Horticulture Production in India: 2023-24 Third Advance Estimates

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released the Third Advance Estimates for the horticulture production for nationwide 2023-24. These estimates provide detailed insights into the area and production of various horticultural crops across the country.

Table of Contents

1. Total Horticulture Overview: 2022-23 to 2023-24

According to the latest data, the total horticulture production for 2023-24 is estimated at 353.19 million tonnes, marking a 0.65% decline from the 2022-23 final estimates of 355.48 million tonnes. The area under horticulture has increased to 28.98 million hectares in the third advance estimate of 2023-24, up from 28.44 million hectares in 2022-23.

Year	Area (Million Ha)	Production (Million Tonnes)
2022-23	28.44	355.48
2023-24 (2nd Adv. Estimates)	28.63	352.23
2023-24 (3rd Adv. Estimates)	28.98	353.19

Despite the slight decrease in total production, there have been increases in the production of specific crops, particularly fruits, flowers, and medicinal plants.

2. Fruit Production Trends

Fruit production is expected to increase by 2.29% in 2023-24, reaching 112.73 million tonnes, mainly driven by an increase in mango, banana, lime/lemon, grapes, and custard apple production.

Year	Fruit Production (Million Tonnes)
2022-23	110.21
2023-24 (3rd Adv. Estimates)	112.73

Key Highlights in Fruit Production:

• Increased Production: Mango, Banana, Lime/Lemon, Grapes, Custard Apple.
• Decreased Production: Apple, Sweet Orange, Mandarin, Guava, Litchi, Pomegranate, Pineapple.

3. Vegetable Production Highlights

Vegetable production in 2023-24 is projected to be around 205.80 million tonnes, reflecting a decrease compared to 2022-23. The key drivers of vegetable production trends include an increase in crops like tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, tapioca, bottle gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd, and okra.

Year	Vegetable Production (Million Tonnes)
2022-23	212.55
2023-24 (3rd Adv. Estimates)	205.80

Key Highlights in Vegetable Production:

• Increased Production: Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tapioca, Bottle Gourd, Pumpkin, Carrot, Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Parwal, Okra.
• Decreased Production: Potato, Onion, Brinjal, Elephant Foot Yam, Capsicum.

4. Key Crop-Specific Data

• Onion: Production is expected to decline to 242.44 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, down from 302.08 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
• Potato: Estimated production is 570.49 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, mainly due to decreases in Bihar and West Bengal, compared to 601.42 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
• Tomato: Production is expected to increase to 213.20 lakh tonnes, a 4.37% rise from 204.25 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.

5. Conclusion

India’s horticulture sector for 2023-24 shows a mix of gains and challenges. While fruit production is expected to rise, vegetable production faces slight decreases, particularly in key crops like potatoes and onions. Overall, the area under horticulture continues to expand, underscoring the sector's importance in India’s agricultural landscape.

Second Adance Estimates: Horticulture Production India 2023-24 - Click Here