Fruits, vegetables paid better return to farmers than cereal during FY12-16

Growing fruits and vegetables fetched better returns to farmers as the value of production of these items continued to grow over five years to 2015-16, according to the official data.

Returns from cereals, however, remained less remunerative as the value of output fell over these five years, according to data by the Ministry of Statistics and Planning Implementation (MoSPI).

The value of output in case of fruits and vegetables increased steadily from Rs 2.71 trillion in 2011-12 to Rs 3.17 trillion in 2015-16.

There is a slight decrease in the value of output of cereals, oilseeds and fibre groups in 2012-13 and in 2015-16, said the report titled 'Estimates of Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors' 2011-12 to 2015-16'.

The value of output of cereals (at 2011-12 constant prices) fell to Rs 3.25 trillion in 2015-16 from Rs 3.36 trillion in 2011-12.

In between these years, the remuneration from cereals was at Rs 3.31 trillion in 2012-13; Rs 3.4 trillion in 2013-14 and Rs 3.26 trillion in 2014-15.

For oilseeds and fibre categories, the remuneration, as well as the share have fallen over the period under review, the data showed.

Of the total value of farm crops, nearly 27 per cent was contributed by cereals and 26 per cent by fruits and vegetables in 2015-16, it said.

"There is a decline of 1 percentage share by cereals comparing to the base year 2011-12. Percentage share of the value of output to the total value of output for 'fibre crops' and 'other crops' groups in 2015-16 also declined as compared to that of the base year," MoSPI said in the report.