Agri export projected to touch record USD 50 billion: Commerce Ministry

Export of agricultural commodities is set to hit a record USD 50 billion during
this fiscal year, the Commerce Ministry on Thursday projected, buoyed by a big
rise in demand in the overseas market for rice, spices and marine products.
Rice exports are likely to touch 21-22 million tonnes this year, the Ministry
said, adding that exports of non-basmati rice, wheat, sugar, and other cereals
also recorded healthy growth so far.
The record shipment has been made possible due to the measures adopted
during the Covid pandemic to sustain the growth momentum in the agriculture
sector, the Ministry said.
These measures included an extension of validity of various certifications/
accreditations beyond their dates of expiry; setting up of control rooms to
resolve problems; issuance of online certificates for exports; and facilitating
opening up of more testing laboratories, news agency PTI said quoting the
Ministry.
During the April-November 2021 period, the country's exports of agricultural
products, including marine and plantation goods, increased 23.21 per cent to
USD 31.05 billion. Export of marine products is also likely to cross USD 8 billion
this fiscal for the first time.
"With the present level of growth, India's agriculture exports are likely to cross
USD 50 billion for the first time, which is the highest ever in history," the
Ministry officials said.
Farmers in the states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West
Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and
Maharashtra have benefitted the most from the uptick in the export orders.
"Spice exports are also likely to touch record levels of around USD 4.8 billion.
Likewise, coffee exports have registered a healthy growth of around 35 per
cent, which has improved realisations for coffee growers in Karnataka, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu.

According to the Ministry, new markets have emerged in the country for the
export of agri items. They include clusters like Varanasi (fresh vegetables,
mangoes), Ananthpur (banana), and Solapur (pomegranate).