India’s export of organic farm products grew 51% to 8.9 lakh metric tonnes in 2020-2021 over the corresponding figure for 2019-20 despite the setback due to the pandemic, the ministry of agriculture disclosed on Monday.

To project the strength of India’s organic agriculture and horticulture products in the global market, India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai hosted a seminar “Indian Organic and Horticulture Sector–Moving Up the Value Chain’ as part of the ongoing ‘Food, Agriculture and Livelihood’ fortnight, the agriculture ministry said.

Talking about the export potential of organic and horticulture produce in India, Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare said, “We envisage targeting 10% export share in the global fruits and vegetable market by 2030.”

The seminar, to deliberate on the opportunities and huge export potential that the Indian agriculture sector offers, saw participation from the representatives of the Government and the private sector.

In his opening remarks, P.K.Swain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said, “In ‘Rising India’, agriculture is a dominant sector which contributes significantly to the Indian economy. With 15 agro-climatic zones, rich soil, mineral-rich water, and is driving the volume, variety, and quality. India is on its way to becoming the food basket of the world and is offering both food and nutritional security with good agricultural practices to the world.”

Applauding the expansion of the sector in the country, Swain said, “India is scripting history with the enchanting growth trajectory of organic horticulture.” He also urged the global investors to invest in the agriculture supply chain and take advantage of FDI policies introduced by the government in the sector.

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