The Commerce Ministry reported on Monday that exports of major agricultural and processed products, broadly classified into 27 categories by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), increased by 23.4 percent to $19.7 billion during April-January 2021-22 from $15.97 billion the previous year.
APEDA-promoted products account for nearly half of the country’s total agricultural export of $41.25 billion (in 2020-21), with marine products coming in second with a 14% share, followed by spices with a 10% share.
Also Read | APEDA, NABARD on pilot project to train 30 FPOs to increase agricultural exports.
In 2018, the farm sector’s first export policy was announced, with the goal of doubling agricultural exports to $60 billion by 2022-23.
‘We continue to focus on developing infrastructure for boosting exports by focusing on clusters in collaboration with state governments while taking the objective of the Agriculture Export Policy, 2018 into consideration,’ said M Angamuthu, chairman of APEDA.
The Commerce Ministry has set a $23.71 billion target for APEDA in 2021-22. Also Read | Food Ministry directs CWC and FCI to raise 29,000cr via asset monetisation.
Chart-toppers
Rice exports ranked first, with $7.7 billion (a 13% increase) during the 11 months of this fiscal year for which data were available. Wheat exports rose to $1.74 billion (up 387 percent). Other cereals, including maize, increased by 66% to $869 million.
Meat, dairy, and poultry product exports increased by more than 13% to $3.40 billion, while fresh fruits and vegetables increased by 16% to $1.20 billion. Shipments of processed fruits and vegetables increased 11% to $1.27 billion.
The Ministry also reported that exports of cereal preparations and other processed food items increased by 14% to $2.96 billion, while cashew exports increased by 11% to $383 million.
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