Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. File | Photo credit: PTI
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday (Feb 08, 2026) said India aims to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers, asserting that imports in these sectors will no longer be necessary.
Addressing a review meeting with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) officials here, Mr. Chouhan said the emphasis is on identifying high-demand crops and ensuring that their domestic production is profitable for farmers.
Outlining the government’s approach, he said: “Our aim is two or three things. We will not import fruit, flowers and vegetables. We must become self-sufficient in this area.”
The Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare noted that India has already made significant progress, describing the current level of production as “historic”. Referring to crops that were earlier dependent on imports, Mr. Chouhan said, “We used to import avocados, now we have started producing them.”
He emphasized the need to expand this approach to other emerging crops, adding: “We need to become self-sufficient in dragon fruit.” He said officials have been directed to identify fruits that must be produced domestically and promote their cultivation among farmers.
“I have told officials to identify fruits that must be produced in India. We will encourage farmers to grow them,” he said, stressing that profitability would be the key driver.
“They will start production only when it is profitable,” he added. On vegetables, Mr. Chouhan said India was not facing any import pressure. “When it comes to vegetables, there is no situation requiring imports,” he said.
Highlighting post-harvest issues, the minister said shelf life remains a major concern for farmers.
“Another issue our farmers are facing is shelf life. They want to extend the shelf life of tomatoes,” he said, adding that similar demands are emerging for other crops. “Now they’re asking for a shelf life extension on the custard apple,” he said.
Echoing the larger vision, Mr. Chouhan said self-sufficiency in agriculture is essential for a self-sufficient India.
“For an independent India, we have to be self-sufficient even in vegetables and flowers. We will not import them,” he said, adding that research would focus on farmer-friendly varieties capable of generating profits.
Published – 08 Feb 2026 19:23 IST