India Launches BHARATI Program to Boost Agri-Food Exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has proudly concluded its inaugural cohort of the BHARATI initiative. This program, officially known as Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Innovation, aims to stimulate innovation in India’s agri-food export sector. With a target of achieving USD 50 billion in exports by 2030, BHARATI seeks to create a vibrant ecosystem for stakeholders in this crucial industry.
Launched with the goal of identifying and nurturing startups that are at the forefront of innovation, BHARATI selected 100 promising companies from a pool of over 700 applicants from 22 States and 2 Union Territories. The selected startups include 68 focused on agri-food products, 26 providing export-enabling technologies, and six innovators specializing in sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
This diverse group of entrepreneurs, aged between 17 and 75, exemplifies the rich tapestry of India’s innovation ecosystem. The program offered a structured 120-hour acceleration curriculum designed to enhance the participants’ export readiness. Areas covered included export preparedness, market access, compliance, branding, and investor relations. The startups also benefited from personalized mentorship and masterclasses from industry experts, as well as opportunities for networking with stakeholders such as financial institutions and potential investors.
In a significant highlight of the program, APEDA facilitated the participation of the top eight startups at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, one of the largest food and beverage trade exhibitions worldwide. There, the startups engaged in over 100 B2B meetings and showcased their products to international buyers—an invaluable exposure that could set the stage for future business opportunities.
Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman of APEDA, emphasized the importance of the BHARATI Program in shaping a future-ready export ecosystem built on innovation and global competitiveness. The enthusiastic participation from startups across India indicates a strengthening agri-food innovation landscape that can significantly contribute to the nation’s export ambitions.
Since the program’s launch, several startups have made remarkable strides. Two agri-tech startups managed to export approximately 37 metric tons of GI-tagged Jardalu mangoes to Dubai. Meanwhile, another startup achieved the landmark of completing the first sea shipment of botanically infused ready-to-cook millet products to Auckland, New Zealand. The export momentum continues with a startup from Madhya Pradesh signing an MoU with a UAE supermarket for organic goods and another firm shipping 5 metric tons of mangoes to Singapore.
The program has proven to be a catalyst for change. A Maharashtra-based Farmer Producer Company exported quality juices to the U.S. and UK, receiving repeat orders following their initial success. Meanwhile, a Karnataka-based firm, collaborating with over 1,600 farmers, exported 40 metric tons of organic products, demonstrating the program’s role in fostering sustainable growth and value addition.
With ongoing negotiations for varied products in markets like Oman and Dubai and a Madhya Pradesh startup expanding its reach through e-commerce, the BHARATI initiative is proving effective in enhancing India’s agri-food export landscape. Looking ahead, APEDA plans to launch the next batch of the BHARATI Program, further supporting innovative startups dedicated to enhancing exports in this sector.
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