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Bananas and chillies contributing more to the economy than a decade ago

Trade in spices has risen 37 percent between FY18 and FY24, while banana exports have been up 391 percent during this period

May 19, 2025 / 13:29 IST
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Bananas and chillies have been contributing more to output as trade jumps
Bananas and chillies have been contributing more to output as trade jumps

India’s agricultural growth rate has had a sweet and spicy high in recent years, with bananas and chillies extending their share of contribution in farm output to the highest levels in more than a decade, according to a Moneycontrol analysis.

Bananas, which in FY23 overtook mangoes as the fruit contributing the most to India’s GDP further widened its lead in FY24, as per latest government data released last week. The share of bananas in total fruit and vegetable output rose to 10.7 percent, compared with 10.5 percent in FY23 and 9 percent in FY12.

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Fruits and vegetables now account for over a fourth of India’s overall food output.

Contribution of spices to India’s agricultural output too has risen. Since FY19, spices and condiments have overtaken pulses in terms of contribution to domestic farm output. In FY24, the category had a 5.9 percent share in food output, with over 22 percent of it coming from chillies, as compared to 19 percent before the pandemic.