The commerce ministry said exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 14.7% to $11.65 billion during the April-October period of 2021 from $10.16 billion in April-October 2020, on the back of healthy growth in commodities including rice, and fresh fruits and vegetables. It added the export of rice has increased to $5.28 billion during the first seven months of this fiscal year as against $4.77 billion in April-October 2020.
Similarly, exports of fresh fruits and vegetables rose to $1.53 billion during the April-October period of 2021-22 as compared to $1.37 billion in April-October 2020-21. Outbound shipments of meat, dairy and poultry products increased from $1.97 billion in April-October 2020 to $2.28 billion in April-October 2021. Cashew exports expanded by 29.2% during the period under review to $265.27 million.
M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) said ‘We continue to focus on creating infrastructure for exports from eastern, north-eastern regions and hilly states, where infrastructure was earlier not adequate’. Steps which have helped in pushing up exports growth include promoting geographical indications (GI) tag goods, virtual Buyer Seller Meets, recognising 220 labs across India to provide services of testing.