Commerce Ministry To Soon Bring Out Policy For Agri Exports, Says Prabhu

The government will soon bring out a policy to facilitate Indian farm products access global markets, Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said.

Prabhu, who took charge as the Commerce and Industry Minister on Monday, said that his ministry will work on developing the global supply chain for the agriculture sector.

“If the farmers produce something, they should get an access to global market so that they are exposed to better prices. To set that agenda into motion, we will put a good policy framework in place very soon,” Prabhu said.

Addressing an agriculture summit, the minister said, “We have the right to have access to global markets for our farm produce by removing all trade restrictive practices.”

The Narendra Modi-led government aims to double farmers' income by the year 2022. Crop diversification, focus on allied sectors and food processing and tapping global markets are among the steps the government is taking to meet the target.

In 2016-17, export of agricultural products such as cereals, processed fruit and vegetables, processed foods, and animal products stood at $16.27 billion, according to the data by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

“My ministry will make sure that we will achieve this goal of developing a global supply chain to ensure that India's agriculture is also able to feed the global economy,” Prabhu said. The ministry will also work on developing agriculture parks in India, he said.