A surge in shipments of pulses and dairy products has held Indian farm exports steady for the April-November period, despite a decline in volumes of two of the top three products categories, non-basmati rice and buffalo meat.
Total farm exports rose by about 5 per cent in rupee terms at ₹80,361 crore for April-November 2018-19 as against ₹76,676 crore in corresponding last fiscal, according to latest figures released by the Agricultural and Processed Foods Exports Development Authority (Apeda).
However, in dollar terms the exports registered a two per cent decline at $11.62 billion ($11.88 billion in corresponding last year). Shipments of basmati rice, which accounts for close to a fourth of total farm product exports, grew 2.63 per cent in dollar terms at $2.685 billion ($2.616 billion), aided by an increase in per unit realisation.
However, in terms of volumes, the basmati shipments were down marginally at 2.49 million tonnes (2.62 million tonnes).
The non-basmati exports fell 15.26 per cent at $1.987 billion ($2.344 billion) on account of a slump in demand for the Indian rice, which has turned expensive in the world market due to an increase in domestic procurement costs.
The buffalo meat shipments were down by about a tenth at $2.493 billion ($2.758 billion) due to lower volumes, but the per unit realisation was up during the period.
Pulses and dairy products
The exports of pulses and dairy products continue to grow on good demand. Pulses exports crossed 2.15 lakh tonne during the period as against 87,896 tonnes in the corresponding previous year. The realisations were not commensurate with the growth in volumes on account of decline in per unit realisation.
The pulses exports have grown steadily over the past one year after the Centre lifted the curbs on the shipments in November last year.
The shipments of the dairy products grew by 53 per cent during the period. Other livestock products such as poultry and animal casings also registered a growth during the period.
Categories such as floriculture, fruits and vegetable seeds, processed vegetables, fruits and juices have also registered a growth during the period.