The APEDA has wrapped up the first cohort of its BHARATI Programme, a 120‑hour export‑focused acceleration scheme for agri‑food startups. A total of 100 startups from 22 states and 2 Union Territories completed the programme, aiming to help India reach the target of USD 50 billion in APEDA‑scheduled agri‑food exports by 2030.
Key Developments
- More than 700 applications were received; 100 were selected after a multi‑stage evaluation.
- Composition: 68 product‑focused startups, 26 export‑enabling technology/service providers, and 6 innovators working on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) compliance, traceability and quality assurance.
- Entrepreneur age range: 17 to 75 years, showing a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
- Structured 120‑hour curriculum covering export preparedness, market access, regulatory compliance, packaging, branding and investor readiness.
- One‑to‑one mentorship, masterclasses by industry experts, and interaction with government bodies, financial institutions and exporters.
- Top eight startups showcased at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, resulting in more than 100 B2B meetings and product sampling.
- Early export wins: two agri‑tech firms shipped ~37 MT of GI‑tagged Jardalu mangoes to Dubai; another startup achieved the first sea shipment of millet‑based functional foods to New Zealand; multiple MoUs and repeat orders were secured in the UAE, USA, UK, Singapore and EU markets.
Important Facts
- Export of GI‑tagged products – GI‑tagged Jardalu mangoes (37 MT) to Dubai.
- First sea shipment of nutraceutical‑based millet ready‑to‑cook foods to Auckland, sourced from Karnataka Farmer Producer Organisations.
- Organic fig juice (850 kg) and jamun‑based juice exported to the US and UK, followed by a repeat order of ~1.25 MT.
- Organic pulses, heritage grains and GI‑tagged native rice (40 MT) shipped to the UAE and EU, with projected exports >40 MT to the US, EU and UAE in the next 1‑2 months.
- MoU signed by a Madhya Pradesh organic‑products startup with a leading UAE supermarket chain.
- Millet‑based product order from Oman; ongoing negotiations for makhana to Dubai and ready‑to‑eat items for Japan and Cameroon.
Exam Relevance
The initiative illustrates how a statutory body (APEDA) can drive export growth through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology adoption – a key theme in GS 3 (Economy). It also shows the role of government‑led incubation schemes (BHARATI Programme) in creating globally competitive enterprises. The focus on SPS compliance, GI‑tagged products and Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) links trade policy with rural development, a frequent GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Economy) intersection.
Way Forward
APEDA will launch the next edition of the BHARATI Programme to onboard more startups, deepen technology adoption and expand market linkages. Continued support for export‑ready enterprises, especially those offering SPS solutions and GI‑tagged products, will help India achieve the USD 50 billion export target and diversify its agri‑food basket. The programme also underscores the importance of public‑private partnership, capacity building and international exposure for sustainable export growth.