Performance of major fruits in Maharashtra

The present study examined the growth and instability in the area, production, and productivity of major fruits i.e. citrus and mango in Maharashtra, India, over the period from 2001-02 to 2021-22. Maharashtra, a key agricultural state, is renowned for its diverse agro-climatic zones, which support the cultivation of various fruits that are vital to both domestic consumption and international trade. The secondary data were collected and the study period has been divided into two sub-periods i.e. period I (2001-02 to 2010-11) and period II (2011-12 to 2021-22) and the overall period (2001-02 to 2021-22) to assess the performance of major fruits i.e. mango and citrus. The analysis employed, compound growth rates and instability indices, including the Coefficient of Variation (CV) and Cuddy Della Valle’s Instability Index (CDVII), to evaluate the trends and fluctuations in the area, production, and productivity of major fruits. The results revealed that citrus exhibited significant growth in area during period I, but this trend reversed in period II, leading to a marginal overall decrease. Conversely, citrus production improved significantly in period II, despite initial declines, indicating favorable conditions or interventions that enhanced productivity. Mango showed a substantial expansion in area during period I, followed by a sharp decline in period II, leading to an overall decrease. Both fruits displayed considerable instability, particularly in production and productivity, with mango exhibiting more pronounced fluctuations across the study period. The findings highlighted the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying challenges and stabilize the performance of these major fruits in Maharashtra. The study underscored the importance of enhancing productivity while managing the variability and instability in the agricultural sector to ensure sustainable growth and economic stability for farmers in the region.