India can be major agro products exporter with effective policy

According to the study, through focused intervention in capacity building, India can enhance its agro export to surpass Thailand and Indonesia and become the fifth largest exporter in the world.

"As a first strategy, the government should re-orient the role of its extension centres, viz the 715 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the country, to handhold farmers in growing those varieties of crops that are demanded in the global market," a statement on the study said.

"Many a times, India's export consignments are rejected because of presence of pesticides above the prescribed 'Maximum Residual Limits' in foreign countries. KVKs should guide farmers on prudential use of pesticides and other agro chemicals so that they conform to the global quality standards."

However, the study pointed out that in the last decade, India has made "remarkable progress" in export of niche products such as capsicum chilly, castor oil, tobacco extracts and sweet biscuits.

"India has also made considerable progress in export of basmati rice, meat and marine products. These success stories should be replicated in other potential food products," the statement said.

"India has less than 1 per cent share in world exports of beverages, floriculture, cereal preparations, flour and starch, processed fruits and vegetables."

It recommends that India should explore 'South Asia and ASEAN' markets for beverages. Accordingly, the study says that India can tap $1.46 billion worth import demand for non-alcoholic beverages in South Asia and ASEAN countries.

Besides, the study mentions that India's export of mango pulp has declined from 154,820 tonnes in 2014-15 to 105,873 tonnes in 2018-19. "There is a need to set up more mango clusters in the country to enhance production capacity and arrest this declining trend," the statement said.

At present, India ranks eighth with annual agro exports of $39 billion, after EU ($181 bn), USA ($172 bn), Brazil ($93 bn), China ($83 bn), Canada ($69 bn), Indonesia ($46 bn) and Thailand ($44 bn), showed the latest data from the WTO.

As per FAO data, India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world and yet its share in world exports is 1.7-1.8 per cent.

Similarly, India is the largest producer of papaya, lemons and limes; but meets hardly 3.2 per cent of the world import demand for papaya, 0.5 per cent of world import demand for lemons and limes, showed FAO data.