India’s organic exports to reach Rs 20,000 crore in next three years: Piyush Goyal

India’s organic products’ exports have the potential to reach Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said on Thursday.

Speaking at the launch of the 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in the national capital, Goyal said, “Currently, our organic product exports are at Rs 5,000-6,000 crore. In the next three years, we can easily achieve Rs 20,000 crore exports, about 3-3.5 times increase from the current level.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech on the 78th Independence Day last year, highlighted the growing importance of organic farming worldwide and its far-reaching benefits for individual health and soil nutrient restoration.

The commerce minster unveiled a dedicated NPOP portal as well as the ‘Organic Promotion Portal,’ which will provide more visibility and ease of operations for organic stakeholders.

“Organic farming, as a form of sustainable farming practice, will help combat water scarcity and over-application of fertilizers and pesticides, which harm soil quality and crop yields in the country,” the minister said.

Highlighting the farmers’ efforts in ensuring food security, Goyal underscored that there is a significant push from the government to promote organic farming.

“Organic farming has become a priority for the nation and will be regarded as a valuable farming practice worldwide. Farmers adopting organic farming have seen an increase in yields and income,” he said.

TraceNet 2.0, the upgraded online traceability system for seamless operations and enhanced tools for regulatory oversight, was also unveiled at the event.

The redesigned APEDA portal was also showcased with an enhanced user experience and information to benefit stakeholders in the agriculture and processed food sectors.

In addition to this, the redesigned AgriXchange portal was launched, which will enable more user-friendly data analysis and the generation of reports and data on agricultural exports, making it accessible to the general public.

Goyal emphasized the need to focus on the packaging and marketing of organic products so farmers can receive the right price for their produce. He also pointed out that this value chain will generate employment and help the nation gain popularity worldwide.