The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released the Third Advance Estimates of 2023-24 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops compiled on the basis of information received from States/ UTs and other Governmental source agencies.

Highlights of 2023-24 (Third Advance Estimates)      

• The horticulture production in the country in 2023-24 (Third Advance Estimates) is estimated to be about 353.19 Million Tonnes, decrease of about 22.94 Lakh Tonnes (0.65%) over 2022-23 (Final Estimates).
• Increase in production of Fruits, Honey, Flowers, Plantation Crops, Spices and Aromatics & Medicinal Plants is seen over 2023-24 (Final Estimates).
• Production of Fruits in 2023-24  is expected to increase by 2.29 % over 2022-23 i.e to 112.73 Million Tonne, mainly due to increases in production of mango, banana, lime/lemon, grapes, custard apple and other fruits. On the other hand, production of apple, sweet orange, mandarin, guava, litchi, pomegranate, pineapple are expected to decrease as compared to 2022-23.
• Production of Vegetables is envisaged to be around 205.80 Million Tonnes. Increase is expected in production of tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, tapioca, bottle gourd, pumpkin, carrot, cucumber, bitter gourd, parwal and okra, whereas, decrease in production is envisaged in potato, onion, brinjal, elephant foot yam, capsicum, and other vegetables.
• Production of Onion is expected to be at 242.44 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Third Advance Estimates) .
• Potato production in the country is expected to around 570.49 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Third Advance Estimates) that is, mainly due  to decrease in production reported in Bihar and West Bengal.
• Production of Tomato is expected to be 213.20 Lakh Tonne in 2023-24 (Third Advance Estimates) compared to around 204.25 Lakh Tonne last year, an increase by 4.38.

*****

SS