Farmers in India are switching to exotic veggies due to its high returns

Farmers are switching to off-season exotic vegetable farming because of the high returns. The entire area under vegetable cultivation in 2020-21 is 87,485 hectares, with off-season and exotic vegetables accounting for 60% (52,491 hectares). From mid-June to mid-September, there is no supply of vegetables from the plains to the markets of Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala, Karnal, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana. As a result, Himachal's off-season crops face less competition and command a higher price. According to the Agriculture Department, growers selling vegetables earn between Rs 60,000 and Rs 2 lakh per hectare, compared to Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per hectare from conventional crops. Roshi, who leased two hectares in Sainj to grow capsicum and peas in polyhouses, says the profits are between Rs 60,000 and Rs 75,000 per hectare. According to specialist Rajeev Minhas, the area under such vegetables has expanded from 42,320 hectares in 2016-17 to 52,491 hectares in 2020-21. He goes on to say that ...