India Exports and Business Trade Zone Indian Agro Products Agricultural sector is the mainstay of the rural

Indian economy around, which th e socio-economic privileges and deprivations revolve, and any change in its stru cture is expected to have a corresponding impact on the existing pattern of soci al equality. The growth of India's agriculture sector during the 50 years of ind ependence remain impressive at 2.7 % per annum. About two-third of this producti on growth is aided by gains in crop productivity. The need based strategies adop ted since independence and intensified after mid sixties primarily focused on feed ing the growing population and making the country self reliant in food productio n. Indian agriculture has attained an impressive growth in the production of food g rains that has increased around four times during the planned area of developmen t from 51 million tons in 1950-51 to 199.1 million tonnes in 1997-98. The growth has been really striking since sixties after the production and wide spread usa ge of high yielding varieties of seed, fertilization, pesticides, especially in assured irrigated areas. History Over the 10,000 years since agriculture began to be developed, peoples across th e world have discovered the food value of wild plants and animals and domesticat ed and bred them. Primary importance of these are cereals such as rice, wheat, b arley, corn, and rye; sugarcane and sugar beets; meat animals such as sheep, cat tle, goats, and pigs or swine; poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys; and products like milk, cheese, eggs, nuts, and oils. Fruits, vegetables, and olive s are also an important category of agriculture products; feed grains for animal s include field corn, soybeans, and sorghum. Modern agriculture in India primarily depends on engineering and technology and on the physical and biological sciences. Irrigation, drainage, conservation and sanitation, each of these stages are essential in successful farming, and requir e specialized knowledge and expert skills of agricultural engineers. Mechanization, the spectacular characteristic of late 19th and 20th-century agri culture, has eased much of the backbreaking toil of the farmers. More importantl y, mechanization has considerably increased the farm efficiency and productivity . Overview of Indian Agriculture Market History In several agricultural sectors, India is the world s leading or one of the largest producers. For example, the country is second largest milk producing country in the world. The agricultural sector in the country is known for its high degree o f product diversity. The complementary nature of a number of important Indian ag ricultural products, in comparison to those produced in west and other countries , provide India considerable export opportunities to these markets. At present, the Indian agriculture industry is on the brink of a revolution, which will mode rnize the entire food chain, as the total food production in the country is like ly to double in the next ten years. According to recent studies, the total turnover of Indian food market is approxi mately Rs.250000 crores (US $ 69.4 billion), out of which, the share of value-ad ded food products is around Rs.80000 crores (US $ 22.2 billion). The Government of India has also sanctioned proposals for joint ventures, foreign collaboration s, industrial licenses and 100% export oriented units conceiving of an investmen t of Rs.19100 crores (US $ 4.80 billion) out of which foreign investment is over

Rs. 9100 crores (US $ 18.2 Billion). The Indian agricultural food industry also assumes significance owing to country 's sizable agrarian economy that accounts for over 35% of GDP and employs around 65 % of the population. Both in terms of number of joint- ventures / foreign co llaborations and foreign investment, the consumer food segment has the top prior ity. The other salient features of the Indian agro industry, which have the capa city to lure foreigners with assuring benefits are the aqua culture, deep sea fi shing, milk and milk products, meat and poultry segments. Exports Agricultural exports were 44 % of total exports in FY 1960; they decreased to 32 % in FY 1970, to 31 % in FY 1980, to 18.5 % in FY 1988, and to 15.3 % in FY 199 3. This drop in share of agriculture in total exports was somewhat misleading be cause agricultural products, such as jute and cotton, which were exported in the raw form in the 1950s, have been exported as cotton yarn, fabrics, ready-made g arments, coir yarn, and jute manufactures since the 1960s. The composition of agricultural and allied products for export changed primarily due to the continuing increase of demand in the domestic market. This demand cu t into the excess available for export in spite of a continuing desire, on the p art of government, to shore up the invariant foreign-exchange shortage. In FY 19 60, tea was the major export by value. Oil cakes, cashew kernels, tobacco, raw c otton and spices were about equal in value but were only one-eighth of the value of tea exports. By FY 1980, tea was still a major export commodity, however ric e, coffee, fish, and fish products came close, followed by oil cakes, cashew ker nels, and cotton. In 1992-93 fish and fish products became the main agricultural export, followed by oil meals, then cereals, and then tea. The share of fish pr oducts rose steadily from less than 2 % of all agricultural exports in FY 1960, to 10 % in FY 1980, to around 15 % for the 3-year period ending in FY 1990, and to 23 % in FY 1992. The contribution of tea in agricultural exports fell from 40 % in FY 1960 to around % percent in the FY 1988-FY 1990 period, and to only 13 % by FY 1992. Excellent export prospects, competitive pricing of agricultural products and sta ndards, which are internationally comparable have created enormous trade opportu nities in the Indian agro industry. Exports of Agricultural products (2004-05)

