India’s Agri & Fisheries Exports Reach Rs 4.5 Lakh Cr: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, July 10 (KNN) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday stated that the country’s agriculture and fisheries exports have touched Rs 4.5 lakh crore, with the potential to scale up to Rs 20 lakh crore. 

Addressing the ICC: Krishi Vikram Thematic Session in New Delhi, he underscored the need to bolster food processing, branding, and packaging to achieve this ambitious target.

Highlighting the expanding diversity of India’s agri-export basket, the Minister noted that non-traditional products such as litchi, pineapple, bottle gourd, and jamun are increasingly entering global markets. 

Recent exports of jamun to the UK and litchis from Punjab to Doha and Dubai illustrate India’s widening footprint in Gulf and Western markets.

Goyal called for a resilient farm supply chain spanning seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and farm equipment to insulate Indian agriculture from global disruptions.

A strong advocate for water conservation, the Minister emphasised the transformational potential of drip irrigation, especially in rain-dependent regions. 

He called for the creation of village-level water bodies and widespread adoption of smart irrigation systems. Upgrading to mobile-enabled, energy-efficient water pumps, he said, can reduce both water wastage and electricity consumption, enhancing sustainability and lowering input costs.

Goyal urged agri-entrepreneurs to collaborate with farmers to scale such technologies. 

He highlighted the establishment of the Turmeric Board as a step to strengthen spice exports and noted that coffee exports have doubled in recent years, although more targeted efforts are needed in sectors like spices and organics.

Goyal stressed that collaboration among farmers, industry, and exporters is key to overcoming bottlenecks in the agri-export value chain. 

He reiterated government support for such efforts, particularly through packaging and design assistance.

(KNN Bureau)