Centre creates matrix for 50 agricultural products to help boost agri exports

As India’s agricultural exports crossed USD 50 billion for the year 2021-22, the central government has created matrix for 50 farm products to further boost shipments.

“We have also created products matrix for 50 agricultural products which have good scope for expanding our exports portfolios,” said M Angamuthu, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

APEDA which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has scripted a new history by exporting agricultural and processed food products to the tune of USD 25.6 billion, which is 51 per cent of the India’s total agriculture exports of USD 50 billion.

Besides, the APEDA has also surpassed its own export target of USD 23.7 billion for the financial year 2021-22 by registering shipment of USD 25.6 billion.

According to the DGCI&S data, export of rice was the top forex earner at USD 9654 million during 2021-22, growing 9.35 per cent from previous year when it touched USD 8829 million.

The export of wheat touched an all-time high at USD 2118 million in 2021-22, growing 273 per cent from 2020-21 when it touched USD 567 million, while other cereals registered a growth of 53 per cent in 2021-22 in compare to the previous financial year.

Export of pulses reported a growth of 34 per cent touching USD 358 million in 2021-22 from USD 265 million in 2020-21.

Dairy products grew over by 96 per cent standing at USD 634 million in 2021-22 from USD 323 million in 2020-21, while buffalo meat registered a growth of just 4 per cent as export of bovine meat increased from USD 3171 million in 2020-21 to USD 3303 million in 2021-22.

Export of poultry products rose to USD 71 million in 2021-22 from USD 58 million in the previous year and sheep/goat meat export is up by 34 per cent at USD 60 million in 2021-22 from USD 44 million in the previous year.

Fruits and vegetables exports were up by 12 per cent to touch USD 1676 million in 2021-22 against USD 1492 million in 2020-21, while processed fruits and vegetables exports were up by 7 per cent to reach USD 1202 million in 2021-22 against USD 1120 million in the previous year.

Exports of other processed food items grew by 34 per cent during 2021-22 to touch USD 1164 million against USD 866 million in 2020-21.

Floriculture products reported a rise of 33 per cent when it touched USD 103 million in 2021-22 from USD 77 million in 2020-21.

APEDA’s major exporting destination as per 2021-22 data are Bangladesh, UAE, Vietnam, USA, Nepal, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran and Egypt.