Horticulture produce estimated at 280.70 MT in 2013-14

NEW DELHI: The Agriculture Ministry has estimated India's horticulture produce including onions and potato in the year 2013-14 to increase by 4 per cent to 280.70 million tonnes. In 2012-13, the total horticulture produce including fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices stood at 268.84 million tonnes (MT) and the acreage was 236 lakh hectares.

The area under various horticulture items including fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices was 243 lakh hectares in 2013-14, according to the second advance estimate by the government. Meanwhile, as per the data horticulture output has surpassed foodgrain production. The country's foodgrain production is estimated at 264.38 MT in 2013-14.

The total production of fruits estimated at 84.41 MT during the period as compared to 81.28 MT in 2012-13. King of fruits mango is the single largest contributor in fruits with production estimated at 18.67 MT in 2013-14 from 18 MT a year ago. Similarly, vegetable production is also estimated to have risen to 170 MT in the last fiscal from 162 MT in 2012-13.

In 2013-14, the production of both key vegetables onion and potato, which recently been brought under essential commodities act, is estimated to be at 19.29 MT and 46.39 MT, respectively. In case of plantation crops including arecanut, coconut and others the total productions is estimated to rise to 17.46 MT during the period under review, as against from 16.98 MT a year ago. Following the trend, spices production is also estimated to go up to 5.8 MT from 5.7 MT.