India’s annual food and agricultural exports are nearing the ₹5 lakh crore mark, according to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 40th edition of the AAHAR – International Food & Hospitality Fair in New Delhi, Goyal said India has become the world’s seventh-largest exporter of agricultural produce, with exports exceeding $55 billion annually.
The minister highlighted significant growth in the sector over the last decade. Between 2014 and 2025, exports of processed foods increased fourfold, fruits and pulses exports tripled, processed vegetable exports quadrupled, cocoa exports tripled, and cereal exports doubled. Rice exports alone recorded a 62% increase during the period.
Goyal said the government aims to position India as the “food basket of the world” by strengthening food processing, value addition, and export infrastructure.
He urged farmers, MSMEs, fishermen, and food industry stakeholders to leverage the ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to expand processing capabilities and access high-value international markets.
He also noted that India’s recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with several countries have opened access to 38 developed markets, creating new opportunities for Indian exporters. At the same time, the government has protected sensitive domestic sectors such as dairy, sugar, and genetically modified products to safeguard farmers and local industries.
The minister further emphasized that growing international demand for Indian food products, combined with improved trade access and stronger manufacturing capabilities, could help India emerge as a global leader in agricultural and processed food exports in the coming years. give headlines for this news+