Economic Survey: Agricultural, marine, food exports can hit $100 billion in 4 years

India has the potential to reach $100 billion of combined exports of agriculture, marine products and food and beverage in the next four years, the Economic Survey for 2025-26 said.

• India could reach $100 billion in agri, marine, and food exports in four years
• Agriculture sector to grow 3.1% in FY26, boosted by favorable monsoon
• Focus areas: water management, crop diversification, fertiliser reforms

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India has the potential to reach $100 billion in combined exports of agriculture, marine products and food and beverage over the next four years, the Economic Survey for 2025-26 said.

The survey, release on January 29,  said agricultural exports are a “low-hanging fruit with immense export potential”, adding they carry international leverage for India and policies, therefore, must be aligned with this imperative.

“By maintaining a delicate balance between fulfilling domestic demand and harnessing its export potential, India’s remarkable achievements in agricultural production can translate into export-led growth, enabling the country to achieve its goal of $100 billion in agricultural exports,” the survey said.

Exports make farmers more productive and competitive by fostering knowledge accumulation and market feedback.

Agriculture will remain central to achieving Viksit Bharat and key priorities for the sector include strengthening and rejuvenating water bodies and drip irrigation; enhancing agricultural research and development through coordinated public and private efforts to improve climate resilience, productivity, and farm incomes, it said.

Reforms in the fertiliser sector to promote sustainability and promoting crop diversification will remain the key focus areas for the sector.

According to the survey, agriculture and allied services are estimated to grow by 3.1 percent in FY26.

Agricultural activity during the first half of FY26 was supported by a favourable monsoon. Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) during the half year grew by 3.6 percent, up from 2.7 percent in H1FY25, but remained below the long-term average of 4.5 percent.

Below-normal temperature experienced through most of the months during the year coupled with above-normal monsoon, which augmented reservoir levels, favourably influenced kharif harvests.

It further created strong sowing momentum in the ongoing rabi season and improved the stock position of foodgrains.

“These factors are likely to keep food inflation at moderate levels in the upcoming months,” the survey said. The government's efforts to increase fertiliser supply may help keep agriculture input prices in check, thereby containing inflationary pressures in the food basket.

While there have been notable advancements in agriculture, challenges that impact productivity and incomes still need to be fully addressed, it said.

Fragmented landholdings, inadequate marketing and storage infrastructure, limited access to quality inputs, relatively low levels of investment, and uneven quality of extension services are among the prominent reasons for the low productivity level.

Over the last five years, the average annual growth rate in the agriculture and allied sector has been around 4.4 percent at constant prices. In the second quarter of FY26, the agriculture sector registered a growth of 3.5 percent.

“The decadal growth of 4.45 per cent (FY16-FY25), the highest in comparison to previous decades, has primarily resulted from the strong performance in livestock (7.1 percent) and fishing and aquaculture (8.8 percent), followed by the crop sector at 3.5 percent,” the survey said.