Gandhinagar: According to the Director of Horticulture, Government of Gujarat, the state ranked first in the country in both area and total production of Bhindi (okra) during 2023–24. Bhindi was cultivated on approximately 93,955 hectares, yielding 11.68 lakh tonnes of production.

The Saurashtra–Kutch region played a significant role in this achievement, accounting for around 15 percent of the state’s total Bhindi cultivation area and about 13 percent of its total production. During 2024–25, Bhindi was grown on 14,000 hectares across 12 districts of Saurashtra and Kutch, producing nearly 1.5 lakh tonnes.

State’s contribution to national vegetable production

Gujarat contributed 7.66 percent to India’s total vegetable production in 2024–25. During the same period, the Saurashtra–Kutch region produced 47,91,504 MT of vegetables from 2,32,584 hectares. With a productivity level of 20.60 MT per hectare, the figures reflect improved farming efficiency, enhanced agricultural practices, and strong agri-infrastructure.

Horticulture crops: A pillar of agricultural growth

Horticulture has emerged as a key driver of Gujarat’s agricultural development due to higher productivity and better income generation for farmers. As a result of proactive measures and farmer-centric policies, horticulture crops are now cultivated on around 20 percent of the state’s total agricultural area, underscoring their growing importance, an official statement said.

The Gujarat Horticulture Department is implementing several state-level incentive schemes along with centrally sponsored initiatives such as MIDH and NHM (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture/National Horticulture Mission). These initiatives include cluster-based area development, protected cultivation, post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure, clean planting material initiatives, and capacity-building programmes. Under MIDH, farmers and FPOs receive subsidies for high-tech horticulture projects, polyhouses, packhouses, grading and packing lines, training, market linkages, and exhibitions.

VGRC 2026: Showcasing Saurashtra–Kutch achievements

Gujarat’s strong performance in horticulture comes as the state prepares to host the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC)–Kutch Saurashtra in Rajkot during the second week of January 2026. The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) will also be held alongside the conference, providing a dedicated platform to showcase regional achievements in key sectors and open new avenues for investment. DeshGujarat