New Delhi: India’s agriculture exports have been in a consistent path of decline in the past three years, in a trend that is likely to hit farmers’ income, The New Indian Express has reported.The report comes as farmers are leading a massive protest to Delhi to press for the delivery of promises made by the Narendra Modi government in 2021 while repealing the three Central laws – which had led to historic year-long protests at Delhi’s borders.Among demands, further highlighted by the farmers’ union Samyukta Kisan Morcha in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the guarantee of minimum support price and government assistance to combat the corporate takeover of agriculture.The TNIE report noted that even though exports are going down, India has expanded the number of countries it exports fresh fruit from 102 to 111 in the last one year.According to the report, the India’s agri-export growth rate was 6% in 2022-2023. But it was 17% in 2020-2021.The report highlights that even Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) exports “have sharply declined from 24% to 11%.” APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion of a few selected agriculture products.The report adds:“In terms of value, the total exports in APEDA’s product-value declined to $17.88 billion in April-December 2023 from $19.68 billion in April-December 2022. Total agri-export value reduced to $34.99 billion in FY2023 from $38.63 billion during the same period a year ago.”India’s banana market has, meanwhile, grown to Russia amidst escalating tensions with Ecuador, traditionally its largest supplier of bananas.Reuters has reported the trade ministry as having announced in January that India’s agricultural exports will rise in the fiscal year 2023-2024 from last year despite curbs on wheat, rice and sugar.India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, rice and sugar.