New Delhi, March 19 -- India's exports of agricultural and processed food products have recorded a robust 13 per cent increase to $22.67 billion during April-February in the current financial year compared with the same period of the previous year, reflecting the strong performance of the farm sector.

According to data compiled by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, rice exports, including basmati and non-basmati varieties, jumped by 21 per cent during the 11-month period to over $11 billion from $9.32 billion in the same period last year.

The government started easing restrictions on rice exports in September 2024 on prospects of bumper crops, around a year after they were imposed to check food inflation ...