Structure, Performance and Competitiveness in Indian Agricultural Exports

Abstract

Trade in agricultural commodities can play a significant role in stabilizing the supply conditions, help ensure the food security and stabilizing agricultural prices. International trade has also been recognized as an engine for inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and an important tool to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Diverse agro-climatic conditions in India endow the country with production and trade of various agricultural commodities. Agricultural exports from India have undergone significant change in terms of trends, composition and diversification. We examined the trend in exports of agricultural commodities, export performance, commodity and geographical diversification and established the trade-growth linkages. Export performance was examined through the comparative export performance index. Since 2001, cotton and cereals, especially rice have been the major contributors in agricultural exports. Also, the share of meat and edible meat offals has consistently increased during 2001–2018. Analyses of export performance for various commodity groups during 2011–14 and 2015–18 categorized various exported commodities into highly competitive, competitive, weakly competitive and uncompetitive commodities. During 2011–18, rice, frozen bovine meat, cotton yarn, raw cotton, ginger, pepper and seed spices remained highly competitive commodities. Crustaceans emerged as highly competitive during 2015–18. Granger causality established bidirectional causality in tea, coffee, spices and fish exports, while the export-led growth hypothesis was confirmed in the case of cotton. The country needs to focus on stable trade policy particularly in those commodities with greater trade potential. Also, the sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) should be taken care of strictly adhering to the international standards. Export-oriented supply chains should be efficiently managed reducing the costs and making exports more competitive. With Government’s focus to double agricultural exports and an Agricultural Export Policy in place, India needs to find effective solutions to become a global leader in agricultural exports. Needless to say, effective logistic management and quality management is the need of the hour to strengthen global trade linkages.

Appendix

List of Commodities Covered in Agriculture

HS-2 digit code	Description
01	Live animals
02	Meat and edible meat offal
03	Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
04	Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere spee or included
05	Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
06	Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
07	Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
08	Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons
09	Coffee, tea, maté and spices
10	Cereals
12	Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
13	Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts
14	Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included
15	Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
16	Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates
17	Sugars and sugar confectionery
19	Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks’ products
20	Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants
21	Miscellaneous edible preparations
24	Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
41	Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
51	Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric
52	Cotton
53	Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn