Goyal underscored the need for branding and proper packaging to enhance the value of Indian agricultural goods in international markets

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said India has the potential to grow its agri and fisheries exports from the current Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs 20 lakh crore, provided the country invests more in food processing, value addition, packaging, and branding. He was addressing stakeholders at the Krishi Vikram programme, which focused on transforming agriculture to support the vision of a self-reliant and secure Bharat.

Goyal said India’s agricultural sector has come a long way from a time when the country relied on food imports to becoming a global exporter of diverse produce, from lychees and pineapples to rice and millets. “Our agri-export is almost Rs 4.5 lakh crore today. But I believe we can increase our exports from Rs 4 lakh crores to Rs 20 lakh crores,” he said, adding that the way forward lies in strengthening processing and packaging capabilities.

“That will happen with processing, food processing, better quality of packaging,” Goyal noted, as he called on exporters, agripreneurs and industry leaders to invest in transforming raw produce into globally marketable food products.

Focus On Branding And Shelf Life
Goyal underscored the need for branding and proper packaging to enhance the value of Indian agricultural goods in international markets. He cited examples of how branded and packaged Basmati rice can command prices of Rs 300 to Rs 400 per kilo compared to Rs 80 to Rs 100 for unpackaged variants.

He said exporters and food processors must design packaging that preserves shelf life and appeals to overseas consumers, especially among the Indian diaspora in the Gulf, Europe, and North America. “If we start exporting processed food products, we can easily double or triple our exports even with the same base,” he stated.

The minister emphasised collaboration between farmers, exporters, food processors, and the packaging industry to fully unlock India’s agricultural export potential. He said that such partnerships would help farmers earn higher returns, ensure quality control, and enable Indian products to stand out in global markets.

Goyal also highlighted successful export cases – such as lychees from Punjab and pineapples from the Northeast being flown to Gulf countries – as examples of how India’s agri sector is expanding its global footprint.

The minister stressed the importance of nurturing more agri-entrepreneurs to lead the next wave of growth. He encouraged startups and private players to partner with farmer groups and invest in downstream activities such as processing, storage, and branding. “We need more agri-preneurs to come in, work in partnership with the farmers,” he added.

Goyal concluded by reiterating that with a holistic and market-oriented approach, India’s agriculture sector can become a major engine of economic growth and a pillar of the Viksit Bharat vision.