Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
Gujarat has emerged as the country’s leading producer of okra, with the Saurashtra–Kutch region increasingly 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 during 2023–24 both in terms of area under okra cultivation and overall production. Okra was cultivated across 93,955 hectares in Gujarat, with a total production of 11.68 lakh tonnes. Of this, the Saurashtra–Kutch region accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the cultivated area and about 13% of total production.
In 2024–25, okra cultivation expanded across 12 districts of Saurashtra and Kutch, covering around 14,000 hectares and yielding close to 1.5 lakh tonnes, underlining the region’s growing importance in the State’s horticulture landscape.
Gujarat contributed 7.66% to India’s total vegetable production during 2024–25. In the same year, the Saurashtra–Kutch region recorded cultivation across 2.32 lakh hectares, producing 47.91 lakh metric tonnes of horticultural output. Productivity stood at 20.60 metric tonnes per hectare, reflecting improved farming practices, better agri-infrastructure, and higher efficiency among farmers.
Horticulture has become a significant contributor to Gujarat’s agricultural growth, with an increasing number of farmers shifting from traditional crops due to higher productivity and better returns per hectare. Backed by proactive government policies, horticultural crops are now grown on nearly 20 per cent of the State’s total agricultural area.
The Department of Horticulture is implementing several State incentive schemes along with Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the 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 Organisations (FPOs) receive subsidies for hi-tech horticulture, polyhouses, packhouses, 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 Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) will also be held alongside 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 policymakers, industry leaders, global experts, innovators, and other stakeholders. Through sector-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.
Published – December 30, 2025 05:24 am IST
