Telangana faces rising fruits production deficit

Based on current production levels and future demand, the State is projected to see a fruit production shortfall of over 5 lakh metric tonnes by 2035

Hyderabad: Supply of fruits, an essential part of a healthy diet, could head towards a shortfall in Telangana, with the deficit estimated to go up over the next decade. Considering current production levels and future demand, the State is projected to see a fruit production shortfall of over 5 lakh metric tonnes by 2035.

According to the prospective plan for horticulture in Telangana 2035 released by the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTHU), the gap between demand and supply is estimated at 4.53 lakh metric tonnes, with a demand of 23.18 lakh metric tonnes expected this year.

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The deficit is estimated to grow to 4.91 lakh metric tonnes, with demand pegged at 23.56 lakh metric tonnes in 2030. Further, the shortfall is assessed at 5.09 lakh metric tonnes, while demand for fruits touches 23.74 lakh metric tonnes by 2035.

The university arrived at these numbers based on the population growth, the ICMR’s recommendations of 100 grams of fruit per person per day, allowing 30 per cent exports, five per cent for processing and 30 per cent towards post-harvest losses.

As per the university, the State had a total of 11.91 lakh acres with horticulture crops, producing 42.58 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. Mango, sweet orange, acid lime, guava, pomegranate, tomato, brinjal, oil palm, chilli, and turmeric are the major horticultural crops cultivated in the State.

While horticulture crops occupy six per cent of the total gross cropped area in the State, contributing 30 per cent to the State’s agricultural gross value output in 2022-23, the growth rate of fruit crops has been recorded at only 1.6 per cent with a coefficient of variation at 6.77 per cent. This indicates that although the growth is low, it is stable.

The vegetable crops area, which reached the peak in 2018-19 in the State, saw negative growth at (-) 8.4 per cent during the last decade, with a very high coefficient variation of about 31 per cent, which must be addressed immediately, the university said.

Non-profitability, non-availability of quality seedlings in time, scarcity of labour, high wage rates, lack of proper machinery and marketing facilities, high transportation costs, and low returns per unit area are among several constraints that have been identified in the horticultural crop production in the State.

The report was drafted by SKLTHU Vice Chancellor Dr D Raji Reddy, Registrar Dr A Bhagwan and Principal Scientist Dr GP Sunandini.

Need for expansion

• An additional 1.32 lakh acres need to be brought under fruit cultivation over next five years in potential districts
• Targeted fruits – guava, papaya, banana, sapota, pomegranate, dragon fruit, grapes, date palm, fig, jamun, amla, and custard apples
• Discouraging farmers from area expansion under mango and sweet orange, as the State has excess production
• An area of 2.45 lakh acres has to be expanded under vegetables like tomato, brinjal, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower and radish in the next five years
• Action plan for cultivation of off season/lean period vegetables is to be implemented