India, March 11 -- The escalating conflict in West Asia has hit India's agricultural exports, with hundreds of containers bound for Gulf markets stranded near Navi Mumbai and exporters scrambling to offload perishable cargo in local markets, such as the APMC market in Vashi.

The impact is largely being felt through disruptions in shipments to Gulf countries-a major export destination that accounts for 21.8% of India's total agricultural and food exports-just as demand peaks during Ramzan.

With shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz now uncertain, vessel movement has slowed, and freight costs have skyrocketed, according to traders and exporters. Hundreds of containers loaded with fruits and vegetables bound for Gulf markets are str...