According to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, agricultural and processed food products exports (under APEDA) rose 23 percent to USD 19,709 million during the April-January 2021-22 against the corresponding period of last year. The export of products under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had stood at USD 15,974 million during April-January period of 2020-21. The Govt. has fixed the target for exports under APEDA basket products at USD 23,713 million in 2021-22.
The report stated that the export of rice was the top forex earner at USD 7696 million during the period under review, growing 13 percent over the corresponding period in 2020-21 when it touched USD 6,793 million.
Similarly, the shipments of wheat increased to USD 1742 million during the period compared to the corresponding period in 2020-21 when it touched USD 358 million, growing 387 percent. Other cereals registered a growth of 66 percent by fetching USD 869 million during April-January 2021-22 over the corresponding period in 2020-21 when it touched USD 527 million.
Meat, dairy and poultry products exports grew over 13 percent to USD 3408 million during the period under review, adding fruits and vegetables exports were up 16 percent to USD 1207 million. Processed fruits and vegetables exports grew by 11 percent to reach USD 1269 million during the first 10 months of 2021-22 against USD 1143 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items shipment grew by 14 percent during April-January 2021-22 to touch USD 2956 million against USD 2599 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. The cashew exports grew by 11 percent to USD 383 million during the period under review compared to the same period in 2020-21.
Commenting on the export data, M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said, ‘‘We continue to focus on creating infrastructure for boosting exports by focusing on clusters in collaboration with state governments while taking into consideration the objective of Agriculture Export Policy, 2018.”
The significant rise in agri-exports is seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income through giving thrust on boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products of the country.