India has made remarkable progress in the exports of fruit and vegetable exports, boosting by 47.3% in volume between 2019-20 and 2023-24, as per the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The amazing success is attributed to the financial support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Department of Commerce. Currently, India’s fresh fruits and vegetables could be seen on the shelves of 123 countries.India is blessed with a diverse climate, making it one of the largest producers of fresh fruits and vegetables in the world.
With a rich agricultural heritage and favorable weather conditions, the country grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Due to this vast production, India is often called the “Fruit Basket of the World.”Fruits and Vegetables in IndiaIndia is the largest producer of fruits globally, growing a wide range of them, including mangoes, grapes, apples, apricots, oranges, bananas, avocados, guavas, litchis, papayas, sapota, and watermelons. The country’s different climatic zones allow for the cultivation of both tropical and temperate fruits, making fresh produce available throughout the year. In addition to fruits, India is a major producer of vegetables, growing everything from potatoes, onions, and tomatoes to cauliflower, cabbage, beans, eggplants, cucumbers, peas, garlic, and okra. These vegetables are not only essential for a balanced diet but also a significant source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Because they are short-duration crops, farmers can grow multiple cycles in a year, increasing their income and improving food security.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2022, India ranked: First in the production of onions, ginger, and okra. Second in the production of potatoes, cauliflowers, brinjals (eggplants), and cabbages.
First in the world for bananas (25.56% of global production), mangoes and guavas (44.46%), and papayas (38.64%)India’s Growing Export MarketWith such a vast production of fruits and vegetables, India has tremendous opportunities for export. In the financial year 2023-24, India exported fresh fruits and vegetables worth $1,814.58 million USD.Among fruits, India exports grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, and oranges in large quantities. Vegetable exports include onions, mixed vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, and green chilies.Major Export DestinationsIndia’s fresh fruits and vegetables are shipped to Bangladesh, UAE, Netherlands, Nepal, Malaysia, Iraq, UK, Sri Lanka, Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Processed fruits and vegetables, such as fruit pulp and juices, are mainly exported to the USA, UAE, Bangladesh, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, and the Netherlands.Despite having only a 1% share in the global fruit and vegetable market, India’s exports are growing steadily.
This increase is due to better cold chain infrastructure, quality assurance measures, and investments from both the private and public sectors. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has also set up Centers for Perishable Cargoes and post-harvest handling facilities to improve export quality.To meet the strict standards of international markets, India is investing in: Laboratory testing equipment for quality control. Quality management systems for better farm-to-market tracking. Soil, water, and pesticide testing to ensure safety and hygieneAdditionally, APEDA helps exporters by participating in international trade fairs, organizing buyer-seller meetings, and developing better packaging standards, which further enhances the global presence of Indian agricultural produce.India’s Thriving Floriculture IndustryAlong with fruits and vegetables, India has a rapidly growing floriculture industry.
Flowers like roses, tuberoses, gladiolus, anthuriums, carnations, and marigolds are grown across the country, both in open farms and advanced greenhouses.Floriculture Production and ExportAccording to the National Horticulture Database (2023-24), India’s floriculture sector covered 285,000 hectares, producing: 2,284,000 tonnes of loose flowers, 947,000 tonnes of cut flowersMajor Flower-Producing StatesThe top flower-growing states in India are: Tamil Nadu (21%), Karnataka (16%), Madhya Pradesh (14%), West Bengal (12%). Other states like Mizoram, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Haryana, Assam, and Chhattisgarh are also expanding their floriculture businesses.Floriculture ExportsIndia exported $86.63 million USD worth of flowers in 2023-24.
The major buyers of Indian flowers are: USA, Netherlands, UAE, UK, and Canada.With over 300 export-oriented floriculture units in India, the industry is set for further growth. More than 50% of these units are in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Many of these businesses have technical collaborations with foreign companies, allowing them to adopt modern methods and increase India’s share in the global flower market.To further increase exports, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and APEDA have identified key products and target countries for focused trade negotiations.Sea Transport for Horticultural ProductsRegular discussions are also taking place between Indian exporters and importing country authorities. These discussions focus on facility registration, compliance with safety standards, and improving supply chain efficiency. Indian diplomatic missions abroad are actively involved in ensuring smooth trade relations.Credit should be given to APEDA for increasing exports because it helped in the development of world-class infrastructure, providing financial support for the establishment of pack houses, grading and packing lines, pre-cooling units, cold storage, refrigerated transport, and advanced treatment facilities like irradiation and vapor heat treatment.
Such facilities help in making Indian produce of world-class quality.APEDA organizes trade fairs and sellers and buyers meetings at regular intervals, and it also tries to improve the packaging of fruits and vegetables to meet the world standard. Therefore, it has left no stone unturned in helping Indian exporters to keep upgrading their produce. This has opened several new markets for India in recent time, such as Brazil, Georgia, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, the Czech Republic, and Ghana.Despite success, Indian produce has to face numerous challenges in getting new markets, including logistics costs, severe import rules, and sluggish registration laws in several nations. The Department of Commerce is working on overcoming such challenges: trying to negotiate to simplify market entry, developing sea transport to cut export costs, and so on. India’s agricultural sector is one of the strongest in the world, producing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
With increasing investments in export infrastructure, quality control, and new transportation methods, India is set to expand its global market share.Although the country currently holds just 1% of the global fruit and vegetable export market, the growth potential is enormous. With government support, private investments, and technological advancements, India’s fresh and processed horticultural products are gaining more recognition worldwide.As India continues to strengthen its cold chain logistics, quality standards, and international trade relationships, its dream of becoming a global leader in horticulture exports is steadily becoming a reality.The future of Indian fruit and vegetable exports is looking bright, and it is expected to grow further in the coming years to make the country a big force in the international market.
