Question : SHARE OF AGRICULTURE IN EXPORT



(a) whether the share of agriculture is declining in the total exports of India over the years;

(b) if so, the reasons attributed thereto;

(c) the percentage share of agriculture in the total exports recorded during each of the last five years; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to increase the share of agriculture in export?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a) to (c): The Agricultural exports in terms of value has a rising trend. However, the share of agriculture exports in the Country`s total export is decreasing owing to a relatively faster growth of export in other sectors. According to Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCI&S), Ministry of Commerce, Kolkata the percentage share of agriculture in the total exports of the Country for the last five years is as under:

(Rs. in crores)
Year	Country`s Total	Total Agricultural	% share in	Export	Exports	Country`s Export
2001-02	209017.97	29729.61	14.22
2002-03	255137.28	34653.93	13.58
2003-04	293366.75	37266.52	12.70
2004-05	375339.53	41602.65	11.08
2005-06	454799.97	49802.92	10.95

(d): The Government has initiated various measures to promote export of agricultural products. These, inter alia, include setting up of Agri-export Zones to provide enhanced international market access with improved infrastructural facilities and assistance for reducing the marketing costs such as for transport of some products for export. In the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 the scheme of `Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojna` has been introduced for promoting the exports of fruits, vegetables, flowers, minor forest produce and their value added products.