The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the first advance estimates for horticulture crops for 2025-26 along with the final estimates for previous years.
According to the data, the total area under horticulture crops increased from 29.09 million hectares in 2023-24 (final) to 30.14 million hectares in 2024-25, marking a rise of 1.05 million hectares or 3.61 percent. During the same period, total horticulture production rose from 354.74 million tonnes to 370.74 million tonnes.
For 2025-26, the first advance estimate projects horticulture area at around 30.13 million hectares, with production expected to reach about 370.85 million tonnes, slightly higher than the 2024-25 final estimate. The figures were released on Monday after approval from Union Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Fruit and vegetable production
Fruit production in 2024-25 is estimated to rise by 4.13 percent to 117.65 million tonnes, compared with 112.98 million tonnes in 2023-24. The increase is largely driven by higher output of banana, mango, mandarin, papaya, guava, watermelon and jackfruit.
Vegetable production is projected to grow by 5.11 percent, from 207.21 million tonnes in 2023-24 to 217.80 million tonnes in 2024-25. Higher output has been recorded for crops such as onion, potato, green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal, okra, peas, pumpkin, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, tapioca, sweet potato, radish and capsicum.
For 2025-26, fruit production is expected to increase slightly to 118.68 million tonnes, while vegetable production is estimated at around 216.16 million tonnes. Crops such as tomato, peas, tapioca, green chilli and pumpkin are showing an increasing production trend.
Onion, potato and tomato output
Onion acreage expanded significantly from 1.54 million hectares in 2023-24 to 1.97 million hectares in 2024-25, an increase of 0.43 million hectares or 27.74 percent. Onion production in 2024-25 is estimated at 30.77 million tonnes, up 26.79 percent from 24.27 million tonnes in the previous year.
Potato production is projected to rise from 57.05 million tonnes in 2023-24 to 58.57 million tonnes in 2024-25, while output in 2025-26 is expected to be around 58.45 million tonnes.
Tomato production, estimated at 20.60 million tonnes in 2024-25 compared with 21.32 million tonnes in 2023-24, is projected to rebound sharply to about 22.70 million tonnes in 2025-26.
Floriculture and medicinal plants
The area under aromatic and medicinal plants is estimated to increase from 0.93 million hectares in 2023-24 to 0.98 million hectares in 2024-25, a rise of 6.13 percent. Production is estimated at 0.90 million tonnes in 2024-25 and 0.903 million tonnes in 2025-26.
The area under flowers expanded significantly from 0.32 million hectares to 0.40 million hectares in 2024-25, registering a 25.24 percent increase. Flower production rose by 20.65 percent to 4.27 million tonnes in 2024-25 and is expected to be around 4.17 million tonnes in 2025-26.
Spice and plantation crops
The area under spices increased from 5.02 million hectares in 2023-24 to 5.09 million hectares in 2024-25, while production rose from 12.48 million tonnes to 12.99 million tonnes. Spice production is expected to be around 12.82 million tonnes in 2025-26. Higher area and output have been recorded for cumin, ginger, garlic and turmeric, with further growth expected in garlic, turmeric and cardamom.
Production of plantation crops stood at 17.66 million tonnes in 2023-24 and is estimated at 16.98 million tonnes in 2024-25. For 2025-26, plantation crop area is projected at about 4.66 million hectares, with production expected to reach around 17.97 million tonnes.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the horticulture sector is emerging as a strong pillar for enhancing farmers’ incomes, improving nutritional security and boosting agricultural exports. He added that the government aims to enable farmers across the country to achieve better and sustainable incomes through fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and medicinal crops.