Why Indian Farmers struggle to Export?

  •   Wed, Oct 22 2025
  •   By Ethan Pinto

October 22, 2025

When you think about India, the first image that comes to mind is of green fields, hardworking farmers, and the smell of fresh soil after rain. Agriculture is not just our biggest occupation — it is a part of who we are. Yet, when it comes to selling our agricultural products to the world, India still lags behind. Despite being one of the largest producers of fruits, spices, grains, and plantation crops, our share in global agricultural exports is far smaller than it could be.

This gap is not because our farmers lack effort or quality. It’s because the systems that support them have not kept pace with global needs. As someone from Mangalore — from the heart of Dakshina Kannada, where farming is a way of life — I often wonder why the hardworking people in our taluks like Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal, and Belthangady are still not getting the global recognition or income they deserve.

Let’s take a simple example. India grows everything the world needs — rice, spices, cashew, coffee, tea, coconut, sugarcane, arecanut, and much more. We have the soil, the sunshine, and the manpower. But the problem begins after the harvest. Farmers know how to grow crops, but not how to export them. Most small farmers have no idea about international markets, paperwork, or certification. Even if they do, the process of exporting is so complicated that it discourages them.

For instance, getting a product ready for export means dealing with dozens of steps — from packaging and quality testing to transport, customs clearance, and export licenses. Large companies can handle this easily, but small farmers from our villages simply cannot. They end up selling their produce to middlemen for a fraction of what they could earn abroad. So while the world buys Indian tea, coffee, and spices, the actual farmers who grow them see only a small share of that money.

Now, think about arecanut — the most important cash crop of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. From Beltangady to Puttur, thousands of families depend on it. The crop pays for education, weddings, and homes. But diseases like Kole Roga, rising input costs, and price fluctuations have made it risky. If India could open larger export channels for arecanut to nearby markets like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and parts of Africa, it could transform the lives of farmers in this region.

There is potential. The demand for arecanut and its by-products exists globally, but India has not invested enough in processing, branding, or marketing it internationally. Instead of selling it raw, we could export processed or value-added forms — like areca plates, supari mixes, or eco-friendly materials derived from the nut and its leaves. That would bring better prices and create jobs locally.

The same applies to other crops. Take coconut, pepper, or cashew — all produced in the coastal belt. India is still not among the top exporters of these products, even though our quality is world-class. The missing link is the lack of farmer-level support: export training, cooperatives, proper storage, and logistics infrastructure. A farmer in Bantwal cannot send his cashew directly to Dubai even if there’s demand — because the system does not make it simple for him.

Government schemes for export promotion exist, but many farmers in smaller districts have never even heard of them. Institutions need to work closer to the ground. Export awareness programs should reach taluk levels. If farmers knew how to register for export licenses, connect with buyers online, and handle quality testing, it would change everything.

At the same time, our ports — like the New Mangalore Port — can play a big role. Most of the export traffic here comes from large companies. Why not have dedicated centers or units to support small agricultural exporters? Even a small office that helps farmers complete paperwork or connect them with exporters could make a big difference.

The world today is looking for new agricultural suppliers. Many countries want natural, chemical-free products. India has that potential in abundance — but we need to package it better. Imagine if products like arecanut, pepper, and cashew from Dakshina Kannada were known worldwide like Darjeeling tea or Thai rice. It would not only bring foreign exchange to the country but also restore the pride and prosperity of our farmers.

As a 16-year-old student watching all this from close quarters, I often feel that the future of India’s economy still lies in its fields — not just in big cities or tech hubs. If our farmers can export directly, earn fair prices, and see the world value their work, then agriculture will not be seen as a struggle but as a business full of opportunity.

India has already come a long way in agriculture. The next big step is to connect our farms to the world. That journey starts with better awareness, simpler rules, and a little more faith in our farmers’ ability to grow not just for India — but for the world.

 

 

 

 
By Ethan Pinto
Ethan Pinto is a student of St. Aloysius PU College, Mangaluru. He writes articles that shed light on the challenges faced by Indian farmers and explores ideas to support their growth and livelihoods.
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    While singing praises of areca nut, let's bear in mind that Arecoline, a constituent of areca nut, has been scientifically proven to be a carcinogen. Countries like the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, and Sri Lanka have banned the importation of Areca. While areca nut may have other uses, the lion's share is consumed by Gutka, Pan Masala, etc. If India imposes a ban on these products (which is unlikely due to vote-bank politics), areca nut prices are sure to crash

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    Dear Ethan Good you ask this.Why it is not able to export will tell you.Mostly people here in Europe lost faith in our products because previously ,people used to send Pepper Tea etc mixed with Papaya seeds ,coconut powder mixed with something else.Vegetables or mangos with pesticides.Fish with formalin etc .Such things are controlled before they are released.Just about 50years back they wanted boots Shoes with high heels because of snow.A ship with shoes came but it was sent back as it is .Since inbetween was a layer fixed with gum.Just imagine when you lift your leg in snow your leg can be lifted but below remains your sohle?who wants such schuhs?Schiff was sent back with schuh work.Nowadays we get veg or mangos through London imported.First one should concentrate on good articles and not on money.

  • Rakshith, Surathkal/DK

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    Good article. Government has to help farmers export for a better economy

  • Naushad, Meenakshipuram/Tamil Nadu

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    More importantly its the lack of good credit facilities that could help fostering farmers exports

  • Jeffrey, Nandigudda/Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    What an amazing article 👏 Its menacing to see a young boy highlighting these massive challenges faced by farmers. Bravo.

  • Joe Britto, Nakre/Bangalore

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    The stagnation in India's agricultural exports and the difficulties faced by farmers in coastal and other districts are rooted in a complex set of systemic, policy, and infrastructural challenges, many of which you have correctly identified. While government agencies and state departments have mandates to support exports, their effectiveness is often hampered by these underlying issues. Here's an analysis of the causes of the stagnation and a look at the way forward. Causes of Stagnant Agricultural Exports 1. Inconsistent and Restrictive Government/Apeda Policies The primary driver of stagnation is often policy instability and an implicit anti-producer bias driven by concerns over domestic food inflation. • Sudden Export Bans and Restrictions: The government frequently imposes abrupt bans or restrictions (like Minimum Export Prices - MEPs, or quotas) on commodities like non-basmati rice, sugar, wheat, and onions to manage domestic supply and prices. This creates unpredictability in the global market, making international buyers hesitant to rely on India as a long-term supplier and damaging the country's credibility. • Contradictory Tariff Policies: Maintaining low or zero import duties on certain pulses and edible oils to keep consumer prices down can undercut the government's own push for crop diversification away from water-intensive crops, as farmers find it more profitable to grow heavily subsidized crops. 2. Failures in Quality Control and Certification As you noted, issues with licensing and certification are a major bottleneck, particularly for organic and high-value produce. • Credibility of Certification Bodies (CBs): There have been documented cases of systematic non-compliance and lax oversight by some CBs, which led to high-profile rejections in key markets (like the EU and US) due to issues like pesticide residues (e.g., Ethylene Oxide - ETO) or non-adherence to organic standards. • Regulatory Backlash: The "throttling" of CBs/FPOs.

  • Prinson D'lima, Santhekatte- Kallianpur/Doha- Qatar

    Wed, Oct 22 2025

    Well done, Ethan! I’m becoming a fan of your writing. Your topic is truly important, as food is the most basic need for all living beings. Farmers in Coastal Karnataka need more media attention and support, as their work is often neglected for reasons you’ve rightly highlighted.


Leave a Comment

Title: Why Indian Farmers struggle to Export?



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.