Spatio-temporal Changes in Area, Production and Productivity of Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Mountainous States

Tremendous policy support has been given to the mountainous states through National Horticulture Mission (NHM) as well as specially meant Technology Mission for the development of horticulture in the recent past. To what extent these efforts have borne fruits remains a moot point. This article has captured the changes in area, production and yields of fruits and vegetable crops in the mountainous states of India during the period 1991–92 to 2013–14. The results have shown substantial expansion of area during the period 2002–03 to 2013–14. But, despite all the state support to boost horticulture, the productivity has not increased commensurately in the states of India during the second part. The vegetable yields in these states have been found lower as compared to national yields. Hence, greater efforts are needed to augment the productivity levels of both fruits and vegetables because area expansion cannot continue ad infinitum.