Russia and India Look To Enhance Mutual Agricultural Trade

A large Russian business delegation to India has been attended by more than 30 Russian companies exporting agricultural products as well as representatives of more than 40 Indian companies, industry associations, and government authorities. The mission was organized by Agroexport and the Russian Agriculture Ministry as part of the World Food India 2025 exhibition.

India, which is increasing purchases of pulses from Russia, also sees prospects for supplies of niche grain crops, particularly buckwheat, while there is also demand for medicinal plants, according to Baskar Reddy, the agriculture advisor of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

He stated, “There are opportunities to expand trade in peas and chickpeas, as well as niche grain crops that India does not produce due to climatic conditions, such as buckwheat. Significant potential also exists for supplying medicinal plants, which are in high demand in India.”

That is a reference to India’s huge ayurvedic industry, which uses medicinal plants as healing potions in a wellness culture that dates back over 5,000 years.

Speaking at the event, the following Russian executives had this to say:

Kseniya Bolomatova, the executive director of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters, stated that Russia supplied almost 900,000 tonnes of peas to India in 2024, becoming the second-largest exporter of the crop to the Indian market. She added, “Russian farmers are extremely interested in increasing shipments to India and are ready to make products according to the requirements and wishes of the Indian side regarding size, variety, and other characteristics. Chickpeas and lentils also have great export potential.”

India has already entered the top ten largest buyers of Russian agricultural products, according to Ilya Ilyushin, the head of Agroexport. Exports doubled last year, reaching US$2.6 billion. Ilyushin said, “We see significant potential for expanding supplies. By 2030, this could reach US$2.8 billion through shipments of vegetable oils and pulses, as well as a significant increase in exports of value-added products, in particular meat, beverages, and finished products.”

Roman Miloradov, Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, spoke about efforts to expand access of Russian agricultural products to the Indian market. Thus, as a result of the cooperation between the two countries in 2023-2024, certificates for the export of fish and fish products, feed, leather raw materials, sheep wool, and goat down from Russia to India were agreed upon. “I would like to note with special gratitude the agreement reached in 2023 with the Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock, and Dairy of India on the possibility of supplying pork, poultry meat, and hard cheeses under one-time permits. Based on the results of the examination of the questionnaires, 23 Russian enterprises for the production of meat, dairy, and egg products have now been approved,” Roman Miloradov said.

Roman Babushkin, the minister-counsellor at Russia’s embassy in India, said there is every reason to expect that agriculture will become one of the leading areas contributing to the growth of bilateral trade to US$100 billion by 2030, saying, “This task was set by the countries’ leaders.”

Russia and India may establish joint cultivation of some types of pulse crops, for which demand on the Indian market is high.

“India is one of the world’s largest consumers and producers of legumes. Despite the Indian government’s measures aimed at developing the production of leguminous crops, the country has not achieved full self-sufficiency in this category of products and is forced to import significant amounts.

During the negotiations with Indian companies, the Union confirmed its readiness to become a reliable partner in ensuring stable supplies of Russian leguminous crops and proposed launching a joint program to grow certain species of particular interest to Indian consumers,” United Grain Company (UGC) said in a press release.