India's horticulture production to decline by 0.65 percent, fruits and spices to increase in 2023-24

By Sandy Verma On Sep 22, 2024

New Delhi�New Delhi: Total horticulture production in India for 2023-24 is estimated to reach 353.19 million tonnes, a marginal decline of 0.65 per cent or about 22.94 lakh tonnes as compared to the last year's final estimate of 355.48 million tonnes. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, despite this decrease in overall production, major horticulture sectors such as fruits, spices, flowers and medicinal plants are witnessing significant growth. The ministry has released the third advance estimates of area and production of various horticultural crops for the season 2023-24. These estimates, compiled from data provided by states, union territories and other government sources, provide important information about trends in fruit, vegetable and plantation crop production across the country. The area under horticultural crops is projected to increase to 28.98 million hectares in 2023-24 from 28.63 million hectares in the second advance estimates and 28.44 million hectares in 2022-23. However, total production is projected to decline marginally from 355.48 million tonnes in 2022-23 to 353.19 million tonnes in 2023-24.

India's fruit production is expected to grow by 2.29 per cent to reach 112.73 million tonnes in 2023-24. This growth is led by higher yields in crops such as mango, banana, lemon, grapefruit and custard apple. However, production is projected to decline in apples, sweet oranges, mandarins, guavas, litchis, pomegranates and pineapples, indicating a mixed outlook for the fruit sector. Total vegetable production for 2023-24 is estimated at around 205.80 million tonnes, indicating a balanced trend. Crops such as tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, tapioca, bottle gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd, pointed gourd and lady's finger are expected to increase significantly. On the other hand, key food commodities such as potato, onion, brinjal, elephant foot yam and capsicum are projected to decline. Onion production is expected to reach 242.44 lakh tonnes in the year 2023-24, which indicates adequate production, although challenges remain in some areas.

Potato production is estimated at 570.49 lakh tonnes, with a significant decline due to reduced production in key states like Bihar and West Bengal. Tomato production is estimated to increase by 4.38 per cent to 213.20 lakh tonnes compared to 204.25 lakh tonnes last year. This increase in tomato production is expected to stabilize prices, benefiting both consumers and producers. The estimates also reveal an increase in the production of honey, flowers, spices, plantation crops and aromatic and medicinal plants, reflecting the growing importance of these sub-sectors in India's horticultural landscape. (ANI)