New Delhi [India], October 1 (ANI): Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Wednesday highlighted the rapid growth of India’s coffee exports and urged stakeholders to focus on diversification, innovation, and value addition to strengthen the sector. Speaking at an event on International Coffee Day in the national capital, he underscored the importance of making coffee a sustainable and profitable venture for future generations.
“We love to work with all stakeholders to diversify the production process, build, and add value in our country, and get a premium for our exports in the world market,” Agrawal said. He stressed the need for stability and predictability in production, calling for measures to make coffee cultivation a viable long-term investment.
He invited industry experts to share recommendations that could help the government better support the sector. “To understand the sector better, we also need suggestions from stakeholders on where the government can help to catalyse the process,” he noted.
Agrawal pointed out that India’s coffee exports have doubled in the last three years, reaching USD 1.8 billion in the previous fiscal year, despite the fact that coffee cultivation is concentrated mainly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
He also acknowledged the challenges facing growers, particularly pest and disease management, and emphasized the need for innovative solutions. “Since our coffee is grown in conjunction with forests, there are challenges around pest and disease management. One particular disease severely impacts our coffee production,” he said.
The Commerce Secretary concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to working with the industry to ensure higher productivity and global competitiveness for Indian coffee.
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