India’s agricultural sector is witnessing significant growth in both domestic consumption and exports, particularly in commodities like tea and sugar. However, this surge raises sustainability concerns in terms of ecological impact, economic dependency, and social well-being. The rapid expansion of agricultural exports, while beneficial in economic terms, may compromise long-term sustainability in production, processing, and distribution systems.

The Unique Context of Agricultural Production in India

Rapid Growth in Agricultural Exports

• India is one of the world’s largest agricultural product exporters.
• In 2022-23, India’s agricultural exports were valued at $53.1 billion, up from $8.7 billion in 2004-05, showing a six-fold increase.
• These exports are vital for India’s economy, boosting revenue, foreign exchange, and transactional options.

Challenges to Sustainability

• The rapid increase in agricultural exports presents challenges to the sustainability of production, processing, and distribution systems.
• There is a need to consider not only economic sustainability but also ecological and social factors that contribute to a robust agricultural system.

Defining Sustainability in Agricultural Commodities

Key Aspects of Sustainability

• Ecological Factors: Ensuring the environmental health of agricultural systems.
• Economic Aspects: Maintaining productivity and profitability.
• Social Aspects: Ensuring fair labor practices, community well-being, and fair distribution of benefits.
• Governance: Effective policies are essential to balance these three pillars.

Sustainability Across the Entire Lifecycle

• Sustainability is not limited to production; it must include pre-sowing, on-farm production, and post-harvest stages.
• Tea and sugar offer prime examples of sustainability challenges in both domestic and export contexts.

Sustainability Issues in Tea Production

India’s Tea Industry Overview

• India is the world’s fourth-largest tea exporter and second-largest producer.
• India’s tea exports in 2022 totaled 188.76 million kg, valued at $641.34 million, showing significant growth.

Challenges in Tea Production

• Human-Wildlife Conflicts: About 70% of tea plantations are near forests, resulting in frequent interactions with elephants and other wildlife.
• Chemical Use: Over-reliance on synthetic pesticides (up to 85% of total pesticide use) leads to chemical residues in the tea, raising health concerns like cancer and neurotoxicity.
• Labor Rights Issues: More than half of tea plantation workers are women, often underpaid, working in hazardous conditions with little safety gear.

Need for Better Management

• Improved management practices, stricter pesticide residue monitoring, and enforcement of labor regulations are critical for sustainable tea production.

Sustainability Issues in Sugar Production

India’s Sugar Industry Overview

• India is the second-largest sugar producer globally, with an annual production of 34 million metric tonnes.
• Sugar exports from India grew by 291% from FY 2013-14 to FY 2021-22.

Environmental Concerns in Sugar Production

• Water Usage: Sugar cane cultivation requires massive water resources, with 1 kg of sugar needing 1,500-2,000 kg of water.
• Impact on Water Resources: Sugar cane and paddy crops occupy 25% of India’s cropped area, consuming 60% of irrigation water, stressing groundwater resources.
• Biodiversity Loss: Natural ecosystems are converted into sugar cane plantations, reducing biodiversity and further stressing water resources.

Social and Labor Concerns

• Workers in the sugar industry face long hours, poor working conditions, and increasing stress from debt cycles.
• Rising temperatures exacerbate the health risks for workers, affecting their physical and mental well-being.

The Need for Sustainable Practices

• Encouraging drip irrigation, improving water management, and strengthening labor regulations are necessary steps for sustainable sugar production.

Millets: A Sustainable Agricultural Commodity

Rising Demand for Millets

• Millets are resilient to harsh environmental conditions, require fewer inputs, and preserve soil health.
• The export value of millets grew from $26.97 million in 2020-21 to $62.95 million in 2021-22.

Benefits of Millets

• Millets offer ecological and socio-economic sustainability, with growing domestic and export markets.
• In FY 2022-23, India exported 169,049.11 metric tonnes of millets, valued at $75.45 million.

Conclusion: The Paradox of Agricultural Exports

Economic Growth vs. Sustainability

• India’s expanding agricultural exports benefit producers and consumers but create a paradox: increasing dependencies in the supply chain could undermine ecological and social sustainability.
• Successful export commodities like millets highlight the potential for growth while maintaining sustainability, but tea and sugar face ongoing challenges in this regard.

The Path Forward

• Addressing environmental concerns and safeguarding worker rights are crucial to ensuring that agricultural exports contribute to a sustainable and inclusive economy.

• • Policies should focus on reducing environmental degradation, improving labor conditions, and promoting responsible agricultural practices to create a balanced and sustainable agrarian economy.