The share of fishing and aquaculture rose to its highest level in India’s agriculture output, doubling over the last decade, a report released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed on June 21. While the share of crops has declined, there have been changes within crop categories as well, with fruits accounting for a larger share than cereals.
While crops and livestock still account for nearly 85 percent of India’s total agriculture output, the share of fishing and aquaculture rose to 6.9 percent in FY23 compared with 4.2 percent in FY12, as per the Statistical Report on Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors 2024.
Potato and onions' share has risen. Banana has pipped mango as the fruit that contributed most to output.
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Banana had a 10.9 percent share of India’s fruit and vegetable output in FY23 compared with 10 percent for mango.
West Bengal still remained the state with largest fruit and vegetable output share, but is increasingly threatened by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The share of Madhya Pradesh rose to 10.9 percent in FY23 from 6.3 percent in FY22, whereas West Bengal’s share in India’s fruit output declined 2.5 percentage points during this period.
Within crops share of pulses also increased, with moong occupying a larger share of output than tur during this period.
Marine fishing now accounts for 51 percent share of total fishing output compared with 49 percent in FY23. In FY12, the share of inland fishing was higher at 57.6 percent.
Andhra Pradesh pipped Bengal as the top fishing economy in the country, accounting for a 40.9 percent share compared with West Bengal at 14.4 percent. Until a decade ago, Bengal apportioned a quarter of India’s fishing economy.
Livestock’s share in India’s agriculture output also increased during this period.
In a meeting on June 21, representatives from agriculture sector had demanded measures from the government to take measures to improve the performance of the sector.
Agriculture growth had declined to 1.4 percent in FY24, its lowest level in eight years, showed data released by the government last month.
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