Doubling farmers income by 2022 turns into big challenge; Agri-export data of 5 years shows how much

Undoubtedly, the Union government wants to double farmers' incomes by 2022 and to achieve the same, it has signed deals with eight countries for agricultural exports aside from taking other steps. The government in April 2018 signed deals for farm exports with the United States, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Iran.  However, a question begs to be answered. Will the government be able to meet the targets even when its agri-exports have declined by 10 per cent over the past five years. In FY 2013-14, agri-exports stood at 43 billion dollars.
 
Here is the agri-exports data since 2014:
 
* 2014-15: Agri-exports went down to 30 billion dollars, this means there was a decline of about 13 billion dollars in one year. 
* 2015-16:  Agri-exports went up by 2 billion dollars and stood at 32 billion dollars. 
* 2016-17: Agri-exports grew by 1 billion dollars and stood at 33 billion dollars. 
* 2017-18: Agri-exports went up by 5 billion dollars and stood at 38 billion dollars. 

Sources suggest that in the ongoing financial year (FY) 2018-19, agri-export are likely to grow by 16-17 percent. This growth means the agri-export will go up to 44 billion dollars. 

"There are many challenges in the new policy, though hopes are there that the new policy may increase exports. But, seeing the decline in agri-exports in past five years, it seems that setting an export target is going to be a difficult task for the government," says Ashok Gulati, an agricultural expert. 

Secondly, the disconnect between the two major ministries of the government, .i.e. agriculture ministry and commerce ministry, also shows the same story being played out. The agriculture minister through his recent tweet said that his government wants to grow Indian agricultural exports to 100 billion dollars by 2022-23, while the Agricultural Export Policy that was put in public domain by the minister of commerce says that the government has a target to take agri-exports to 60 billion dollars by 2022-23. 

This means two ministries have two different goals and this sows doubt as to who is actually responsible for meeting the targets by 2022.

Watch this Zee Business video

Zee Business's Suman Agarwal approached sources in the export department who said,"Yes, the agri-exports have gone down in last five years and global market and prices are responsible for the decline." However, he refused to blame any particular policy for it. On the other hand, it is being said the export policy of the government and ban on products is responsible for it.