India needs stable agri-export policy to achieve $100 billion goal: Economic Survey

India's Economic Survey calls for a stable agri-export policy to achieve a $100 billion export target by 2029.

India must align its policies to boost agricultural exports and avoid ad hoc trade restrictions that disrupt supply chains and damage the country's reputation as a reliable supplier, the Economic Survey said on Thursday (January 29, 2026).

Agricultural exports represent "low-hanging fruit with immense export potential" and carry international leverage for India, the Survey said, calling for policies that balance domestic demand with export growth.

India aims to reach $100 billion in combined exports of agriculture, marine products and food and beverages in the next four years, up from $51.1 billion in agricultural exports in fiscal 2024-25.

The world's second-largest agricultural producer by value accounts for just 2.2% of global farm exports, up from 1.1% in 2000, according to World Trade Organisation data — a "significant untapped potential," the Survey said.

Agricultural exports grew at a compound annual growth rate of 8.2% between fiscal 2019-20 and 2024-25, outpacing overall merchandise export growth of 6.9%.

However, agricultural exports have stagnated between fiscal 2022-23 and 2024-25, even as global agricultural trade rose to $2.4 trillion in 2024 from $2.3 trillion in 2022.