Department of Agriculture Releases Second Advance Estimates of Horticultural Crop Area and Production for 2025-26

📌 Summary:

• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released the Second Advance Estimates of horticultural area and production for 2025-26, compiled from States/UTs and government agencies
• Area: ~301.51 lakh ha (up 0.05% over 2024-25 final); Production: ~3777.76 lakh tonnes (up 1.90%, i.e. +70.39 lakh tonnes)
• Fruits production up 3.25% to 1214.75 lakh tonnes (driven by Banana, Mango, Papaya, Apple, Guava)
• Vegetables production up 1.47% to 2210 lakh tonnes (Potato, Tomato, Okra, Peas, Cauliflower); Potato 598.89 LT (+2.25%), Tomato 214.61 LT (+4.19%)
• Onion area up to 20.14 lakh ha; production ~307.37 lakh tonnes
• Flowers production up 7.47% to 45.84 LT; Spices up to 126.55 LT (Garlic, Turmeric, Curry Leaf, Fenugreek); Aromatics & Medicinal plants up to 9.76 LT

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 economy/agriculture — horticulture trends, crop production data and food economy.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Second Advance Estimates 2025-26 for horticulture
• Total production ~3777.76 lakh tonnes; total area ~301.51 lakh ha
• India typically leads world horticulture output for several fruits and vegetables

🔑 Key Term: Advance Estimates — successive provisional estimates of crop area and production released by the Department of Agriculture during a crop year, later revised to final estimates.