Ahmedabad, Dec 30 : Gujarat has emerged as India’s leading producer of okra, ranking first in both area under cultivation and total output, with the Saurashtra–Kutch region increasingly positioning itself as a major driver of the State’s horticultural growth, officials said.
According to the Director of Horticulture, Gujarat ranked first nationally during 2023–24 in okra cultivation and production. The crop was grown across 93,955 hectares in the State, yielding a total output of 11.68 lakh tonnes. Of this, the Saurashtra–Kutch region accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the cultivated area and about 13 per cent of total production.
The region’s prominence has grown further in 2024–25, with okra cultivation expanding across 12 districts of Saurashtra and Kutch. During the year, the crop covered around 14,000 hectares and produced close to 1.5 lakh tonnes, underlining the region’s rising importance in Gujarat’s horticulture landscape.
Gujarat contributed 7.66 per cent to India’s total vegetable production in 2024–25. In the same year, the Saurashtra–Kutch region recorded horticulture cultivation over 2.32 lakh hectares, producing 47.91 lakh metric tonnes. Productivity stood at 20.60 metric tonnes per hectare, reflecting improved farming practices, enhanced agri-infrastructure and higher efficiency among farmers.
Officials said horticulture has become a significant contributor to Gujarat’s agricultural growth, with a growing number of farmers shifting away from traditional crops due to better returns and higher productivity. At present, horticultural crops are grown on nearly 20 per cent of the State’s total agricultural area.
The growth has been supported by State incentive schemes and Centrally Sponsored programmes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the National Horticulture Mission (NHM). These initiatives focus on cluster-based development, protected cultivation, post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure, availability of clean planting material and farmer capacity building. Under MIDH, farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations receive subsidies for hi-tech horticulture, polyhouses, packhouses, grading and packing units, training programmes and market linkages.
The strong performance in horticulture comes as Gujarat prepares to host the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2026 for Kutch and Saurashtra in Rajkot, alongside the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE). The event aims to showcase regional achievements, promote balanced development and open new avenues for investment.
“VGRC 2026 is expected to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, global experts, innovators and other stakeholders,” officials said, adding that the conference would highlight how Saurashtra and Kutch are poised to lead the next phase of agricultural innovation and sustainable growth.
