The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organised a high-level Chintan Shivir in New Delhi to formulate a comprehensive strategy for enhancing India's agricultural and processed food exports. The consultation brought together representatives from the Union Government, State Governments, industry, academia and research institutions to identify measures for improving competitiveness, strengthening value chains, enhancing market access and promoting value-added exports.
The Chintan Shivir was organised to develop a multi-stakeholder export growth strategy for agricultural and processed food products.The consultations focused on:
The initiative reflects the Government's objective of making India's agri-export sector globally competitive.
The Secretary, Department of Commerce, emphasised that the Government is committed to:
The emphasis was placed on improving both production and productivity, recognising that sustainable export growth depends upon higher efficiency and innovation.
A key outcome of the discussions was the recognition that academia and research institutions should become integral partners in India's export ecosystem.Research and Development (R&D) was identified as essential for:
This approach seeks to integrate scientific research with export promotion.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) highlighted that increasing exports requires greater emphasis on:
The Ministry identified several high-potential export segments.
These sectors offer higher export earnings compared to primary agricultural commodities.
The consultations emphasised the need for stronger coordination among:
A collaborative approach was considered essential for expanding exports into new international markets and improving India's global competitiveness.
The consultation witnessed participation from more than 70 stakeholders.
The participation of multiple states reflects the nationwide approach towards export-led agricultural development.
Major agri-businesses and processed food companies participated in the consultations, including:
The participation of industry leaders ensured that practical challenges and market realities were incorporated into policy discussions.
The Chintan Shivir organised commodity-specific discussions through five thematic sessions.
The discussions focused on:
Major stakeholders included Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, LT Foods and KRBL.
The session examined:
The discussions centred on:
States including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh participated.
The focus areas included:
Major companies such as Britannia and Haldiram's participated.
The session discussed:
Participants included Organic India, Amul, ITC and FSSAI.
The Chintan Shivir represents one of the first large-scale multi-stakeholder consultations dedicated exclusively to agricultural and processed food exports. By integrating policymakers, industry, research institutions and state governments, the initiative seeks to create a coordinated roadmap for increasing exports, improving quality standards, promoting value addition and expanding India's presence in global agri-food markets.
Established:1986Act:APEDA Act, 1985Administrative Ministry:Ministry of Commerce & IndustryHeadquarters:New Delhi
Established:1988
Established:2008Act:Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006Administrative Ministry:Ministry of Health & Family WelfareHeadquarters:New Delhi
Established:2004
SPS measures are standards adopted to protect human, animal and plant health from risks arising from pests, diseases, contaminants and food safety hazards. Compliance with SPS standards is essential for accessing international agricultural markets.
Value addition refers to enhancing the economic value of agricultural products through processing, packaging, branding, grading and quality improvement, thereby increasing export earnings.
Updated – 04 May 2025 | 01:50 PM | News Source – PIB