Karnataka: Horticulture | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Historical Development of Horticulture in Karnataka

• The evolution of horticulture in Karnataka has a fascinating historical background marked by significant achievements and notable legacies.
• While horticultural crops were present in the state for centuries, large-scale commercial cultivation began about two and a half centuries ago. The pioneering efforts in horticulture can be credited to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Around 1760, Hyder Ali initiated the development of a royal orchard near Bangalore Fort, known as Lalbagh. His successor, Tipu Sultan, enhanced this garden by implementing systematic layouts and extensive planting programs. 
• Tipu Sultan introduced a diverse range of native and exotic plants, including flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other species, sourced from distant regions such as Malacca, Isle of France, Oman, Arabia, Persia, Turkey, Zanzibar, France, and various European countries.
• At his capital, Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan established another renowned garden, also named Lalbagh, which featured a variety of ornamental and horticultural plants. 
• Additionally, he developed a large fig orchard at Ganjam, near Srirangapatna. Many fruit species introduced by Tipu Sultan eventually became commercial crops in the Mysore province, including figs, mulberries (for sericulture), grapes, pomegranates, roses, and various European vegetables.

Post-Tipu Sultan Era and Early Administration of Lalbagh

• After Tipu Sultan's fall in 1799, Lalbagh was taken over by the British. Major Waugh, a military botanist, managed the garden until 1819. He then gifted it to Marquis Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of the East India Company. 
• Hastings appointed Dr. Wallich, Superintendent of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta, as Deputy Superintendent of Lalbagh. This arrangement lasted until 1831.

Transition to British Control and Subsequent Management

• In 1831, following the British takeover of Mysore, Lalbagh came under the management of Sir Mark Cubbon, the Chief Commissioner of Mysore. In 1839, the Agri-Horticultural Society of Calcutta took over the garden's management. 
• However, the Society ceased operations in 1842, and Lalbagh fell back under the Chief Commissioner's control until 1856.

Establishment as a Government Botanical Garden

• In August 1856, Lalbagh was officially designated as the Government Botanical Garden, becoming a government-run institution. A committee, including the Secretary to the Commissioner, the Superintendent of the Bangalore Division, and Dr. Kirkpatrick, was established to enhance and preserve the garden. 
• Significant improvements were made over the next two years. In 1858, Sir William Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, appointed Mr. William New as the Superintendent of Lalbagh.

Development under John Cameron

• Real progress in Lalbagh began in 1874 when John Cameron assumed charge. During his tenure, from 1874 to 1908, the garden saw substantial development. The garden expanded from 45 acres to 100 acres by the end of the 19th century, and the notable Glass House was constructed in 1889. 
• Cameron is credited with initiating the commercial cultivation of various fruits, vegetables, and plantation crops. His period is considered the 'Golden Period' for plant introductions at Lalbagh.

G.H. Krumbiegal’s Contributions (1908-1932)

• G.H. Krumbiegal took charge of Lalbagh in 1908 and made significant contributions to both Lalbagh and the Mysore State. He introduced several new plant species, including the Rome Beauty Apple, and enhanced the garden with numerous native and exotic species. His work extended beyond Lalbagh, as he also focused on developing parks and gardens in Bangalore and Mysore, including the renowned Brindavan Gardens at the Krishnarajasagara reservoir. 
• He established the Mysore Horticulture Society in 1912, which organized regular flower shows at Lalbagh. Additionally, he founded the Bureau of Economic Plants and the Horticulture Training School. Krumbiegal served the Department for 25 years before retiring in 1932.

H.C. Javaraya’s Era (1932-1944)

• H.C. Javaraya succeeded Krumbiegal in 1932. Trained at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, Javaraya focused on the comprehensive development of horticulture in the state. 
• He established the Fruit Research Station at Hesarghatta, Bangalore, in 1938, conducting numerous research trials on fruit crops. In 1942, he initiated the first Horticulture farm at Maddur to demonstrate horticultural practices and produce vegetable seeds and planting material. Javaraya retired in 1944.

K. Nanjappa and Dr. M.H. Marigowda’s Contributions

• Following Javaraya, K. Nanjappa continued the developmental work in Lalbagh and the Horticulture Department, building on the legacy of his predecessors.
• Dr. M.H. Marigowda assumed the role of Superintendent of Horticulture in Mysore in 1951, accelerating developmental activities in the state. In 1963, following the establishment of a separate Department of Horticulture, he was promoted to Director of Horticulture. Under his leadership, several schemes previously managed by the Agriculture Department were transferred to the newly created Horticulture Department.

Department Reorganization and Expansion (1965)

• In 1965, the Department of Horticulture underwent reorganization, leading to the creation of several new posts to facilitate horticultural development in the state. 
• This period also saw the sanctioning of numerous new schemes. By 1956, following the state's reorganization, horticultural activities were expanded to cover all 19 districts, marking the transition of the Horticulture Department from a minor to a major department.

Dr. M.H. Marigowda’s Contributions

• During his tenure, Dr. M.H. Marigowda extended horticulture to rural areas and made it accessible to the common people. He introduced the “4-Limbed Model of Horticulture,” which included the establishment of the Horticulture Produce Co-operative Marketing Society and the Nurserymen’s Co-operative Society in Bangalore. He set up 357 farms and nurseries across the state, focusing on developing these as progeny orchards, nursery centers, and demonstration sites for new crops and technologies.
• Dr. Marigowda initiated seed testing, soil testing, and plant protection laboratories at Lalbagh. He also expanded the Lalbagh Botanical Garden to 240 acres, enhancing it with additional native and exotic plant species. A strong proponent of Dry Land Horticulture, he demonstrated its principles and practices in the farms he established, encouraging farmers to adopt these methods on dry and drought-prone lands. His promotion of mixed cropping and intercropping further advanced horticultural practices in the state.
• Dr. Marigowda’s efforts significantly contributed to Karnataka’s reputation as the “Horticultural State of India,” cementing his legacy in the development of horticulture in the region.