Perspicacity analysis for priority setting in processing and post-harvest sector of vegetables in India

Abstract

The production of fruits and vegetables in India are growing at compounded annual rates of 5% and 6%, respectively over the past decade (Singh 2019). So far as its contribution to Indian economy is concerned, fruits and vegetables are grown only on 7–8% of gross cropped area but contribute more than 18.8% of the gross value of agricultural output and 52% export earnings from total agricultural produce (Singh 2019). Although, India is the second largest producer of vegetables and third largest producer of fruits with annual production of 141 and 80 million tones, respectively, it is estimated that 20 -30 percent of horticultural crop such as fruits and vegetables perish due to lack of proper methods of processing and storing. The loss in monetary term is estimated to be about Rs.20 crores annually.