New Delhi, April 6 (FN Bureau) Exports of agricultural products (including marine and plantation products) for 2021-22 crossed $50 billion, the highest level ever achieved for agriculture exports, an official statement said on Wednesday. As per the provisional figures released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), the agricultural exports grew by 19.92 per cent during 2021-22 to touch $50.21 billion. The growth rate is remarkable as it is over and above the growth of 17.66 per cent, at $41.87 billion, achieved in 2020-21 in spite of unprecedented logistical challenges in the form of high freight rates and container shortages.
The highest ever exports was achieved for staples like rice ($9.65 billion), wheat ($2.19 billion), sugar ($4.6 billion) and other cereals ($1.08 billion). Wheat recorded an unprecedented growth of more than 273 per cent, jumping nearly four-fold from $568 million in 2020-21 to touch close to $2119 million in 2021-22. Increase in exports of these products benefitted farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. India has captured nearly 50 per cent of the world market for rice. Export of marine products at $7.71 billion was also the highest ever, benefiting farmers in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Spices exports touched $4 billion for a second year in a row.
Despite facing tremendous supply side issues, coffee exports crossed $1 billion for the first time, which has improved realisation for coffee growers in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Exports took place from clusters like Varanasi (fresh vegetables, mangoes), Anantapur (banana), Nagpur (orange), Lucknow (mango), Theni (banana), Solapur (pomegranate) and Krishna and Chittoor (mango), the statement added.