Sharp Rise In Cereal Exports In April-December 2020 Despite Covid-19 Restrictions

As per the data during April-December 2020, the exports of cereals rose to Rs 49,832 crore from Rs 32,591 crore (USD 4,581 million) reported during the same period in the previous year.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 10 February 2021 10:58 pm

India’s exports of cereals – rice, wheat and coarse cereals witnessed an impressive rise during first three quarters of 2020-21 financial year.

As per the data during April-December 2020, the exports of cereals rose to Rs 49,832 crore from Rs 32,591 crore (USD 4,581 million) reported during the same period in the previous year. The exports of cereals witnessed a rise of 52.90% in Rupee term and 45.81% in US Dollar term. The total share of value of cereal exports was 48.61% in Rupee term in the total export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA) scheduled products.

As per the data during April-December 2020, the export of Basmati Rice was Rs 2,038 crore (USD 2,947 million) against Rs. 20,926 crore (USD 2,936 million) reported during same period in the previous year. The exports of this aromatic and long-grain rice witnessed a growth of 5.31% in Rupee term and 0.36% in Dollar terms. The share of export of Basmati rice was 21.44% in the total export of products under APEDA basket. Major destination for the Basmati rice exports from India is to the countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, European countries, etc.

During the first three quarters of 2020-21, the shipment of non-Basmati rice witnessed impressive spike. The non-basmati rice export was Rs 22,856 crore (USD 3,068 million) during April-December 2020 against Rs 10,268 crore (USD 1,448 US$ million) reported during April-December, 2019 period. The exports of non-Basmati witnessed a growth of 122.61% in Rupee term and 111.81% in Dollar terms. The share of export of non-Basmati rice is 22.32% in the total export of APEDA products. India exports non-Basmati rice to countries including Nepal, Benin, United Arab Emirates, Somalia, Guinea and many other countries in Asia, Europe and the United States.

During April- December 2020 period, the export of wheat rose to Rs 1,870 crore (USD 252 million) against Rs. 336 crore (USD 48 million) reported during the same phase a year back. As per the trend, there is a growth of 456.41% in Rupee term and 431.10% Dollar terms. The share of export of wheat is 1.84% in the total export of APEDA scheduled products. The key exports destination for wheat include Nepal, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates.

As per April- December 2020 data, the export of other cereals, like millets, maize and other coarse gains in the month of April- December 2020 was Rs 3,067 crore (USD 413 million) against Rs. 1061 crore (USD 149 million) reported in the previous year. There is a growth of 189.09% in Rupee term and 177.02% in Dollar terms in the current fiscal. The share of export of other cereals is 3.01% in the total export of APEDA scheduled products. The exports destination for other cereals include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, the United States, Germany and Japan.

The sharp spike in rice exports, especially during a phase where globally the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted supply of many commodities, has been attributed to the government taking prompt measures to ensure exports of rice while taking all the Covid-19 related safety precautions. “We took several measures in terms of ensuring safety and hygiene because of the operational and health challenges posed by Covid-19, while ensuring that rice exports continue uninterrupted,” said Dr. Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA.

For boosting rice exports, the government had set up the Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF), under the aegis of the APEDA. REPF has representations from rice industry, exporters, officials from APEDA, ministry of commerce and directors of agriculture from major rice producing states including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is mandated for carrying out exports promotion activities for scheduled items: fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, confectionery, biscuits, bakery, honey, jaggery, sugar products. Cocoa and its products, chocolates, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cereal and cereal products, groundnuts, peanuts and walnuts, pickles, papads and chutney, guar gum, floriculture and floriculture products, herbal and medicinal plants.

(This is a press statement which has been reproduced without any major editing by Outlook Krishi desk)