New Delhi: India’s overall exports of agricultural and processed food items have increased by over 21.8 per cent in dollar terms — to $7,902 million in April-August this year, from $6,485 million in April-August 2020, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The surge has been registered in the quick overall export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) products.
APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of products related to agriculture and allied sectors such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, and dairy.
According to the latest data under quick estimates of agri-related exports, released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, exports of cereals have witnessed the highest spike.
While the shipment of processed food items like cereal products and miscellaneous processed items reported a growth of 41.9 per cent, other cereals reported a 142.1 per cent jump in exports.
Cereal exports
Even as global food prices are soaring, brisk exports at cheaper costs from India, owing to bumper production in the country, are benefitting the farmers.
India has seen a surge in global rice exports — to $3,820 million in April-August 2021, from $3,359 million in April-August 2020.
The price of Indian rice is hovering around $360-390/tonne against Thailand’s $495/tonne, Vietnam’s $470/tonne, and Pakistan’s $440/tonne. Similarly, Indian wheat prices have hovered at $280/tonne against Australia’s $300/tonne, Europe, US and Canada’s $310-320/tonne, and Russia or Ukraine’s $290/tonne.
According to the latest export data, fresh fruits and vegetables exports grew 6.1 per cent — to $1,075 million in April-August 2021-22, from $1,013 million in April-August 2020-21.
Cashew exports witnessed a growth of 28.5 per cent — to $185 million in April-August 2021, from $144 million in April-August 2020.
Meat, dairy & poultry products
Exports of products related to the allied sectors of agriculture have also witnessed a double-digit jump as against last year.
Exports of meat, dairy and poultry products witnessed an increase of 31.1 per cent in the first five months of the current fiscal against the corresponding months of the last fiscal — growing to $1,554 million in April-August 2021, from $1,185 million in April-August 2020.
The surge in export of agricultural and related products can be attributed to the sustained inflation in global food prices.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), monthly Food Price Index averaged 127.4 points in August 2021, up by 3.9 points (3.1 per cent) from July and 31.5 points (32.9 per cent) from the same period last year. Moreover, the cereal price index averaged 129.8 points in August, up 4.3 points (3.4 per cent) from July and 30.8 points (31.1 per cent) above its August 2020 level.
(Edited by Neha Mahajan)
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