India key producer, exporter due to robust agri sector: FM

India's resilient agriculture sector has been a major shield against geopolitical upheavals such as the Red Sea disruptions, which prompted many countries to have a "long-term understanding" with India for food exports, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday, adding that the government continues to boost the sector with enhanced focus on R&D aiming to bolster exports of value-added products.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

Replying to a specific question on the features and future of Indian agriculture, she said: "We should be extremely glad for one thing. There are countries, including some very big countries, who are not self-sufficient in food grains, who are not self-sufficient in horticulture, who are not self-sufficient in milk. Who [are] certainly not self-sufficient in fish and poultry... And India is self-sufficient... in all these." India is the world's number one or number two producer in terms of the quantity and is also in a position to export. "Whether your milk and milk products. Whether it is your horticulture, your fruits.

India is one of the top exporters," she said. The finance minister was addressing students of Hindu College in the Capital on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.