New Delhi: Though the global recession is still lingering on, India’s agri-export turnover is expected to double in the next 5 years, said Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) chairman Asit Tripathy. Agri-export turnover is set to rise from $9 billion to nearly $18 billion by 2014.

Despite recession, the country’s agri-exports have registered a 25% growth in 2008-09. Unlike the software and handicraft industry, agricultural products are not US dependent, hence, the country’s agri-export has been not affected. Experts in this field believe the worst of recession is already over. Infact, major economies such as the EU and the US are reporting significant growth and so going by global scenario, the agri-exports will not suffer.

On ‘farming for export’, a concept where farmers shift gear from livelihood farming to market-oriented agriculture and international trade, Tripathy said that Apeda supports ‘farming for export’ concept since it is the best option to ensure better quality of food across the globe. Food safety is a major cause of concern in Europe, Japan and the US market and this method will boost export.

As part of the farming for export programme, Apeda is working on horticulture. It is also financing R&D for pomegranate and working on it in clusters. For pomegranate, Apeda is tapping Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, for mango Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, banana in Julgoan and Surat and ginger in the Northeast.

On centre for perishable cargo, the Apeda chairman said the organisation has more than 15 centres across the country, the latest to start at Guwahati. When asked about taping the untouched market, he said that Apeda plans to tap Russia for exporting grapes and the Middle East for pomegranate in this fiscal. In the financial year 2009-10, Apeda is betting high on export of dehydrated onions, mango pulp, egg powder and honey.