Gujarat tops in okra production

Gujarat has emerged as the country’s leading producer of okra and the Saurashtra-Kutch region is gradually positioning itself as a major growth engine for horticulture ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2026 to be held in Rajkot, officials said on Monday (December 29, 2025).

According to the Director of Horticulture, Gujarat, the state ranked first in India in 2023-24 in terms of both area under okra cultivation and overall production. Okra was grown on 93,955 hectares in Gujarat and the total production was 11.68 lakh tonnes. Of this, the Saurashtra-Kutch region accounted for about 15 percent of the cultivated area and about 13 percent of the total production.

In 2024-25, okra cultivation expanded in 12 districts of Saurashtra and Kutch, covering nearly 14,000 hectares and yielding close to 1.5 lakh tonnes; this underlined the growing importance of the region to the state’s horticultural landscape.

Gujarat contributed 7.66% to India’s total vegetable production during 2024-25. In the same year, Saurashtra-Kutch region recorded cultivation in 2.32 lakh hectares and produced 47.91 lakh metric tonnes of horticultural produce. Productivity stood at 20.60 metric tons per hectare; This reflects improved farming practices, better agricultural infrastructure and higher productivity among farmers.

Horticulture is a major contributor to Gujarat’s agricultural growth, with an increasing number of farmers switching away from traditional crops due to higher productivity and better returns per hectare. Supported by proactive government policies, horticultural crops are now grown on approximately 20 percent of the state’s total agricultural area.

The Ministry of Horticulture implements various State incentive schemes as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM). These initiatives focus on area-based cluster development, protected cultivation, post-harvest and cold chain infrastructure, clean planting material and capacity building programmes. Under MIDH, farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) receive subsidies for high-tech horticulture, multiple production facilities, packing facilities, grading and packing units, training, demonstrations and market linkages.

The strong performance comes as Gujarat prepares to host the VGRC for Kutch and Saurashtra in Rajkot in January 2026. The Live Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) will also be organized along with the conference. The event aims to highlight regional achievements, promote balanced development and open new avenues for investment in sectors critical to the Saurashtra-Kutch region.

“VGRC 2026 is expected to bring together policy makers, industry leaders, global experts, innovators and other stakeholders. Through industry-focused sessions, exhibitions and collaborative platforms, the conference will showcase how Saurashtra and Kutch are poised to lead the next phase of agricultural innovation and sustainable growth,” officials said.