Horticulture Leads India’s Farm Growth in Economic Survey 2025–26
New Delhi: Horticulture has emerged as the biggest driver of India’s agricultural growth, accounting for nearly one-third of the sector’s Gross Value Added (GVA), the Economic Survey 2025–26 tabled in Parliament on Thursday said, underlining agriculture’s central role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat.
The Survey notes that horticulture production reached 362.08 million tonnes in 2024–25, surpassing foodgrain output of 329.68 million tonnes. Over the past decade, horticulture output has risen sharply from 280.70 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 367.72 million tonnes in 2024–25, making it one of the brightest spots in India’s farm economy.
This growth has been broad-based, with fruits contributing 114.51 million tonnes, vegetables 219.67 million tonnes and other horticultural crops 33.54 million tonnes. India has also strengthened its global position, emerging as the world’s largest producer of dry onions with nearly 25 per cent of global output, and ranking second in the production of fruits, vegetables and potatoes.
The Economic Survey highlights that the rising share of horticulture and other allied activities is reshaping Indian agriculture by creating higher-value income opportunities and improving rural livelihoods.
Overall, the agriculture and allied sector recorded an average annual growth rate of 4.4 per cent over the past five years at constant prices. In the second quarter of FY 2025–26, the sector grew by 3.5 per cent. The decadal growth rate of 4.45 per cent between FY16 and FY25 is the highest compared to previous decades.
Much of this growth has come from allied sectors. Livestock recorded a growth of 7.1 per cent, while fishing and aquaculture grew by 8.8 per cent during the decade. The crop sector grew at 3.5 per cent.
The livestock sector showed strong expansion between FY15 and FY24, with its GVA increasing by nearly 195 per cent and registering a compound annual growth rate of 12.77 per cent at current prices. The fisheries sector also performed robustly, with fish production rising by over 140 per cent between 2014 and 2025.
Foodgrain production also remained strong, reaching a record 3,577.3 lakh metric tonnes in the agriculture year 2024–25, an increase of 254.3 LMT over the previous year, driven by higher output of rice, wheat, maize and coarse cereals, including Shree Anna.
The Survey concludes that agriculture — led increasingly by horticulture, livestock and fisheries — will be central to driving inclusive growth, strengthening the Indian economy and improving the livelihoods of millions as the country moves towards the vision of a developed India.