UP loses fruits, veggies worth `10,000cr a year

Uttar Pradesh loses fruits and vegetables worth `10,000 crore per year due to poor or non-availability of post-harvest facilities.
A study titled “Horticulture Sector in India: The State Level Experience”, released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) on Tuesday, says that UP ranks third in post-harvest fruit and vegetable losses in the country.
UP is fast emerging as a hub for fruit and vegetables by registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15 per cent and fresh arrival of vegetables produced across the state to the wholesale markets from about 28 lakh tonnes in 2008-09 to over 43 lakh tunes in 2011-12, which is likely to reach 46 lakh tonnes by the end of the current fiscal year 2013-14.
The market arrival of fruits produced across UP has also increased from over seven lakh tonnes to over nine lakh tonnes during the aforesaid period thereby registering a CAGR of over eight percent. Besides, UP also has over 15 per cent and over five per cent share in market arrival of veggies and fruits produced throughout India.
Guava, litchi, mango and pomegranate are leading fruits produced in UP while brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, onion, peas, tomato, potato and sweet potato are leading veggies produced in UP.
“Over 185 lakh tonnes of veggies are produced in UP annually and the state commands second highest share of about 12 per cent in over 1,500 lakh tonnes vegetables produced in India,” said Mr D.S. Rawat, national secretary-general of Assocham while releasing the chamber’s study jointly with Mr Babu Lal Jain, chairman, Assocham Entrepreneur Development Council. According to the study, only 18 per cent of veggies produced in India reach the wholesale markets mainly through middlemen who purchase it from farmers at a lower price and pass it on at a higher price.
The study also highlights the fact that India incurs post-harvest fruits and vegetable losses worth over `2 lakh crore each year largely owing to the absence of food processing units, modern cold storage facilities and a callous attitude towards tackling the grave issue of post-harvest losses.
Though the quantity of fruits and veggies’ exports from India has declined by about six per cent during the course of past few years, interestingly the export value has increased by over 31 per cent at the same time.