How has India's agriculture & allied sector achieved a 54.6% increase in output from 2011–12 to 2023–24?

New Delhi, June 27 (NationPress) The Gross Value of Output (GVO) from the agriculture and allied sector at constant prices has exhibited consistent growth, rising from Rs 1,908 thousand crore in 2011–12 to Rs 2,949 thousand crore in 2023–24. This represents a remarkable increase of about 54.6 per cent, as reported by the Ministry of Statistics on Friday.

The crop sector, with a GVO of Rs 1,595 thousand crore, continues to be the primary contributor to the total GVO (at constant prices) of agriculture and allied sectors, holding a share of 54.1 per cent in 2023-24. Notably, cereals, along with fruits and vegetables, accounted for 52.5 per cent of the total crop GVO in 2023-24, according to the report.

Among cereals, paddy and wheat alone represent about 85 per cent of the GVO (at constant prices) of all cereals in 2023-24.

The report highlights that five states—Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana, and Haryana—collectively contributed nearly 53 per cent of the GVO (at constant prices) of cereals in 2023-24. Uttar Pradesh retained its leading position, although its share declined from 18.6 per cent in 2011-12 to 17.2 per cent in 2023-24.

In the fruit sector for 2023-24, the GVO of bananas (₹47.0 thousand crore) has outpaced that of mangoes (Rs 46.1 thousand crore). Mango was the top contributor in the fruit sector consistently from 2011-12 to 2021-22.

Potato has maintained its status as the top contributor in the vegetable sector from 2011-12 to 2023-24. Its GVO increased to Rs 37.2 thousand crore in 2023-24 from Rs 21.3 thousand crore in 2011-12.

Floriculture has seen substantial growth in GVO at constant prices, nearly doubling from Rs 17.4 thousand crore in 2011–12 to Rs 28.1 thousand crore in 2023–24, reflecting increasing commercial interest and diversification in horticulture.

The state-wise contributions to the GVO (at constant prices) for ‘fruits and vegetables’ and floriculture have significantly changed from 2011–12 to 2023–24, indicating shifts in production dynamics and regional agricultural advancements, according to the report.

Madhya Pradesh's share (19.2 per cent) in the GVO of ‘condiments & spices’ in 2023-24 made a significant leap, positioning it as the top contributor in this category, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat at 16.6 per cent and 15.5 per cent, respectively.

The GVO from livestock products surged from Rs 488 thousand crore in 2011-12 to Rs 919 thousand crore in 2023-24, marking it as one of the fastest-growing segments in agriculture and allied activities.

Milk remains the dominant product in this sector in 2023-24, although its share decreased from 67.2 per cent to 65.9 per cent between 2011-12 and 2023-24. The share of the meat category in the total GVO of the livestock sector grew from 19.7 per cent to 24.1 per cent during the same period (at constant prices).

The ‘Forestry and Logging’ sector has shown moderate yet steady growth, increasing from Rs 149 thousand crore to Rs 227 thousand crore from 2011-12 to 2023-24. The share of industrial wood value surged from 49.9 per cent in 2011-12 to 70.2 per cent in 2023-24.

The ‘Fishing and aquaculture’ sub-sector is increasingly vital in India's agricultural GVA, with its contribution rising significantly from 4.2 per cent in 2011-12 to 7.0 per cent in 2023-24. The share of inland fish declined from 57.7 per cent to 50.2 per cent during this period, whereas the share of marine fish increased from 42.3 per cent to 49.8 per cent.

Notable changes in GVO in Fisheries have been recorded in the two major contributing states of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh from 2011-12 to 2022-23.