Record onion output in 2015-16

Onion output rose 11 per cent in the crop year ending in June, touching 21 million tonnes (mt), a new record.

However, overall vegetable production remained almost the same as year before, at 167 mt, according to the third advance estimate of horticulture crops. Onion output had dropped to 18.92 mt in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June), due to poor rain. The previous record was 19.4 mt, in 2013-14.

The higher output has led to wholesale prices crashing to as low as Rs 7 a kg in producing states this year, from Rs 45 in the same period last year, show official data. The government has announced export incentives, to help the price to move up, in the interest of farmers.

Tomato production rose 12 per cent to 18.4 mt in the 2015-16 crop year, against 16.3 mt the previous year. Potato output declined nine per cent, to 43.7 mt from 48 mt last year. The prime reason was a fall in West Bengal, an official said.

Fruit output was estimated to to be higher by two per cent, at 91 mt in 2015-16. Production of spices is estimated to be six mt, four per cent higher than the previous year.

Total horticulture output is estimated to be 283 mt in 2015-16, just about 0.8 per cent higher than the nearly 281 mt a year before.