India's Organic Product Export Goals
India is targeting to surpass $1 billion in organic product exports in 2024, with a significant focus on enhancing export quality and acceptance through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), especially in sensitive sectors like fisheries.
Current Export Status
- Organic food exports have increased from $213 million in 2012-13 to $494.80 million in 2023-24.
- Major export destinations include the US, EU, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Australia, the Middle East, and Asian countries.
Challenges and Strategies
- Quality issues are a bigger concern than tariff barriers for export consignments.
- Over 300% increase in the number of labs and 200% increase in certification for exported food products in the past decade.
- Export rejections of Indian fisheries by the EU decreased from 15 in 2017 to 3 in 2024.
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
- Existing MRAs with the EU, China, Bhutan, with ongoing talks with Qatar.
Infrastructure and Development
- The Export Inspection Council (EIC) plans to expand food testing infrastructure, increasing accredited labs from 21 in 2013-14 to 78.
- The number of export establishments approved through the EIC system rose to 1,446 from 794 in the last decade.
- Export certificates accepted by importing countries nearly doubled to over 120,000 from 61,000.
Tobacco Exports
- India's tobacco exports are expected to grow by 8%, reaching over ₹13,000 crore this year.
- India stands as the second-largest tobacco producer globally, after China.