Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part Z (2025)

Vegetable cultivation plays a vital role in ensuring food and nutritional security in India, with Tamil Nadu contributing significantly to the national vegetable production. Among the diverse vegetables grown, cucurbit crops are economically important and widely cultivated due to their nutritional value and livelihood support for small and marginal farmers. This study examined the growth and instability in area, production and productivity of major cucurbit vegetables, including ash gourd, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd and other minor cucurbits, in Tamil Nadu and Dharmapuri district over a ten-year period. Secondary data from government sources were analysed using Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to assess growth trends and Cuddy Della Valle Index (CDVI) to measure instability. The results indicated an overall positive growth in both area and production of cucurbits across the state, with productivity showing varied patterns among different crops. Dharmapuri district demonstrated comparatively higher growth rates than the state average, highlighting its importance as a leading hub for cucurbit cultivation. Instability analysis revealed that fluctuations in area and production were more pronounced in Dharmapuri, particularly for certain gourd varieties, while productivity remained relatively stable for most crops.