Wheat, rice contribute 50% to agri export

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4

As the demand from overseas buyers increased significantly during April to August this year, three principal commodities, namely basmati, non-basmati and wheat, contributed nearly 50% (value-wise) to agri-export basket.

Besides 22% hike in basmati shipments, non-basmati and wheat exports were seen rebounding as the shipments registered over 84% and 105% growth, respectively, during the first five months of the current fiscal.

According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA), exports of basmati during April-August 2020 have been to the tune of Rs 13,660 crore as against Rs 12,621 crore in the year-ago period. Strong demand from traditional buyers in Africa and panic buying by some countries fuelled the shipments, according to NR Gupta, president, All India Rice Exporters’ Association.