Horticulture production expected at 287 mn tonnes in 2016-17

Horticulture production is expected to hover around 287 million tonnes during 2016-17, marginally higher as compared to 2015-16, according to advance estimates.

Final estimates for horticulture production in 2015-16 is expected be 286.9 million tonnes, which is two per cent higher than in 2014-15.

Union Agriculture Ministry on Friday said 24.369 million hectare land was brought under cultivation of horticulture crops, which indicated the first advanced estimate output of 287.3 million for 2016-17.

Under the first advance estimates for 2016-17, the output of 168.6 million tonnes was expected in the vegetable category (0.3 per cent higher), 92 million tonnes for fruits (2 per cent higher), seven million tonnes for spices (no change), around 19.7 million tonnes for onion (6 per cent lower), 43.9 million tonnes potato (1 per cent higher), 18.9 million tonnes for tomato (1 per cent higher).

The ministry's data showed horticulture cultivation was carried out on 244.7 million hectare of land in 2015-16, which led to output of 286.9 million tonnes.

Under the final advance estimates for 2015-16, the output of fruits is expected to be 90 million tonnes (1 per cent higher), 169 million tonnes for vegetables (1.5 per cent higher), seven million tonnes for spices (14 per cent higher), 20.9 million tonnes for onion (11 per cent higher), 43.4 million tonnes for potato (10 per cent higher), 18.7 million tonnes for tomato (15 per cent higher).

The final advance estimates for horticulture crops showed output of 280.9 million tonnes over cultivation on 23.41 million ha of land.

--IANS

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