Horticulture output up 2.2 pc at 307.2 MT in 2017-18

Horticulture production is estimated to have risen by 2.2 per cent to 307.2 million tonnes (MT) during 2017-18, according to agriculture ministry.

Fruits output is estimated to be 2 per cent higher at 94.4 million tonnes, while the production of vegetables is up 2.2 per cent at about 182 million tonnes in 2017-18 as against the previous year, an official statement said today.

"The total horticulture production of the country is estimated to be 307.2 million tonnes during 2017-18, which is 2.2 per cent higher than the previous year and 8.6 per cent higher than the past 5 year's average production," it said.

According to the data, onion production is estimated to have fallen at 21.8 million tonnes from 22.4 million tonnes in the previous year.

Potato output is estimated to have increased to 50.3 million tonnes in the 2017-18 as against 48.6 million tonnes in the previous year.

The production of tomatoes is likely to be around 22 million tonnes as against 20.7 million tonnes in 2016-17, the statement said.

The agriculture ministry has released the second advance estimates, which has been prepared on the basis of information received from state departments of horticulture / agriculture and various agencies like Directorate of Arecanut and Species Development (DASD), Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development (DCCD) and National Bee Board (NBB).