The country's exports of agricultural and processed food products, including fruits, vegetables, basmati rice, and livestocks, may touch Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 1 lakh crore) in the next five years if the current pace of growth is maintained, according to a senior official of Apeda (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority).
Apeda, which monitors and promotes exports of over 100 food items such as dairy, meat, poultry, beverages and flowers, has made ambitious projections about growing demand of these products in the international market.
"If current pace of growth and processing are maintained during the next five years, the exports of Apeda monitored products should exceed Rs 100,000 crore which is about 5% of the total global agri exports," S Dave, director, Apeda, said at a seminar organised by Assocham in New Delhi.
Despite global slowdown, the exports of these products grew by 24% in rupee terms to Rs 39,461 crore and 10% in dollar terms to $8.67 billion in 2008-09. The products in the Apeda portfolio account for 46% of India's cumulative agri exports estimated to be about $18 billion (about 2% of the global farm exports).
"Fortunately, agriculture has been one sector which has shown a consistent growth in spite of the global slowdown," Dave said.
He said the country had made considerable progress in ready-to-eat foods and organic products but "more efforts need to be put in to add value and the maximum revenue would come from such kind of value addition."
"We are working on a cluster-based approach, regularly participate in the meetings of international food standard organizations like Codex. We are also working with the industry on initiatives like monitoring of pesticide residues, good agricultural practices and traceability mechanism," Dave said.
Source : fnbnews
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