Summary:
Vegetable production is likely to fall by 7 lakh tonnes (to 116 lakh tonnes) in 2018-19 as against last crop year’s 123 lakh tonnes.Experts are unanimous that drought conditions and changing weather scenario in the state are main reasons for the the possible drop in the vegetable and fruit production. PUNE: Farmers in Maharashtra have reasons to worry as the first advance estimates of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) have revealed that the state may register a drop in its fruit and vegetable production in the 2018-19 crop year (July-June).Fruit production in the 2018-19 crop year is likely to drop to 99.92 lakh tonnes from 117 lakh tonnes in 2017-18. Erratic weather changes affect crops in several ways, besides impacting their flowering and fruiting. As a result, the farmers shift to secured crops like sugar cane, maize and soybean.”Vegetable Growers Association of India president Shriram Gadhave said the past one year has seen a lot of extremes in temperature, affecting fruits and vegetable crops. There are years when a commodity sells for a high price, while the prices hit the rock bottom in other years..