Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister while releasing the 3rd advance estimates of horticulture crop production, said – “A record of 331.05 million tons of horticulture crop production is expected in 2020 – 21, an increase of 10.6 million tons or 3.3% rise from the previous year.”
Steady growth is seen in India’s horticulture area in the past years. The estimated total area of 2020 – 21 under horticulture crops is 27.59 million hectares, as compared to 2019 – 20’s final data, i.e., 26.48 million hectares. Along with that the minister stated that – “the year 2020 – 21’s fruit production is expected to be 103 million tons as compared to previous year’s produce of 102.1 million tons. Similarly, vegetable production has risen from 188.3 million tons to 197.2 million tons.”
Onion production in the last year was 26.1 million tons, which can rise up to 26.8 million tons this year. Same is with potato production which is going to be a record-breaking 54.2 million tons (a 5.6 million tons increase from last year).
Tomatoes are expected to be 21.1 million tons, which was 20.6 million tons last year. O.5 million tons of rise is expected in fruit production, i.e., 16.6 million tons which was 16.1 million tons in 2019 – 20.
Spice production is expected to grow 5.3% higher than the last year which was 10.7 million tons.
Because of its agricultural diversity, India is the largest producer of horticulture crop in the world. But, inadequate infrastructure and just 10% of the produce being channeled into food processing and 30% of the produce suffers damage.
By promoting and incentivizing food processing and improving storage infrastructure and some new initiatives, the government is endeavoring to reduce this loss.
Horticulture is the art of cultivating plants in gardens to produce food and medicinal ingredients, comfort and ornamental purposes.
