Reflecting altering meals habits and consumption patterns, and the way farmers are adjusting to this, new knowledge launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) exhibits that the Gross Worth of Output (GVO) of fruits like strawberries and pomegranates and greens like parmal (parwal) and mushrooms recorded the most important improve during the last decade or so.
Additionally, whereas the share of meat within the GVO of agriculture and allied sectors rose from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 7.5 per cent in 2023-24 (at fixed costs), the share of cereals fell from 17.6 per cent to 14.5 per cent throughout the identical interval.
Gross Worth of Output, or GVO, is a measure of manufacturing that refers back to the whole worth of the gadgets produced earlier than subtracting the worth of inputs utilized in manufacturing.
Based on the ministry’s report on ‘Worth of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors’ launched on June 27, for the interval between 2011-12 and 2023-24, manufacturing of strawberries rose by greater than 40 instances, from a GVO of Rs 1.32 crore to Rs 55.4 crore (at fixed costs).
With out adjusting for inflation, the strawberry GVO elevated by nearly 80 instances to Rs 103.27 crore.
Among the many different fruit and veggies which noticed a pointy rise in GVO are: parmal (parwal), which elevated by practically 17 instances to Rs 789 crore; pumpkin which elevated by practically 10 instances to Rs 2,449 crore; pomegranate, which elevated by over 4 instances to Rs 9,231 crore; and mushroom, which elevated by three-and-a-half instances to Rs 1,704 crore.
In the meantime, improved processing helped improve the GVO of condiments and spices, notably dry ginger (up 285 per cent at Rs 11,004 crore).
Story continues beneath this advert
Indicating that folks consumed extra animal merchandise as incomes rose, the information additionally confirmed that the share of meat within the GVO of agriculture and allied sectors elevated from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent (at fixed costs). Nevertheless, the rise within the GVO of the meat group was 131 per cent, nicely beneath that of strawberry.
Among the many different fruits which confirmed a rise in GVO are watermelon (119 per cent), cherry (99 per cent), banana and mosambi (each 88 per cent), and muskmelon (87 per cent).
Whereas this can be a key indicator from a diet perspective, the headline numbers from a consumption perspective aren’t as spectacular, with the share of contemporary fruits in rural Month-to-month Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) edging as much as solely 2.66 per cent in 2023-24, from 2.25 per cent in 2011-12, as per the outcomes of the Family Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) launched final 12 months. For city India, the share really declined from 2.64 per cent to 2.61 per cent.
It’s price noting that even because the share of contemporary fruits in month-to-month consumption expenditure rose solely marginally in rural areas, individuals throughout extra revenue classes at the moment are consuming them.
Story continues beneath this advert
Altering sample
The info reveals a structural shift in Indian agriculture, from conventional staples like cereals towards excessive worth crops like fruits, greens and spices. This transition, in keeping with MoSPI, displays technological shift, altering shopper preferences, market alternatives and coverage orientation towards dietary safety and export potential.
Based on a 2024 paper co-authored by Shamika Ravi, member of the Financial Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, the proportion of rural households consuming contemporary fruits rose from 63.8 per cent in 2011-12 to 90.3 per cent in 2022-23. Additional, their evaluation prompt a “very dramatic improve” within the proportion of households that had been consuming contemporary fruits, notably among the many backside 20 per cent of rural households.
However, staples like cereals noticed a lower, with the share in city MPCE falling from 6.61 per cent in 2011-12 to three.74 per cent in 2023-24, and from 10.69 per cent to 4.97 per cent in rural areas over the identical interval. The findings of MoSPI’s agriculture output worth report launched final week had been according to this, with the share of cereals within the GVO of agriculture and allied sectors having declined from 17.6 per cent in 2011-12 to 14.5 per cent in 2023-24.
In keeping with Engel’s Legislation — as family revenue will increase, the proportion of revenue spent on meals decreases — the latest HCES for 2023-24 confirmed a fall within the share of meals in MPCE, from 52.90 per cent in 2011-12 to 47.04 per cent in 2023-24 for rural areas, and from 42.62 per cent to 39.68 per cent in city areas.