India Targets $49 Billion Agri-Food Exports for Deeper Value-Chain Integration
Updated
Updated · Hindustan Times · Jun 12
India Targets $49 Billion Agri-Food Exports for Deeper Value-Chain Integration
3 articles · Updated · Hindustan Times · Jun 12
Summary
$49 billion in 2023-24 agri-food exports has pushed India to focus less on volume alone and more on integrating into higher-value global supply chains.
Rice, sugar, spices and oilcakes still dominate the export basket, leaving India exposed to shocks; non-basmati rice curbs in 2023 quickly redirected some buyers to Vietnam and Thailand.
Geopolitical disruptions have added pressure beyond farm output, with FY26 fertiliser production down 24.6% year on year and crude oil and coal output falling 5.7% and 4%, raising input and freight costs.
Value-chain gaps still limit competitiveness: fruit and vegetable post-harvest losses were previously estimated at 15-20%, processing and cold-chain coverage remain weak, and uneven quality control can trigger export rejections.
The strategy outlined calls for steadier trade policy, stronger buffer stocks and safety nets, and more investment in storage, logistics, processing, certification and traceability to balance resilience with global market integration.
Amid the Hormuz crisis, can India's new food corridors bypass geopolitical chokepoints and secure its ambitious export goals?
With El Niño threatening crops and fertilizer costs soaring, must India choose between its export ambitions and feeding its own people?
India’s Agri-Food Exports Surge Past $52 Billion: Strategic Momentum, Policy Reforms, and Global Headwinds
Overview
India's agri-food export sector has reached a record $52.26 billion in 2024, building on decades of rapid growth and now focusing on sustaining this momentum through strategic interventions and a diversified export portfolio. Key drivers include booming non-basmati rice, buffalo meat, marine products, and coffee exports, supported by eased restrictions, strong government stocks, and rising global prices. Major policy initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme and digital transformation are modernizing the value chain, while investments in cold chain infrastructure and quality standards are reducing losses and boosting processed food exports. These efforts are positioning India as a resilient, competitive global agri-food leader.