This paper discusses the geographical pattern of India’s vegetable supply system using the data of state-wise vegetable production and the arrival data of the major vegetable wholesale markets in India. The major data sources used in the study were the“ Annual Price and Arrival Report” and the“ Indian Horticulture Database” published by the National Horticulture Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The major commodities considered were onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, peas, eggplants, and okra. The results describe (1) the expansion of vegetable supply and demand, (2) the polarization of vegetable production and (3) higher growth of markets in consuming regions compared to production regions. It was found that the growth of vegetable supplies outstripped the growth of population and was more in line with the growth rate of real gross domestic product (GDP).
The polarization phenomenon could be seen in both production and market patterns, and the higher growth of markets in consuming regions was particularly noteworthy. Explanation via the concept of BDCC (buyer driven commodity chain) in the commodity chain approaches can also have applicability to this phenomenon.