New Delhi, June 26 || India’s production of horticulture crops is estimated to have increased by 3.66 per cent to 367.72 million tonnes (MT) in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June) due to the higher output of fruits and vegetables, according to the second advance estimates released by the Union agriculture ministry.
In 2023-24, the horticulture crops production stood at 3,547.44 lakh tonnes.
The area under the coverage of horticultural crops increased to 292.67 lakh hectares in 2024-25 from 290.86 lakh hectares in the preceding year.
The data shows that the production of fruits is estimated to have risen 1.36 per cent to 1,145.10 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, while the output of vegetables is projected to have increased 6 per cent to 2,196.74 lakh tonnes.
Spice production is estimated at 123.70 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 against 124.84 lakh tonnes in the preceding year.
In the vegetable categories, onion output is estimated to have risen to 307.73 lakh tonnes from 242.67 lakh tonnes.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said the increase in production has taken place due to efforts of farmers and agricultural scientists as well as initiatives taken by the government
The Indian horticulture sector contributes about 33 per cent to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) making very significant contribution to the Indian economy.