Despite the Covid-19 situation world over, the country’s export of essential agricultural commodities for the April 2020-February 2021 period has increased by 18.49% to ?2.74 lakh crore as compared with ?2.31 lakh crore in the same period last year. Imports too have shown a rise of 2.93% to ?1.41 lakh crore during the period.

However, the balance of trade has favourably increased to ?1.325 lakh crore as against ?93,907 crore during the same period in 2019-20.

The commodities which posted significant positive growth in exports were wheat, non basmati rice, soya meal, spices, sugar, raw cotton, fresh and processed vegetables and alcoholic beverages.