Horticulture production in the country during 2016-17 is estimated at 287 million tonnes, marginally higher than 286 million tonnes in 2015-16. However, onion output is expected to fall 6 per cent, with overall vegetable production also showing a slight decline.

Releasing its first advance estimates here on Friday, the Agriculture Ministry said the decline in onion production seems sharp compared to last year, which was a bumper production year.

Final estimates for 2015-16, also released on Friday, put onion production at 209 lakh tonnes, 11 per cent higher than 2014-15.

“However, as compared to the past five years’ average onion production, this (2016-17 estimate) is about 5 per cent higher,” the Ministry added.

Onion output is also expected to be lower this fiscal due to a decline in acreage to 11.88 lakh hectare in 2016-17, from 13.20 lakh hectare last year.

Vegetable production is likely to be around 168.6 million tones in 2016-17, 0.3 per cent lower than the previous year. Fruit production, however, is estimated higher at 92 million tonnes, up 2 per cent from last year.

Production of potato and tomato is estimated to be around 439 lakh tonnes and 189 lakh tonnes, respectively, both registering a 1 per cent rise from last year.

The output of spices is estimated to be around 7 million tonnes, the same as last year.

As per the final estimates for 2015-16, total horticulture production stood at 286 million tones, 2 per cent higher than 2014-15, with fruits estimated at 90 million tonnes, and vegetables at 169 million tones, both higher than in 2014-15.

However, potato production declined 10 per cent at 434 lakh tones in 2015-16, while tomato was estimated at 187 lakh tonnes, 15 per cent higher than the previous year, as per the final estimates.

Production of spices was at 7 million tonnes in 2015-16, up 14 per cent than 2014-15.