Gujarat has established itself as India’s largest producer of okra, with the Saurashtra–Kutch belt steadily emerging as a key driver of horticultural expansion, officials said on Monday, ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2026 scheduled to be held in Rajkot.
As per data from the State Director of Horticulture, Gujarat secured the top position nationally in 2023–24 in both the area under okra cultivation and total output. The crop was grown over 93,955 hectares across the State, resulting in a production of 11.68 lakh tonnes. The Saurashtra–Kutch region alone contributed nearly 15 per cent of the cultivated area and around 13 per cent of the total okra output.
The region’s significance continued to grow in 2024–25, with okra cultivation spreading across 12 districts of Saurashtra and Kutch. During the year, about 14,000 hectares were brought under okra, producing nearly 1.5 lakh tonnes, reinforcing the region’s rising role in Gujarat’s horticulture sector.
Overall, Gujarat accounted for 7.66 per cent of India’s total vegetable production in 2024–25. In the same period, the Saurashtra–Kutch region recorded horticultural cultivation over 2.32 lakh hectares, generating an output of 47.91 lakh metric tonnes. Productivity reached 20.60 metric tonnes per hectare, indicating gains from improved farming techniques, enhanced agri-infrastructure and greater efficiency among cultivators.
Horticulture has become a major contributor to Gujarat’s agricultural growth, with many farmers moving away from traditional crops in favour of high-value horticultural produce that offers better yields and higher income per hectare. Supported by proactive government initiatives, horticultural crops are now cultivated on nearly one-fifth of the State’s total agricultural land.
The Department of Horticulture is implementing a range of State-level incentive programmes along with Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). These schemes focus on cluster-based development, protected cultivation, post-harvest management, cold-chain infrastructure, availability of quality planting material and farmer capacity building. Under MIDH, farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are provided subsidies for hi-tech horticulture practices, polyhouses, packhouses, grading and packing facilities, training, demonstrations and market connectivity.
This strong performance comes as Gujarat prepares to host the VGRC for Kutch and Saurashtra in January 2026 in Rajkot, alongside the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE). The event is designed to showcase regional progress, encourage balanced development and attract fresh investment into key sectors vital for the growth of Saurashtra and Kutch.
“VGRC 2026 is expected to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, global experts, innovators and other stakeholders. Through focused sectoral discussions, exhibitions and collaborative platforms, the conference will highlight how Saurashtra and Kutch are well positioned to spearhead the next phase of agricultural innovation and sustainable development,” officials said.
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