India registered excellent growth in Agriculture Exports during 2020-21
Export of agriculture and allied products during 2020-21 jumped to USD 41.25 billion, indicating an increase of 17.34%
Organic exports registered a growth of 50.94%
According to a recent data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry the export of agriculture and allied products (including marine and plantation products) during 2020-21 increased to USD 41.25 billion.
In INR terms, there has been a growth of 22.62% in exports during 2020-21 amounting to Rs. 3.05 lakh crore in comparison to Rs. 2.49 lakh crore during 2019-20.
Despite the obstructions, India has been able to maintain the balance of trade in agriculture which has improved by 42.16% from USD 14.51 billion to USD 20.58 billion.
India’s agricultural and allied imports during 2020-21: USD 20.67 billion
India has witnessed a growth in exports of agriculture products (excluding marine and plantation products), with 28.36% (USD 29.81 billion) in 2020-21 as compared to USD 23.23 billion in 2019-20.
Agricultural products that have seen the major growth
- Non-basmati rice by 136.04% (USD 4794.54 million);
- Wheat by 774.17% (USD 549.16 million);
- and other cereals (Millets, Maize and other coarse gains) by 238.28% USD 694.14 million).
Exports of other agri products in 2020-21:
- Oil meals (USD 1575.34 million -growth of 90.28%)
- Sugar (USD 2789.97 million - growth 41.88%)
- Raw cotton (USD 1897.20 million - growth 79.43%)
- Fresh vegetables (USD 721.47 million - growth 10.71%)
- vegetable oils (USD 602.77 million- growth 254.39%)
Largest Global Markets for Indian Agricultural Produce
Top 3 countries which recorded highest growth from agri exports from India: Indonesia (102.42%), Bangladesh (95.93%) and Nepal (50.49%).
Largest markets for India’s agriculture products: USA, China, Bangladesh, UAE, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran and Malaysia.
Export of spices touched highest ever level of around USD 4 billion during 2020-21.
Cluster Development for Increased Exports
Exports from several clusters were initiated for the first time. As part of the Agriculture Export Policy (2018), 46 unique product-district clusters have been identified for export promotion.29 Cluster Level Committees have been formed in different clusters.
In the past year, the export of fresh vegetables and mangoes from Varanasi and black Rice from Chandauli happened for the first time, directly benefitting farmers of these areas.
Subsequently, exports have been initiated from other clusters such as Oranges from Nagpur, Banana from Theni and Ananthpur, Mango from Lucknow etc.
New Product exports by the Indian Government to promote agri exports
Organically certified Moringa Leaves powder (2 MT) and seven unique value added products of Moringa Vacuum Freeze Dried Ethnic Village rice from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu to multiple destinations of Australia, Vietnam and Ghana.
Commercial consignments of the patented ‘village rice’ sourced from Kumbakonam was exported to Ghana & Yemen via air & sea routes.
The first consignment of Red Rice (40MT) was shipped to USA.Iron rich ‘Red rice’ is grown in Brahmaputra valley, Assam (referred to as Bao-dhaan)
Flavored jaggery powder (4MT) was exported to USA.
The first consignment of millets grown in Himalayas, Uttarakhand has been exported to Denmark.
In the current season, a consignment of Banganapalli (GI certified) &Survarnarekha mangoessourced from farmers in Krishna & Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh was exported to South Korea on 06 May, 2021.
Geographical Indication (GI) certified DahanuGholvadSapota (200kg) sourced from farmers in Dahanu-Gholvadtaluka of Palghar, Maharashtra was exported to UK.
Shahi Litchi from Bihar was exported to United Kingdom, by air, on 24 May, 2021.
Fresh jackfruit (1.2 MT) was exported from Tripura to London.
A sea consignment of value added products of organically certified gluten free jackfruit powder & retort packed jackfruit cubes was exported to Germany from Bengaluru.
Exports of Saffron and dry fruits from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to Saudi Arabian FMCG LuLu Group International.
Jamun fruit (black plum-500kgs) was sent to London by air for the first time from Lucknow, U.P.
A consignment of groundnuts(24 MT) exported to Nepal from West Bengal for the first time by road. The consignment was sourced from farmers of West Midnapore district.
Agriculture Export Policy and Export Promotion Measures
The first ever Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) was introduced by the Government in December 2018.
Objectives of the Agriculture Export policy are as under:
- To diversify our export basket, destinations and boost high value and value added agricultural exports, including focus on perishables.
- To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.
- To provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market access, tackling barriers and dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
- To strive to double India’s share in world agri exports by integrating with global value chains.
- Enable farmers to get benefit of export opportunities in overseas market.
As a part of implementing AEP eighteen states & two union territories have finalized the State specific Action Plan.
The State Level Monitoring committee has been formed in 25 States and 4 UTs.
28 States & 4 UTs have nominated respective Nodal agencies for implementation of AEP.
Key initiatives to promote Agri exports
Country specific agri export strategy reports: Interaction carried out with 60 Indian Missions and stakeholders to identify the products, potential and way forward for preparing the country-wise agri-export strategy.
Virtual Buyer Seller Meets (V-BSMs): Twenty four V-BSMS have been organized with other countries.
Virtual Trade Fair (VTF):
- APEDA has developed its own Virtual Trade Fair (VTF) application.
- The first Virtual Trade Fair was organized for Cereals product sector in March 2021.
- VTF for Fresh fruits and vegetables was organized in May 2021.
Agri Cells at different Embassies of India:
- APEDA is consulting 13 Agri Cells in different countries seeking inputs on real-time basis to further strengthen the existing Market Intelligence cell.
Focus on the Middle East:
- V-BSMs have been organized in seven countries of the Middle East viz. UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
- The India Brand Equity Foundation is planning a marketing campaign for Indian agriculture products in the Middle East countries.
- India’s largest agriculture exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are rice, buffalo meat, spices, marine products, fresh fruits & vegetables and sugar.
- India’s exports of non-basmati rice to GCC countries in 2020-21 increased by 26.01%.
- Spices export grew by 52.39% in 2020-21.
- Sugar exports to GCC countries grew by 50.88% in 2020-21.
- Overall agriculture exports to GCC countries grew by 7.15% in 2020-21.
Bodies Responsible for Promotion of Agriculture Export : AEPDA, MPEDA
News Source : PIB (10th June 2021)
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