Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Aims for $60 Billion Agri Exports by 2022

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) - a statutory body under Ministry of Commerce, Government of India said that with the support of New Agri export policy which has helped in bridging the gap between Ministry of commerce & Ministry of agriculture and India's agri exports are likely to touch export target of US $ 60 billion by the year 2022.

Centre eyes $60 billion in agriculture exports by 2022 with this new policy. “Achieving an agriculture export target of $60 billion by 2022 looks does not look ambitious, given the current global market conditions. More so, because India’s export basket largely comprises meat, marine products, and basmati rice whose demand in the world market is on constant increase,” said Dr Tarun Bajaj, General Manager, Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, while speaking at a seminar at Organic products trade fair Biofach India 2019.

“With an  integrated approach and better cooperation among the two union ministries for boosting agriculture production and trade increase export of organic food products as well as  to double Agri-exports to $60 billion by 2022 from current $38 billion”, said Dr Bajaj.

APEDA under Union Ministry of Commerce has been to develop and promote the export of various agricultural commodities and provides a platform to showcase India’s quality produce to the global market. It is also the secretariat for National Programme for Organic production, which provides an institutional support for Accreditation of certification agencies and surveillance and monitoring of organic certification process.

“After the declaration of Agri Export Policy (AEP) by the Government, all the concerned ministries that includes Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and other agencies are working in close coordination, they are also focusing on exports.  Moreover involving states since they also have an important role in encouraging exports of agriculture products from the region", he added.

The Biofach India jointly organized by APEDA and Nurnberg Messe India was inaugurated by APEDA Chairman, Paban Kumar Borthakur. About 200  Indian organic food products companies exhibited their products at the event.

“India exported organic products worth Rs. 5151 Crore  (over US  $ 757 million) in 2018-19, from Rs 3453 Crore  in 2017-18 (US$ 515 million) registering an increase of around 49%. The major demands under the organic product category are for flax seeds, sesame and soybean; pulses such as arhar (red gram), chana (pigeon pea); and rice, along with tea and medicinal plants. USA and European Union member-countries were the biggest buyers of organic products from There is a growing demand from Canada, Taiwan and South Korea in recent years, Germany is one of the biggest importers of Indian organic products. Now, many new countries are also taking interest” he said.

“As per the industry estimates, India organic agricultural products market is about 8500 crores. Exports account for nearly 60% at 5150 crore while domestic market is estimated at Rs 2500 crore. Compared to international trade of about 97 billion US$ Indian market seems to be very small but it is growing very fast. “he added