Organic exports registers growth of 50.94 per cent
Dr Anup Wadhawan, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India said that agriculture exports have performed well during 2020-21. He informed that after remaining stagnant for the past three years ($38.43 billion in 2017-18, $38.74 billion in 2018-19 and $35.16 billion 2019-20), the export of agriculture and allied products (including marine and plantation products) during 2020-21 jumped to $41.25 billion, indicating an increase of 17.34 per cent.
In INR terms, the increase is 22.62 per cent with exports during 2020-21 amounting to Rs 3.05 lakh crore as compared to Rs 2.49 lakh crore during 2019-20. India’s agricultural and allied imports during 2019-20 were $20.64 billion, and the corresponding figures for 2020-21 are $20.67 billion. Despite COVID-19, the balance of trade in agriculture has improved by 42.16 per cent from $14.51 billion to $20.58 billion.
For agriculture products (excluding marine and plantation products), the growth is 28.36 per cent with exports of $29.81 billion in 2020-21 as compared to $23.23 billion in 2019-20. India has been able to take advantage of the increased demand for staples during the COVID-19 period.
Huge growth has been seen in the export of cereals with the export of non-basmati rice growing by 136.04 per cent to $4794.54 million; wheat by 774.17 per cent to $549.16 million; and other cereals (Millets, Maize and other coarse gains) by 238.28 per cent to $694.14 million.
Other agricultural products, which registered a significant increase in exports, as compared to 2019-20, were oil meals ($1575.34 million -growth of 90.28 per cent), sugar ($2789.97 million – growth 41.88 per cent), raw cotton ($1897.20 million – growth 79.43 per cent), fresh vegetables ($721.47 million – growth 10.71 per cent) and vegetable oils ($ 602.77 million- growth 254.39 per cent) etc.
The largest markets for India’s agriculture products are the US, China, Bangladesh, the UAE, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran and Malaysia. Exports to most of these destinations have registered growth, with the highest growth being recorded for Indonesia (102.42 per cent), Bangladesh (95.93 per cent) and Nepal (50.49 per cent).
Export of spices like ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, saffron etc., which have known therapeutic qualities, has also grown substantially. During 2020-21, export of pepper increased by 28.72 per cent to $1269.38 million; cinnamon by 64.47 per cent to $11.25 million; nutmeg, mace and cardamom by 132.03 per cent ($189.34 million vs $81.60 million); and ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, bay leaves etc. by 35.44 per cent to $570.63 million. Export of spices touched the highest ever level of around $4 billion during 2020-21.
The organic exports during 2020-21 were USD1040 million as against $689 million in 2019-20, registering a growth of 50.94 per cent. Organic exports include oil cake/ meals, oilseeds, cereals and millets, spices and condiments, tea, medicinal plant products, dry fruits, sugar, pulses, coffee etc.
Exports have also taken place from several clusters for the first time. For instance, the export of fresh vegetables and mangoes from Varanasi and black rice from Chandauli has taken place for the first time, directly benefitting farmers of the area. Exports have also taken place from other clusters viz. oranges from Nagpur, banana from Theni and Ananthpur, mango from Lucknow etc.
Despite the pandemic, export of fresh horticulture produces took place by multimodal mode and consignments were shipped by air and sea to Dubai, London and other destinations from these areas. Cereal exports have done well during 2020-21.
