate sector-specific strategies.
**Farmers and Nursery Stakeholders**
**Impact:** Direct access to government leadership and scientific experts to improve production quality and explore new market opportunities.
**Action Required:** Attend the May 7 sessions at ICAR-CISH to engage in dialogues regarding production and nursery management.
**FPOs, FPCs, and SHGs**
**Impact:** Increased focus on their role as critical players in strengthening the fruit supply chain and sector growth.
**Action Required:** Align organizational strategies with the goals of value addition and quality improvement discussed during the event.
**Processing Sector Representatives**
**Impact:** Benefit from discussions on value addition and technological adoption intended to modernize the processing ecosystem.
**Action Required:** Engage in deliberations on May 7 regarding infrastructure and processing standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Fruit Horizon 2026: A major initiative and event series aimed at promoting fruit production, quality enhancement, processing, and exports to strengthen India’s horticulture ecosystem.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, leading the strategic deliberations and stakeholder interactions for the fruit sector.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The primary central ministry responsible for the horticulture sector and the organization of the Fruit Horizon 2026 programme.
ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH): The specialized research institute in Lucknow serving as the venue for technical sessions and interactions with farmers and industry stakeholders.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: The central location hosting the deliberations, serving as the focal point for accelerating the growth of the fruit sector in the region and across India.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on
Two-Day Visit to Lucknow
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to
Participate in Fruit Horizon 2026 in Lucknow, Horticulture
Sector Set for Major Boost
Fruit Growers and Exporters to Get Big Platform in Presence
of Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Farmers, Scientists and Industry Leaders to Come Together
Fruit Horizon 2026 to Bring New Momentum to India’s
Horticulture and Export Ecosystem: Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan
Lucknow to Host Key Deliberations on Fruit Production,
Processing and Exports Under Leadership of Shivraj Singh
Chouhan
Posted On: 06 MAY 2026 4:18PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
will visit Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on May 6 and 7 to participate in key events related to “Fruit Horizon
2026.”
The two-day event, being held in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
aims to promote fruit production, quality enhancement, processing, and exports in the country. The
programme seeks to bring together farmers, scientists, exporters, and other stakeholders on a common
platform to provide a new direction to the fruit sector.
On May 6, at Hotel Renaissance, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
will hold direct interactions with exporters and other stakeholders. As per the schedule, the Minister will
meet progressive exporters later this evening and also hold discussions with exporters, directors, and other
stakeholders. The interaction will focus on increasing fruit exports, understanding market challenges, and
formulating better strategies for the sector.
The discussions are expected to strengthen the country’s fruit trade and create better opportunities for
farmers.The main programme will be held on May 7 at the ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture
(CISH), Rahman khera, Lucknow. According to the schedule, from 10:00 AM onwards, Union Minister
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will interact with farmers, nursery stakeholders, and representatives from the
processing sector. This will be followed by the main session, which will also be attended by Uttar Pradesh
Government Ministers Shri Surya Pratap Shahi and Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh.
The broader agenda of the programme includes discussions on quality improvement, exports, value
addition, zero rejection, and the role of FPOs, FPCs, and SHGs in strengthening the fruit sector. The event
is expected to open new avenues for innovation, technology adoption, and market opportunities in
horticulture and fruit exports.
The Lucknow event is being seen as an important step towards accelerating the growth of the fruit sector
in Uttar Pradesh as well as across the country. Several senior scientists, along with senior officials from
the Central Government and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will also be present during the programme.
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