Bananas and Chillies Spice Up India’s Agricultural Growth Story

 India’s farm sector has seen a flavorful transformation, with bananas and chillies making stronger contributions to the country’s agricultural output than at any point in the last decade, according to an analysis by Moneycontrol.

Bananas have emerged as a standout performer, surpassing mangoes in FY23 as the top fruit contributor to India’s GDP—and further strengthening their lead in FY24. Recent government data reveals that bananas accounted for 10.7% of the country’s total fruit and vegetable output in FY24, up from 10.5% in FY23 and a notable increase from 9% in FY12.

Today, fruits and vegetables collectively contribute to over 25% of India’s total food output.

Spices, too, are claiming a larger share in the country’s agricultural pie. Since FY19, spices and condiments have overtaken pulses in terms of their contribution to domestic farm output. In FY24, they accounted for 5.9% of India’s food output, with chillies alone responsible for more than 22% of that share—an increase from 19% before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In contrast, the share of pulses in India’s crop output has dipped. In FY24, pulses contributed just 4.68% to total crop output, marking the lowest level in eight years, down from 5.08% in FY23. In response, the government has launched an Atmanirbhar mission for pulses in FY25 to enhance domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.

With bananas and chillies taking center stage, India’s agricultural growth is becoming increasingly driven by high-value produce, reflecting shifting market dynamics and rising demand in both domestic and global markets