Government to Promote 20 Indigenous and Globally Popular Exotic Fruit Crops

While addressing a conference to commemorate the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, Narendra Singh Tomar (Union Agriculture Minister) said – “During the current year, 8,951 hectares area for exotic fruits and 7,154 hectares area of indigenous fruits will be brought under cultivation. The state governments have been given targets for 2021 – 22 for area expansion of these crops.” 

“India is the world’s second-largest producer of horticulture crops, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the country needs post-harvest food processing revolution and value addition amid increased agri-production. The Prime Minister has advocated for increased private sector participation along with research and development in the agriculture sector. India produces about 12% of the global fruits and vegetable production. The country’s horticulture production in 2020 – 21 recorded 329.86 million tons, higher than 320.77 million tons in the previous year” – Tomar added. 

The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a UN body. Among others, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and FAO representative in India Tomio Shichiri were present at the event. 

This year, expansion of area and production of 10 globally popular exotic fruit crops of commercial importance and indigenous fruit crops with high nutrition will be promoted by the Central Government. 

The minister expressed a hope that- “India can achieve the goal of bringing fruits and vegetables to the plate of the poorest of the poor, not as a special food but as a daily necessity.” 

Covid has imposed serious issues of food insecurity across the world. Because of the lockdown worldwide, disruptions in supply chains surfaced and the basic food items that are a daily necessity in certain areas of the world, couldn’t reach their destination.