Agriculture export of India has decreased by 21.65% to $33.87 billion in the financial year 2016-17 from $43.23 billion in 2013-14. On the other side, the import of agricultural commodities (including plantation and marine products) during 2016-17 period increased to $25.09 billion from $15.03 billion in 2013-14.
Talking on the downfall in agricultural export, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the main reason behind this was the lower commodity prices in the international market, which has made the exports uncompetitive. She highlighted that during the past three years, the share of agricultural exports in total exports of the country has declined marginally and dropped to 12.26% in 2016-17 from 12.59% in 2014-15.
Sitharaman also stated that both export and import of agricultural products depend on several factors like availability, international and domestic demand and supply situation and quality concerns. The minister added that edible oils and pulses, which are in short supply in India, account for the bulk of India's import of agricultural products.