India's per capita availability of fruits and vegetables has increased by 7 kg and 12 kg respectively over the past decade, even as climate changes and supply chain inefficiencies impact the overall consumption, according to the Ecowrap report for the month released by the State Bank of India (SBI).

India, the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables, produces 227 kg Fruits & vegetables per person per year, while the general recommendation for intake of fruits & vegetables is at least 146 kg per person per year.

Increased production of fruits and vegetable is states such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir have been instrumental in driving the growth in the per capita availability, according to the report. Simultaneously, several states have reported declines in per capita production, indicating the regional disparities in agricultural performance. Arunachal Pradesh posted the highest decline in per capita production of fruits and vegetables in FY2024 compared to a decade ago, followed by Tripura, and other northeastern states.

The report also indicates that despite the gains in production, nearly 30-35% of fruits and vegetables perish in the country, due to inadequate harvesting, storage, grading and transportation infrastructure. This wastage virtually taking away the benefits of increased production from reaching to the people for consumption.

This significant wastage also emphasizes the need for improved post-harvest mechanisms and supply chains to manage the highly perishable produce in the country. Apart from the supply chain hurdles, extreme weather conditions like heatwaves and cold spells also have negatively affected agriculture production and the food supply chains in the past decade.

According to a study by Indian Council for Agricultural Research, "every 1°C rise in temperature beyond 30°C during grain filling period reduces wheat yield by 3-4%," reflecting broader vulnerabilities in India's agricultural ecosystem.

The increase in availability comes amid evolving inflation trends. Retail inflation eased to 5.48% in November 2024, largely due to a steep drop in vegetable prices.  

"Most states exhibit negative correlation between foodgrain production and extreme weather conditions, repetitive climate shocks (multiple heat and cold waves) in last few years pushing up food inflation," the report stated.

The SBI report recommends investment in cold chain infrastructure, packaging and to evolve policies to minimize wastage. It also emphasizes the need to address the regional disparities in production through targeted initiatives. As India continues to grapple with climate change and urbanization, robust agricultural strategies will be crucial to ensuring food security and enhancing consumption.