Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday addressing the ICC: Krishi Vikram thematic session in New Delhi, said that India’s agriculture and fisheries exports have reached ₹4.5 lakh crore and hold the potential to scale up to ₹20 lakh crore. The key to unlocking this potential, he said, lies in strengthening food processing, branding, and packaging standards.
Highlighting India’s expanding footprint in global agri-markets, the Minister noted that newer items such as jamun, litchi, pineapple, and bottle gourd are now being exported. He cited recent shipments of jamun to the UK and litchis from Punjab to Doha and Dubai as signs of growing international demand for Indian produce. India’s export presence is increasing notably in Gulf nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Shri Goyal praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global advocacy of millets through the International Year of Millets, which brought international attention to India’s traditional grains and their health benefits.
He stressed the importance of building resilient agricultural supply chains, including inputs like seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and essential equipment. India, he said, must ensure self-reliance in agricultural inputs to buffer against global disruptions.
A major focus of Shri Goyal’s address was on the adoption of drip irrigation, which he described as a game changer for Indian agriculture. He called for scaling up water conservation methods and turning them into a mass movement. Establishing small water bodies at the village level and widely adopting drip irrigation, he said, would make Indian agriculture more climate-resilient and export-ready by improving crop predictability and yield.
To further support this transformation, the Minister recommended replacing outdated water pumps with energy-efficient smart pumps that can be remotely operated via mobile phones and provide real-time data on water usage. When used alongside drip systems, such pumps reduce water wastage, prevent crop damage from over-irrigation, and lower input costs.
Encouraging agri-entrepreneurs to partner with farmers, Shri Goyal pointed to recent developments like the creation of the Turmeric Board to boost spice exports. He also noted that coffee exports have doubled, and spice exports continue to rise. However, he emphasised the need for more targeted efforts to scale India’s global presence in these sectors.
He further spoke about the growing potential of natural and organic farming. To enhance credibility in the global market, the government is tightening certification norms using blockchain technology to ensure transparency and traceability. Additionally, it will support innovative packaging and design, helping Indian agri-products compete effectively in global markets.
Shri Goyal stressed that when farmers, industries, and exporters collaborate, challenges can be resolved faster. The government, he said, will continue to provide support for packaging and design innovation as a means to boost exports.
Reflecting on India’s agricultural transformation, the Minister said the journey has been both challenging and inspiring. He attributed the nation’s growing self-reliance in agriculture to the richness of Indian soil, the relentless efforts of farmers, and consistent government support. Citing the evolution from Lal Bahadur Shastri’s “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, he reiterated that agriculture has always been a national priority.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing farmers’ income and productivity. Under PM-Kisan Yojana, financial support is being provided directly to farmers. The government has also absorbed rising fertiliser prices by increasing subsidies.
Goyal shared that 1,400 mandis have been integrated with the e-NAM platform to enable transparent price discovery, while Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are helping improve access to mechanisation. A ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is aiding the development of rural agri-infrastructure.
He also discussed the Drone Didi initiative, under which 1.5 lakh women have been trained to operate drones for fertiliser spraying. The government is promoting intercropping, horticulture, and floriculture, and is encouraging entrepreneurs to study and adopt international best practices to drive innovation in Indian farming.