Agriculture exports (including marine and plantation products) have surpassed USD 50 billion for the fiscal year 2021-22, the highest level ever achieved for agricultural exports. According to preliminary figures released by DGCI&S, agricultural exports will increase by 19.92 percent to $50.21 billion in 2021-22.
The growth rate is remarkable because it exceeds the 17.66 percent growth rate, at $41.87 billion, achieved in 2020-21, and it has been achieved despite unprecedented logistical challenges such as high freight rates, container shortages, and so on. This accomplishment over the last two years will go a long way toward realizing Prime Minister Modi's vision of increasing farmer income.
Rice (USD 9.65 billion), wheat (USD 2.19 billion), sugar (USD (4.6 billion), and other cereals have achieved record exports (USD 1.08 billion). Wheat has grown at an unprecedented rate of more than 273%, nearly tripling from $568 million in 2020-21 to close to $2119 million in 2021-22.
Farmers in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and others have benefited from an increase in exports of these products. India now controls nearly half of the global rice market.
Exports of marine products are also at an all-time high, totaling USD 7.71 billion, benefiting farmers in the coastal states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. For the second year in a row, spice exports have surpassed USD 4 billion.
Despite massive supply issues, coffee exports have surpassed USD 1 billion for the first time, improving returns for coffee growers in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
This accomplishment is the result of the Department of Commerce's ongoing efforts, as well as those of its various export promotion agencies, such as APEDA, MPEDA, and commodity boards. The Department has made special efforts to involve state governments and district administrations in the promotion of agricultural exports.
To ensure that farmers benefit from exports, the Department of Commerce has made special efforts to provide direct export market access to farmers and FPOs. A Farmer Connect Portal has been created to allow farmers, FPOs/FPCs, and cooperatives to interact with exporters.
This approach has resulted in agricultural exports from previously unexplored areas. Varanasi (fresh vegetables, mangoes), Ananthpur (banana), Nagpur (orange), Lucknow (mango), Theni (banana), Solapur (pomegranate), Krishna & Chittoor (mango), and other clusters have been exported. Initiatives such as the 'Happy Banana' train, an exclusive train with reefer containers that transport bananas from Anantapur to JNPT in Mumbai, have been implemented to increase exports from unusual areas.
Even in the midst of the current crisis caused by the Russia–Ukraine war, the world is looking to India for wheat and other food grains. The Department of Commerce is continuing its efforts to promote agriculture exports in order to maintain the momentum gained over the last two years and to see agriculture exports reach new highs in the coming years.
