The agriculture sector is the largest source of livelihood in India. The country is one of the largest producers of agriculture and food products in the world. In 2022- 23, India’s agriculture sector growth rate was estimated to be at 3.5% and it was 3.0% in 2021-22. The gross value added (GVA) in agriculture and allied activities grew a targeted 4% for 2022-23. The country produces many crops and food grains such as rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, coffee, jute, sugarcane, tea, tobacco, groundnuts, dairy products, fruits, etc.

During 2021-22, India’s tea production stood at 1,344.40 million kg. Coffee production during the same period was 3,420 lakh tonnes, a 2.39% YoY increase. Tea production duringApril-August 2023 stood at 691.44 million kg. During 2021-22, oilseeds production in India crossed the estimated 37.15 million tonnes while other products such as rice, wheat,maize, pulses, mustard, and sugarcane reached a record high production.

The top crop-producing states in India are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. Most of the wheat produced in the country comes from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat. Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane in India contributing about 48%, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka at 23% and 9% of the total production respectively.

Agrilane Export Trend

  • India is one of the largest agricultural product exporters in the world. In April-August 2023, the overall value of export of agricultural products stood at US$ 19.74 billion as against US$ 22.72 billion over the same period of the last fiscal. In 2022-23, the agricultural exports from India stood at US$ 52.50 billion. During 2021-22, the country recorded US$ 50.2 billion in total agriculture exports with a 20% increase from US$ 41.3 billion in 2020-21. India’s agriculture sector primarily exports agri & allied products, marine products, plantation, and textile & allied products. Agri & allied products exports were valued at US$ 37.3 billion, recording a growth of 17% over 2020-21.
  • In 2022-23, rice exports from India were valued at US$ 11.14 billion, as against US$ 9.67 billion in 2021-22, registering a growth of 15.22%. Rice is the largest exported agricultural product from India and contributed to more than 19% of the total agriculture exports during the year 2021-22. Sugar, spices, and buffalo meat were among the largest exported products with the contribution of 9%, 8% and 7% to 2021- 22 agriculture exports, respectively. Wheat exports were valued at US$ 2.1 billion in 2021-22 after recording significant growth over exports of US$ 568 million in 2020-21. Coffee exports from India jumped by 1.66% to 4 lakh tonnes in 2022, on the rise in instant coffee exports and re-exports.
  • Coffee exports from India were valued at US$ 1.14 billion in 2022-23 and US$ 451.94 during April-July 2023-24. Higher exports of marine products, at US$ 8.07 billion in 2022-23, are benefitting farmers in the coastal states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • The government’s commitment to increasing farmers‟ income can be seen through the significant rise witnessed in Agri-exports by giving thrust on boosting exports. Various initiatives taken by the government through APEDA such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries, and exploring new potential markets through product-specific and general marketing campaigns have worked as catalysts for the growth of exports. The government of India has created a product matrix for 50 agricultural products with strong export potential and recognized 220 labs to provide services of testing a wide range of products to enable exporters across India.