Export of agri goods up 9%

The farm sector might be witnessing a "Hindu rate of growth" (less than 3 per cent annually), but the export of principal agricultural commodities has seen an increase of about 9 per cent in the April-January period of 2006-07.

The growth has come despite a ban on the export of commodities like pulses and a fall in the export of wheat, dairy and poultry products.

Exports, monitored by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), grew to Rs 16,459 crore, from Rs 15,084 crore, in the period concerned on the back of higher export volumes in non-Basmati rice, fresh vegetables and fruits, processed vegetables, groundnut and floriculture. For the whole of 2005-06, total farm exports stood at Rs 17,918 crore.

"We have been able to enter new markets as far as non-Basmati rice, fresh fruits and vegetables are concerned. Earlier, the export of fruits and vegetables was limited to the neighbouring market, but with better storage and handling facilities, exports are taking place to European countries too. We hope the final data for the year will show a double digit growth rate," said KS Money, chairman, Apeda. 
 

MAJOR AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
Products	Apr '05 -Jan '06	Apr '06 -Jan '07
Livestock products	3,152	3,291
Non-Basmati rice	2,705	3,302
Basmati rice	2,422	2,212
Processed fruits & vegetables	1,763	1,775
Fruits & vegetables	1,589	2,266
Guargum	829	912
Floriculture & seeds	307	434
(Figures in Rs crore)                                           Source: Apeda

Among the commodities monitored, the export of non-Basmati rice grew to Rs 3,302 crore, from Rs 2,705 crore, though Basmati rice export dipped by about 8 per cent to Rs 2,212 crore, from Rs 2,422 crore. The slump in Basmati rice export was mainly due to high prices.

The export of fruits and vegetables rose to Rs 2,266 crore from Rs 1,589 crore in the corresponding period of last year, thus registering a growth rate of about 42 per cent. The export of processed fruits and juices increased to Rs 583 crore, from Rs 458 crore, while the export of processed vegetables rose to Rs 502 crore, from Rs 382 crore.

The export of livestock products (dairy, poultry and meat) saw a growth rate of just 4.4 per cent. It rose to Rs 3,291 crore, from Rs 3,152 crore. In this category, however, the export of both dairy and poultry products showed negative growth.

While poultry export dipped due to bird flu in some importing countries, the export of dairy products was affected by an increase in the domestic demand and prices, said an Apeda official.

The export of wheat and pulses also registered a decline. With a ban on pulses export since last June, export of the commodity slumped by about 25 per cent to Rs 689 crore, from Rs 922 crore.

Shortage in the domestic availability of wheat led to a decline in its export. Wheat export went down to Rs 35 crore, from Rs 556 crore in the previous fiscal.