Bottle gourd, which is also known as Lauki, Ghiya, or Dudhi in different parts of India, is a very popular vegetable in Indian cuisine. It's light, easily digestible and has a high water content, making it a great vegetable to add to the Indian diet all year round.
India is a big producer of bottle Gourd. In 2023-24, India produced 3.77 million tonnes of bottle Gourd. But have you ever wondered - which state produces the most bottle Gourd in India? Let's find out.
Which State is the Largest Producer of Bottle Gourd in India?
Bihar is the largest producer of bottle Gourd in India.
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare reports that Bihar produced 654.09 kilotonnes (6.54 lakh tonnes) of bottle gourd in 2023-24. It cultivated it on 444.5 sq km of area.
Bihar produces 17.30% of the bottle Gourd produced in India, the most of any state.
Source: adobe
Why is Bihar the Largest Producer of Bottle Gourd in India?
Bihar's top position in bottle gourd farming is not by chance. Several natural and farming-related factors make Bihar the Largest Producer of Bottle Gourd in India :
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Fertile Alluvial Soil - Bihar's Gangetic plains are made up of fertile alluvial soil, rich in nutrients and water, making it ideal for bottle gourd cultivation.
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Favourable Climate - Bihar's tropical to subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters is ideal for bottle Gourd.
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Farming Community - Most of Bihar's population is engaged in farming. Bottle Gourd are cultivated as a food crop and a commercial crop.
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Rooftop Cultivation - Bottle Gourd are also cultivated on the roof and trellis in many villages of Bihar, which saves space and increases the yield.
The districts of Nalanda, Vaishali, Patna and Muzaffarpur are the leading bottle gourd-producing districts in Bihar.
Source: adobe
Top 5 Bottle Gourd Producing States in India (2023–24)
Here is a look at the leading states in bottle gourd production in India:
| Rank | State | Production (Kilotonnes) | Share (%) |
| 1 | Bihar | 654.09 | 17.30% |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 549.19 | 14.53% |
| 3 | Uttar Pradesh | 545.29 | 14.42% |
| 4 | Punjab | — | Top 5 |
| 5 | Gujarat | — | Top 5 |
Almost 89.39% of the bottle gourd production in India is contributed by the top 10 states.
Interesting Facts About Bottle Gourd Production in India
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In 2023-24, bottle gourd production in India was 3.77 million tonnes.
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The botanical name of the bottle gourd is Lagenaria siceraria.
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Bottle gourd is exported to Bhutan, the UK, Singapore and Bahrain from India.
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The top 10 states are responsible for nearly 90% of bottle gourd production in India.
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For many years, Bihar has been the leading producer of bottle Gourd.
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Kashi Bahar, Kashi Kirti and Pusa Summer Prolific bottle gourd varieties are the most popular in India.
What is the economic importance of Bottle Gourd Farming in Bihar?
Bottle Gourd farming is a significant industry in Bihar. It offers employment opportunities for farmers, labourers, packers and transporters. It's also an opportunity for other industries like seed and equipment manufacturers.
However, Bihar farmers also face the challenges of pests and diseases, climate change and the need to get their fresh produce to the market on time.
India's largest bottle gourd producer is undoubtedly Bihar, producing over 17% of the nation's production. Its rich soil, good climate and hardworking farmers make it the ideal state to produce bottle Gourd. With other states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh following suit, India's bottle gourd production is strong - and increasing year-on-year.
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