Short Paragraph on Vegetables in India (278 Words)
Vegetables constitute the most important food next only to cereals and milk. Important vegetable crops grown in the country are potato, tomato, onion, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, okra and peas. Vegetable is a very important produce which occupies 8.49 million hectare with a total production of 149.61 million tonnes having a productivity of 17.42 tonnes per hectare.
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The area under vegetable in India increased from 6 million hectare in 2011-02 to 8.49 million hectare during 2011-12. India is the second largest producer at vegetable after china and is a leader in the production of Peas and Okra. Besides, India occupies the second position in the production of brinjal Cabbage, cauliflower, onion, potato and is third in tomato production.
Brinjal is a major vegetable crop and is available, like potato and onion, almost throughout the year. It contributes about 8.2 per cent of the total production of vegetables followed by tomato (7.7 per cent) and cabbage (6 per cent). Onion is the fourth most important commercial vegetable crop, accounting for 5 per cent share in the vegetable production.
Cauliflower and peas contribute about 5 per cent and 3 per cent respectively. Among root and tuber crops, India ranks 5th in the world in area and production of potato and tops with 24 per cent share in total vegetable production. Annual export of fresh processed fruits and vegetables is valued at about $400 million.
More than 40 kinds of vegetables belonging to 40 different groups, namely, solamaceous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous cruciferous (cole crops), root crops and leafy vegetables are grown in India in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions. India is next only to China in area and production of vegetables.