India must now focus on processing, branding and exports to become world’s food basket: Chauhan

Lucknow: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said India has already achieved sufficient agricultural production and must now focus on processing, branding and exports to emerge as the “food basket of the world”.

Addressing exporters, entrepreneurs, scientists and stakeholders during an interaction organised under “Fruit Horizon 2026” at a Lucknow hotel in Gomtinagar, the Union minister stressed the need to strengthen India’s horticulture and fruit export ecosystem through innovation, quality enhancement and better supply chains.

Chouhan, who is on a two-day visit to Lucknow, held extensive discussions with progressive exporters, directors and industry representatives on issues related to fruit exports, including global competition, quality standards, logistics bottlenecks and strengthening the supply chain.

He said that understanding and resolving ground-level challenges faced by farmers and exporters was crucial for expanding the fruit sector. “India has enough production capacity. Our next goal is to ensure proper processing, branding and exports so that Indian produce reaches global markets in a stronger way,” he said.

The minister said exporters and farmers openly raised concerns related to research, GST and freight costs during the interaction, adding that the govt was seriously working on these issues. He also announced that a special team of scientists was constituted to focus on research and innovation aimed at improving both production and quality standards.

Highlighting the importance of policy reforms, Chouhan said changes in policy frameworks take time, but the govt was moving in the right direction with sustained efforts.

The meeting also focused on expanding international markets, identifying new export destinations, strengthening branding strategies and ensuring better value realisation for agricultural products. Discussions were also held on increasing investment in the fruit sector and promoting food processing industries.

The interaction served as a key bridge between policymaking and field-level experiences, officials said.

The main ‘Fruit Horizon 2026’ programme will be held on May 7 at ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Rehmankhera, Lucknow. According to the schedule, the Union minister will interact with farmers, nursery operators and stakeholders from the processing sector from 10 am onwards before the main session begins. ministers in the Uttar Pradesh govt, including Surya Pratap Shahi and Dinesh Pratap Singh, are also expected to participate in the event.

Key issues such as quality standards, exports, value addition, zero rejection mechanisms and the role of FPOs, FPCs and SHGs in the horticulture sector will be discussed during the session, with officials expressing hope that the initiative would open new opportunities for India’s fruit and horticulture industry.

Key issues such as quality standards, exports, value addition, zero rejection mechanisms and the role of FPOs, FPCs and SHGs in the horticulture sector will be discussed during the session, with officials expressing hope that the initiative would open new opportunities for India’s fruit and horticulture industry.