APEDA's agri-product exports estimated at Rs 60,000 crore in FY'12

NEW DELHI: APEDA, the export promotion body for farm items, expects agri-product exports monitored by it to rise by 38 per cent to about Rs 60,000 crore in 2011-12.

The growth is expected on the back of rise in shipments of fruits, vegetables, basmati and processed foods.

India's agri-exports under Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) stood at Rs 43,626.88 crore in the 2010-11 financial year.

"We are anticipating agri-product exports in the last fiscal at Rs 60,000 crore," APEDA Director S Dave said.

The exports in 2011-12 fiscal have risen due to increased shipments of fruits, vegetables, basmati rice and processed foods, he added.

Dave said that India's total export of agricultural products is estimated to rise by 41 per cent to 1.20 lakh crore in the 2011-12 fiscal from around Rs 85,000 crore in the 2010-11 financial year.

APEDA monitors exports of over 14 farm product categories that include floriculture, fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, processed foods, cereals, cereal products, herbal and medicinal plants, guar gum and so on.

India exports around 1.4 per cent of the total global shipments of farm items and imports about 1.2 per cent.

The top farm trade players globally are European Union, the US, Brazil, Canada and China.