Focus on exports can get better farm remuneration

India has the potential to become the biggest producer and exporter of farm commodities owing to agriculture being engrained in our way of life and the presence of diverse agro-climatic regions.

- Dr. Shivendra Bajaj*

The capability to fill a large food basket presents the country an advantage while competing in the international market. India with its agro-climatic zones and skilled farming community has an edge in the production of several agriculture products such as cereals, rice, milk, buffalo meat, fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), said, the agricultural productivity for most crops is low in India in the global context, the farm production in India is still in surplus. However, the majority of production either is consumed at the domestic market or goes waste due to inadequate food storage and processing facilities.

The lucrative export market can guarantee an increase in farm income in a short time. Two years ago, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had experimented with transporting Nendran Banana from South India to Dubai through water transport.