The new trade policy for agriculture, which aims to double India’s farm exports to more than $60 billion by 2022, will give a fillip to agro trade and industry, said companies and exporters. They anticipate policy measures such as support for infrastructure and logistic, focus on clusters and greater involvement of state governments to open new avenues for investment, apart from ensuring remunerative rates for farmers.

The union cabinet, on Thursday, approved the Agriculture Export Policy, 2018 that imposes no restrictions on export of organic and processed products. However, the government will keep a check on the movements of price- and supply-sensitive commodities through periodic reviews on a case-to-case basis. 

Till date, India’s agriculture exports were more opportunistic or accidental in nature without proper policy backup, which did not necessarily create additional value for farmers, said exporters. With the new policy measures, they are confident of having better predictability for exports of agri and agri-based produces.

India’s share in global exports of agriculture products rose to 2.2% in 2016 from 1% a few years ago. It is currently ranked ninth among exporters globally.