Potential to increase India`s agriculture, fishery exports to Rs 20 lakh crore: Commerce Minister
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said food processing, better quality packaging, and branding can help increase the country's agriculture and fishery exports to Rs 20 lakh crore. At present, India's agriculture and fishery exports stand at about Rs 4-4.5 lakh crore.
Goyal said that with the help of government initiatives, India is now exporting fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, jamun, and litchi to different countries. He suggested to enhance partnership between farmers, food processors and exporters. Citing an example, he said that in Indigo flight, people buy food packets including Rice-Dal, poha and upma for Rs 250 to Rs 400, which otherwise would cost only Rs 40.
Through this example, he said 'I want to tell you the potential (of food processing)', and added that there is huge potential to cater to 4 crore Indian origin people living abroad. He said that because of initiatives taken by the Modi government to promote millets, people all over the world are shifting towards these nutritional foodgrains. As a result, there is a situation of shortage of millets in the country. Further, he said that people should not be dependent on government subsidies.
