India’s April-June agri-food exports up 44.3% at $4.82 billion
23 Aug 2021
1
Overall export of agricultural and processed food products from India increased to $4.82 billion in April-June 2021-22 from $3.34 billion in April-June 2020-21, an increase of 44.3 per cent year-on-year, quick estimates released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) showed.
The huge jump in exports of products in the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) basket during the first three months of the current fiscal is in line with the trend witnessed the financial year 2020-21.
APEDA, which is under the ministry of commerce, has taken various initiatives to help the country achieve this milestone despite the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
In terms of agri-exports, the country recorded an increase of 25.02 per cent in dollar terms and an increase of 29.43 per cent in rupee terms in FY 2020-21 (April-March) in comparison to the same period in the previous year. However, it has been estimated that the country’s agri-export will register a positive growth of about 15 per cent in the current financial year (2021-22) as well.
Exports of fresh fruits and vegetables increased by 9.1 per cent to $637.7 million in April-June 2021-22 from $584.5 million in April-June 2020-21, while shipment of processed food products like cereals preparations and miscellaneous processed items reported a growth of 69.6 per cent.
India reported a huge 415.5 per cent jump in export of other cereals while the export of meat, dairy and poultry products witnessed an increase 111.5 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal (2021-22). The export of other cereals increased to $231.4 million in April-June 2021-22 from $44.9 million in April-June 2020-21 and the export of meat, dairy and poultry products increased to $1.02 billion in April-June 2021-22 from $483.5 million in April-June 2020.
Export of rice increased to $2.40 billion in April-June 2021-22 from $1.91 billion in April-June 2020-21. which is growth of 25.3 per cent.
The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products is the outcome of APEDA’s various initiatives taken for the export promotion of agricultural and processed food products such as organising B2B exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.
APEDA has taken several initiatives to promote products having registered geographical indications (GI) in India by organising virtual buyer-seller meets on agricultural and food products with the UAE and on GI products, including handicrafts with the USA. APEDA is continuing with the initiative of conducting virtual buyer-seller meets with potential importing countries to popularise the GI products of major agricultural commodities exported.
In order to ensure seamless quality certification of products to be exported, APEDA has recognised 220 labs across India to provide services of testing to a wide range of products and exporters.
APEDA also assists in upgradation and strengthening of recognised laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans. Besides, it provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.
APEDA organises participation of exporters in the international trade fairs, which provide a platform to the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace. APEDA also organises national events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc to promote agri-exports.
APEDA also initiates registration of pack-houses for horticulture products for meeting the quality requirements of the international market. Registration of exports units for peanut shelling and grading and processing units, for instance is to ensure quality adherence for the EU and non EU countries.
APEDA carries out registration of meat processing plants and abattoirs for ensuring compliance with the global food safety and quality requirements.
Another key initiative includes development and implementation of traceability systems which ensure the food safety and quality compliances of the importing countries. Compilation and dissemination of various international trade analytical information, sharing market access information amongst exporters and addressing trade enquiries, are also part of overall thrust, APEDA provides for boosting exports.
According to WTO’s trade map, with the total agri exports of $37 billion in the year 2019, India is ranked 9th in the world.
