Agriculture basket
The ongoing conflict in West Asia has begun to disrupt global agricultural trade, placing India’s farm export basket under significant pressure. Experts warn that the crisis could affect billions of dollars worth of agricultural shipments as logistics, shipping routes and payment systems face growing uncertainty.
According to trade analysts, India exported agricultural and food products worth about $11.8 billion to West Asia in 2025, accounting for nearly 21.8% of the country’s total agri exports. The region is a crucial market for commodities such as rice, bananas, onions, spices, meat, dairy products, coffee and tea.
The conflict has disrupted key maritime routes and raised shipping insurance costs, making it difficult for exporters to move cargo to Gulf markets. Logistics bottlenecks and uncertainty in payments have already left several consignments stranded at ports, affecting exporters and farmers alike.
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Among the most vulnerable commodities is rice, with India exporting about $4.43 billion worth to West Asia, nearly 36.7% of its total global rice exports. Banana shipments and other perishable products have also been hit due to delays and higher freight charges, which in some cases have surged dramatically amid the conflict.
Beyond trade disruptions, the conflict could also push up agricultural input costs. The Middle East is a key supplier of fertilizers, and any disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could tighten global fertilizer supply and raise prices, indirectly affecting farm production worldwide.
Policy experts warn that if the conflict continues for an extended period, it may force exporters to explore alternative markets and supply chains. For India, the crisis highlights the need to diversify agricultural export destinations to reduce dependence on a single region.
In the short term, however, farmers, exporters and policymakers remain on alert as the West Asia conflict threatens to ripple through the agricultural economy.
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