Bridging the Orchard-to-Market Gap: Infrastructure, Institutional Support and Horticultural Outcomes across Agro-Climatic Zones of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Himachal Pradesh has achieved a major transition towards high-value horticulture, yet higher production does not automatically generate stable farm income when perishable produce moves through uneven infrastructure and fragmented markets. This study examines how infrastructure and institutional support are associated with horticultural outcomes across the state's four agro-climatic zones. Primary evidence was obtained from 386 horticulturists selected through a multistage stratified design covering Kangra, Chamba, Shimla and Lahaul-Spiti districts. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, one-way analysis of variance and beneficiary-non-beneficiary comparisons were used. Infrastructure recorded a moderate mean score (2.76 on a five-point scale), below the mean productivity score (3.42), indicating a persistent orchard-to-market gap. Infrastructure and productivity were strongly correlated (r = 0.68, 95% CI [0.62, 0.73], p < 0.001), with shared variance of 46.2%. Significant zonal differences occurred in infrastructure (F = 6.84, p < 0.001), productivity (F = 5.92, p = 0.001) and problem severity (F = 7.36, p < 0.001). Beneficiaries also reported higher productivity and income scores than non-beneficiaries. The findings support a shift from production-centred policy towards zone-sensitive value-chain development integrating farm access, aggregation, grading, packhouses, cold-chain facilities, processing, digital information and competitive marketing institutions. The study contributes farm-level, cross-zonal evidence while explicitly distinguishing statistical association from causal impact.