From area expansion to sustainable intensification: yield gaps, structural constraints and a vision-2047 roadmap for India’s vegetable sector
Keywords:
Climate-resilient production systems, Resource-use efficiency, Vegetable productivity, Vision-2047, Yield gapAbstract
Vegetable cultivation plays a pivotal role in India’s agricultural growth, nutritional security, and rural employment generation. During 2024–25, vegetables were grown over 11.71 million ha with a production exceeding 215.68 million tonnes, contributing nearly 58% of total horticultural output. Despite this impressive expansion, productivity has increased at slower rate, with national average yields (18.42 t/ha) remaining substantially below the 25–30 t/ha levels achieved in technologically advanced systems. The widening gap between projected demand and current production trajectories underscores the urgency of yield acceleration through resource-efficient intensification. Persistent constraints, including fragmented landholdings, imbalanced nutrient application, declining soil health, climate variability, suboptimal irrigation practices, limited hybrid adoption, and significant post-harvest losses, have restricted productivity gains. Regional disparities further reflect agro-ecological limitations, infrastructure gaps, and differential technology uptake. Recent production growth has been driven more by area expansion than productivity enhancement, indicating structural inefficiencies within the system. ICAR–Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, has addressed these challenges through a systems-based approach encompassing the development of climate-resilient and high-yielding varieties, precision nutrient and water management strategies, protected cultivation technologies, integrated pest management modules, and post-harvest innovations. Emphasis on balanced fertilization, resource-use efficiency, and region-specific technology packages aims to bridge productivity gaps while enhancing sustainability. Looking ahead to Vision-2047, the roadmap prioritizes seed system strengthening, soil health restoration, climate-smart production technologies, digital advisory platforms, and resilient supply chains. A shift from area-led growth to productivity-driven, low-input, and climate-resilient intensification will be critical to ensuring nutritional security, farmer profitability, and long-term sustainability of India’s vegetable sector.
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