The total horticulture production in 2022-23 is estimated to be 2.32% more over the previous year on account of higher output of fruits and vegetables, according to the Third Advance Estimate of 2022-23 released by the Ministry of Agriculture.
While the production of vegetables is estimated to be 213.88 million tonnes in year 2022-23, over 209.14 million tonnes of last year, due to an increase in potato output, the data for onions has not been included. Sowing of rabi (winter) onions has fallen up to 20% in some main producing regions in Maharashtra and Karnataka till the first week of January due to erratic rainfall pattern and lower reservoir levels which have hampered irrigation activities.
Potato production is expected to be 60.22 million tonnes, while the production in the year 2021-22 was 56.18 million tonnes. Tomato production is expected to be 20.37 million tonnes in the year 2022-23 as against 20.69 million tonnes in the year 2021-22. The production of fruits is estimated to increase from 107.51 million tonnes in the year 2021-22 to 109.53 million tonnes in the year 2022-23.
The total horticulture production in the year 2022-23 is estimated to be 355.25 million tonnes, which is approximately 8.07 million tonnes more as compared to the year 2021-22, the statement issued by the ministry said. The area under horticulture crops is estimated to increase marginally to 28.34 million hectares over last year’s 28.04 million hectares.