Describing BHARTI as a timely step toward strengthening India’s agri food export ecosystem, Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, said the initiative is expected to create new avenues of growth for both farmers and agri startups. Launched in September 2025 by APEDA, BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement) is intended to accelerate agri food exports while nurturing export ready agri food and agritech startups.
The initiative seeks to align India’s agricultural export ambitions with the government’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Startup India, setting a target of achieving US$ 50 billion in agri food exports by 2030.
A Strategic Push for Agri Food Export Growth
BHARATI is designed to incubate and empower 100 agri food startups with a structured focus on enhancing innovation, improving export readiness, and building global competitiveness. The initiative centers on high value export segments such as GI tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, and AYUSH based health products.
By addressing critical challenges including quality assurance, perishability, logistics, and regulatory compliance, BHARATI aims to create a robust ecosystem for sustained export growth. The initiative also seeks to foster collaboration between innovators, technology providers, and startups, ensuring that India’s agri food exports are supported by a networked, innovation driven value chain.
Launch and Program Framework
The pilot cohort of BHARATI on boarded 100 startups across various agri food domains. This cohort represents the first step in APEDA’s broader plan to establish a recurring annual acceleration program that supports agri food enterprises in scaling operations, meeting international standards, and penetrating new markets.
Speaking at the launch, Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), emphasized the BHARTI’s role in Indian agri food ecosystem.
BHARATI will play a vital role in strengthening India’s agri food ecosystem, benefiting both the nation and its farmers.
Structured Support and Export Enablement
BHARATI’s operational model includes a three month acceleration program that provides startups with mentorship, market insights, export readiness training, regulatory guidance, infrastructure access, and global networking opportunities. Through this structured approach, startups gain the technical and institutional support required to transition from local production to international trade.
The initiative prioritizes segments where India holds comparative advantages, including organic produce, GI tagged commodities, processed ethnic foods, livestock based products, and AYUSH linked nutritional ingredients, to diversify exports and strengthen India’s presence in niche markets.
BHARATI initiative will help Indian cuisines shine on the international stage and build a robust global network for startups.
Technology Integration at the Core
A defining feature of BHARATI is its emphasis on technology adoption across the agri food export value chain. The program encourages the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for crop quality assessment, blockchain for ensuring traceability in supply chains, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for maintaining efficiency in cold chain logistics. Additionally, fintech platforms are being introduced to facilitate easier access to export financing, insurance, and payment solutions for small and medium enterprises.
These interventions aim to mitigate long standing challenges faced by exporters, such as perishability of goods, inconsistent quality standards, and high transaction costs, while also encouraging sustainable and compliant production practices.
Expanding Market Reach Through Innovation
BHARATI places emphasis on innovation in packaging and logistics to improve shelf life and ensure compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards. The initiative also supports the creation of digital export platforms to provide market access to rural and semi urban agri enterprises, bridging the gap between small producers and global buyers.
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Through these measures, APEDA aims to enhance the international visibility of India’s agri food products while positioning its startups as reliable suppliers in competitive global markets.
Partnership and Institutional Collaboration
The success of BHARATI rests on strong institutional linkages. APEDA has partnered with state agricultural boards, premier technical institutions such as IITs and NITs, agricultural universities, technology incubators, and industry associations to provide comprehensive support to startups. These collaborations ensure access to research facilities, expert mentors, and investor networks, enabling entrepreneurs to innovate, refine, and commercialize their export oriented solutions.
BHARATI will empower agri based startups, enhance farmers’ productivity, boost exports, and strengthen India’s journey towards becoming a global leader in agriculture.
Pilot Cohort and Future Expansion
The first pilot cohort, launched in September 2025, includes startups working in areas such as organic fertilizer manufacturing, precision farm monitoring, sustainable packaging, and functional food processing. Each participant benefits from targeted mentoring, infrastructure access, and export linkage facilitation to strengthen market readiness.
Looking ahead, BHARATI is set to become an annual program, expanding its scope in subsequent years to include more startups and specialized agri food sectors. APEDA plans to scale up its engagement with state governments, industry bodies, and international partners to achieve deeper market integration and stronger export outcomes.
Building a Sustainable Agri Export Ecosystem
Aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Startup India, and Digital India campaigns, BHARATI connects India’s agri innovation network with global trade opportunities. It aims to create a sustainable, inclusive ecosystem that benefits farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and emerging agritech enterprises alike.
By focusing on innovation, capacity building, and regulatory alignment, BHARATI represents APEDA’s strategic approach to expanding India’s agri food exports in a structured and scalable manner. As the initiative progresses, it is expected to strengthen India’s agricultural export capabilities and generate new economic opportunities across rural and semi urban regions.