Major Export Markets Major destinations for export of Indian agricultural products (2006-07), include Product Major Markets Floriculture USA, Japan, UK, Netherlands & Germany Fruits & Vegetable Seeds Pakistan, Bangladesh, USA, Japan & Netherlands Fresh Onions Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, UAE, Pakistan & Nepal Other Fresh Vegetables UAE, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal & Sri Lanka Walnuts Spain, Egypt, Germany, UK & Netherlands Fresh Mangoes UAE, Bangladesh, UK, Saudi Arabia & Nepal Fresh Grapes Netherlands, UK, UAE, Bangladesh, Belgium Other Fresh Fruits Bangladesh, UAE, Netherlands, Nepal, Saudi Arabia Dried & Preserved Vegetables Russia, France, USA, Germany & Spain Mango Pulp Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, UAE, Yamen, Arab Republic & Kuwait Pickles & Chutneys Russia, USA, Belgium, Netherlands & France Other Processed Fruits USA, Netherlands, UK, UAE & Saudi Arabia Buffalo Meat Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Angola Sheep / Goat Meat Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman & Kuwait

Poultry Products UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Germany & Japan Dairy Products Bangladesh, Algeria, UAE, Yamen, Arab Republic & Egypt Animal Casings Germany, Portugal, France, Spain & Italy Processed Meat Seychelles, UAE, Hong Kong, Germany & USA Groundnuts Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, UK & Singapore Guar Gum USA, China, Germany, Italy & Netherlands Jaggery & Confectionery Portugal, USA, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Nepal Cocoa Products Nepal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Yamen Arab Republic & UAE Cereal Preparations USA, UK, Nepal, Sri Lanka & UAE Alcoholic Beverages Jamaica, Thailand, UAE, Angola & Bhutan Miscellaneous Preparations UAE, Iran, USA, UK & Indonesia Milled Products USA, UK, Indonesia, Maldives & UAE Basmati Rice Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UK, UAE & Yamen Arab Rep. Non Basmati Rice Nigeria, Bangladesh, South Africa, UAE & Ivory Coast Wheat Bangladesh, Philippines, UAE, Sudan & Myanmar Other Cereals Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Benin, Thailand Natural Honey USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK & UAE Pulses Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, UAE & Nepal Product-wise Export Data (2002-03 to 2006-07) Future Forecasts According to experts, India has to play a bigger role in the global markets in a griculture products in the future. The country is expected to strengthen its pos ition among the worlds leading exporters of rice. Presently it is the 2nd larges t rice producer after China and the 3rd largest net-exporter after Thailand and Vietnam. However, recent reports states that agriculture plays an important, though decli ning role in Indian economy. Its contribution in overall GDP fell from 30 % in t he early nineties, to below 17.5 % in 2006. The country is a world leader in spe cialist products, such as buffalo milk, spices and bananas, mangoes, chickpeas e tc., which are considered as important in the Indian diet and are also exported. India is the 5th largest cultivator of biotech crops across the world, ahead of China. In the year 2006, around 3.8 million hectares of land were cultivated wi th genetically modified crops, by about 2.3 million farmers. The primary GM crop is Bt Cotton that was introduced in 2002. The future growth in agriculture sect or must come from Advanced technologies that are not only "cost effective" but also "in conformity " with natural climatic regime of the country Technologies applicable to rain-fed areas particularly Continued genetic improvements for improved seeds and yields Improvements in data for superior research, results, and sustainable planning Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice; and Judicious land use resource surveys, effective management practices and sustaina ble use of natural resources. Site developed and maintained by Webmasters at India-exports.com