India is the world's largest producer across a range of commodities due to its favourable agro-climatic conditions and rich natural resource base. India is the world’s biggest producer of coconuts, mangoes, bananas, milk and dairy products, cashew nuts, pulses, ginger, turmeric and black pepper. It is also the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugar, cotton, fruits and vegetables. Being a critical sector of the economy, agriculture does provide direct employment to about 60 percent of working population in the country and also forms the basis of vital industries including the textile, jute, and sugar industries. Agriculture and allied sector contribute about 17 percent to GDP and about 25 percent of India's cumulative exports belong to agricultural products category.Realising the importance of high value food products exports from the country, the government back in 1985 had set up a specialized body - Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) through an act of parliament which functions under the commerce ministry. In the initial years, the focus was to support the exporters in areas of marketing and packaging and training and identify key thrust areas for exports. Some of the key areas identified were meat, fruits and vegetables, basmati rice, guargum etc.