The country’s horticultural production during the current year (July 2017-June 2018) is expected to go up by a marginal 1.6 per cent to 305.4 million tonnes (mt) compared to 300.6 mtin the previous year, according to the first advance estimates of fruits and vegetable production released by the Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday.

The production of vegetables during the year is projected at 181 mt, while the output of fruits is expected to touch95 mt, according to the data compiled from information provided by various States and Union Territories.

The Ministry also released the final estimates for horticulture produce for 2016-17, which stood at 300.6 mt against 300 mt pegged in the third advance estimates released in August last year.

Veggie output up

While the production of vegetables was higher than the last projections, that of fruits and spices dipped slightly.

Among major vegetables, the output of tomatoes, whose price soared during the year, is estimated to record an impressive 7.7 per cent growth to 22.3 mt (20.7 mt), whereas that of potatoes is expected to grow by mere 1 per cent to 49.3 mt.

Production of onion, on the other hand, is projected to drop by 4.5 per cent to 21.4 mt (22.4 mt).

Mangoes, the second highest grown fruit in the country after bananas, are set for a notable 6.2 per cent increase in production to 20.7 mt (19.5 mt).

Citrus fruits

There will be a slight increase in the production of citrus fruits too — 11.7 mt against 11.4 mt in the previous year. The output of bananas, on the contrary, is expected to edge down to 30.2 mt (30.5 mt).

The total acreage under horticultural crops increased slightly to 24.92 million hectares (mh) from 24.85 mh in 2016-17.

The area under fruits cultivation registered a minor increase to 6.43 mh from 6.37 mh, the area under vegetables shrank 10.17 mh from 10.24 mh last year.

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