India's exports of fruits and vegetables have seen a significant surge, growing by 47.3% in volume between the financial years 2019-20 and 2023-24, as per data from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. This growth is largely attributed to the financial assistance schemes provided by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Department of Commerce.
Country's fresh produce now reaches 123 nations, supported by APEDA's strategic initiatives to enhance export infrastructure. This includes financial aid for setting up packhouses with grading and packing lines, pre-cooling units, cold storage, refrigerated transport, and treatment facilities like irradiation and vapor heat treatment. These initiatives help ensure that exported fruits and vegetables meet global quality standards.
To further improve product quality, APEDA provides support for laboratory testing equipment, quality management systems, and farm-level data tracking through handheld devices. These measures enable compliance with stringent import regulations, including water, soil, and pesticide residue testing, required by many countries.
APEDA has also been instrumental in expanding market access by facilitating Indian exporters' participation in international trade fairs, organizing buyer-seller meetings, and improving packaging standards. These efforts have significantly enhanced the global competitiveness of Indian agricultural products.
Over the past three years, India has successfully entered 17 new markets, including Brazil, Georgia, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, the Czech Republic, and Ghana. To sustain this momentum, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and APEDA have identified key products and target countries for focused trade negotiations.
Despite the remarkable progress, challenges remain in accessing new markets. Factors such as high logistics costs due to long geographic distances, delays in market access approvals, stringent phytosanitary requirements, and slow registration processes in certain countries pose hurdles.
To address these issues, the Department of Commerce is actively engaged in trade negotiations, developing sea transport protocols for cost-effective exports, and establishing robust traceability systems to meet regulatory standards.
