Cultivation of Fruits and Vegetables

Cultivation of Fruits and Vegetables

            Depending on the rainfall situation, weather and temperature conditions, availability of water in reservoirs, irrigation facilities and inter-crop shift in the area coverage on account of comparative profitability of other competing crops, the area under foodgrains in the country in the recent years has been fluctuating. However, due to higher profitability of horticultural crops, the overall area under fruits and vegetables in the country has been increasing. A statement showing details of area under foodgrains, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables for the year 2009-10 onwards is given below:

Crops	Area (Lakh Hectare)
	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Food grains	1213.34	1266.71	1247.55	1207.76	1250.40	1208.93*
Oilseeds	259.59	272.24	263.08	264.84	280.51	259.99*
Fruits	63.29	63.83	67.04	69.82	72.16	73.42#
Vegetables	79.85	84.95	89.90	92.05	93.96	93.55#

    *As per 2^nd advance estimate released by DES. # As per 1^st advance estimate released by DAC.

             In order to promote agriculture sector in the country, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is implementing various schemes and programmes such as Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), National Mission on Agriculture Extension and Technology (NMAET), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) etc. Under the above schemes the focus of Government is primarily on expansion of farm income, creation of non-farm income opportunities, improvement in productivity of rainfed agriculture, increasing coverage of farming areas under protective irrigation etc.

      

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation of Infrastructure since 2008-09 throughout the country.        

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture Sh.Mohanbhai Kundaria  in Lok Sabha today.