There is a body of evidence linking health ailments with lower consumption of fruits and vegetables. A recent NITI Aayog report also notes that there is increased consumption and demand for fruits in India due to changing habits. Between 2009-10 & 2023-24, the area under fruit cultivation in states increased by 13% while the production increased by 59%.
There is a body of evidence linking health ailments with lower consumption of fruits and vegetables. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 16 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 1.7 million (2.8%) deaths across the globe are attributable to low fruit and vegetable consumption. The WHO further says that adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, both of which are on the rise globally contributing to increased mortality. Multiple studies (here & here) have also indicated the link between lower consumption of fruits and vegetables to mental depression, which is another major health issue on the rise.
In our previous story, we examined these trends of cultivation and production of vegetables. In this story, we look at these trends for fruits
Methodology
- The data used in this story is sourced from Dataful’s collection on Horticulture statistics, curated from the data published by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DoAFW).
- The analysis in this story is limited to states of India, including Jammu and Kashmir, and excludes other Union Territories
Between 2009-10 & 2023-24, Area under Fruit cultivation in states increased by 13% while the production increased by 59%
The analysis of state-wise data on the area under cultivation and production of fruits from 2009-10 to 2022-23 shows that the total area under cultivation of fruits was 6,323 thousand hectares (or 63 lakh hectares) and the production was 71,439 thousand tonnes (or about 71 million tonnes). By 2023-24, the area & production increased to about 71 lakh hectares and 112 million tonnes, respectively, showing an increase in area under cultivation by 13% and production by 59% during the same period. Notably, though the area under cultivation of fruits has only increased marginally, the production increased significantly, which could be indicative of higher yields and the growth of high-yielding varieties.
Papaya, Sapota, and Pineapple are among the fruits whose production has reduced
Over the years, the data indenting by DoAFW for different types of fruits has been improvised. For instance, from 2009-10 to 2014-15, the data for about only 12 types of fruits was published, including all the citrus fruits as a common category, and the fruits which have not been specifically named were categorized as ‘other fruits.’ From 2015-16, the reporting has improved. The data for different types of citrus fruits viz. Lemon, Mandarin (including Mandarin Orange, Kinnow, Orange), and Sweet Orange have been separately published, except for the latest year 2023-24. Along with these, other fruits such as Almond, Anola (Gooseberry), Custard Apple, Peach, Pear, etc. were included and their area under cultivation & production are published.
The comparison of area & production data between 2015-16 and 2023-24 shows that the area under cultivation for five fruits, namely Peach, Pear, Picanut, Pomegranate, and Sapota has decreased, while that for others has increased. On the other hand, production of Bael, Muskmelon, Papaya, Pear Peach, Passion Fruit, Picanut, Pineapple, Plum, and Sapota has decreased, while others have increased.
A recent study by NITI Aayog revealed that the food consumption patterns of the Indian population are changing due to varied factors including a reduction in energy requirement due to changing lifestyles, rising health awareness, etc. The report also notes that these are contributing to increased consumption and demand for fruits. Aligning with these, the data shows an increase in both the area under cultivation and the production of fruits. However, despite the increase in consumption, the NITI Aayog study found that the per capita consumption of fruits is well below the recommended level of 103 grams/day. Additionally, it also highlighted that the production of fruits in India is lower than demand.
Between 205-15 & 2023-24, A & P of Fruits reduced in 7 states
On a positive note, between 2015-16 & 2023-24, the area under cultivation for fruits has increased in 21 out of the 28 states (excluding Goa), while it has decreased in 7 states. Similarly, 7 states had reported a decrease in production, while the rest reported an increase.
The highest increase for area sown under fruits was observed in Rajasthan with a 117% increase from 43 thousand hectares in 2015-16 to 94 thousand hectares in 2023-24. It is followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Kerala with about 69%, 37%, 33%, and 29% increase, respectively. In the case of production, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra were the top five states with 116%, 76%, 71%, 70%, and 58% increase, respectively during this period.
In the same period, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Tripura, Karnataka, and Nagaland reported the most reduction in area under cultivation for fruits, while the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Nagaland were the bottom five states in terms of decrease in production.
Area and Production of Fruits have decreased in North-eastern region
When compared by regions, all the regions of the India except north-east have reported an increase in the area & production of fruits between 2015-16 and 2023-24. The states have been divided as follows for categorization into regions
| Region | State Included |
| Central | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Northeastern | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
| Eastern | Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, West Bengal |
| Northern | Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh |
| Southern | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
The central region comprising Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh together has reported a 41% and 52% increase in the area & production of fruits during the period. Following this are the western states with 20% and 32% increase in area & production. The Northeastern states reported a 9% and 3% decrease during the period.
The central government launched the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in 2005-06 in select 18 states for promotion and support of fruit cultivation, post-harvest management, and marketing. Under MIDH, several schemes and initiatives have been launched to boost production & achieve the objectives.
