Exports of agricultural and processed food products in India increased by 25% in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2022-23 (April-September) compared to the same period in FY 2021-22.

The total export of Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) products increased to USD 13771 million from USD 11056 million in the previous fiscal year in April-September 2022.

Significance of APEDA

The initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through APEDA have assisted the country in meeting 58 percent of its total export target for 2022-23 within the first six months of the current fiscal year. APEDA has set an export target of USD 23.56 billion for the agricultural and processed food products basket for the fiscal year 2022-23, with the export of USD 13.77 billion already achieved in the first six months of the current fiscal.

DGCI&S data

According to DGCI&S preliminary data, processed fruits and vegetables increased by 42.42 percent (April-September 2022), while fresh fruits increased by 4 percent compared to the same months the previous year. In addition, processed food products such as cereals and other processed items increased by 29.36 percent compared to the first six months of the previous year.

In April-September, 2021, fresh fruits were exported to the tune of USD 301 million which increased to USD 313 million in the corresponding months of the current fiscal. Exports of processed F&V jumped to USD 1024 million in six months of the current fiscal from USD 719 million in the corresponding months of the previous year.

Reasons for growth

The increase in agricultural and processed food product exports is the result of the center’s initiatives for agricultural and processed food product export promotion, such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries and exploring new potential markets through product-specific and general marketing campaigns with active participation of Indian embassies.

The government has also taken several initiatives to promote products with registered geographical indications (GI) in India, including virtual  buyer-seller meets on agricultural and food products with the UAE and GI products, including handicrafts, with the United States.

The Centre recently organized a conference in Guwahati, Assam, through APEDA, to increase the export potential of natural, organic, and GI-agro products from the northeastern states. The conference’s goal was to promote the export of natural, organic, and GI agro-products grew in Assam and neighboring states by establishing international market connections.