During 2021-22, Indian coffee exports stood at USD 1.016 billion, growing by 38% from the previous year 2020-21, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel said in reply to a parliamentary question today.

 

In the year 2021-22, India was the 5th largest exporter of coffee in the world with a share of about 6% of global coffee exports.

 

Top 5 Coffee Exporting Countries in the World during 2021-22 are as below:

Country	Coffee Exports  (Lakh tonnes)
Brazil	23.70
Viet Nam	15.48
Colombia	7.51
Indonesia	4.24
India	4.16

 

 Source: Coffee Board

Indian coffee exports have increased from 19.7 thousand tonnes during 1960-61 to 416 thousand tonnes in 2021-22.

There has been over 100 per cent growth in the import of arecanut, both in terms of quantity and value, during the current financial year, the Centre told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

 

Data provided to the Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel, by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Anupriya Patel, showed that India imported 6,1452.21 tonnes of arecanut until November, compared to 25,978.98 tonnes during the entire financial year of 2021–22. That means arecanut imports went up by 136.35 per cent in the first eight months of 2022–2023.

 

The value of the imported arecanut went up from $90.18 million in 2021–22 to $217.8 million in the first eight months of 2022–23.

 

Myanmar major shipper

Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia were the major exporters of arecanut during the period. In fact, there was a more than 273 per cent increase in the import of arecanut from Myanmar in the first eight months of 2022–23 compared with the whole of 2021–22. Myanmar exported 28,589.22 tonnes of arecanut to India from April to November of 2022–23, compared with 7,645.77 tonnes in 2021–22, recording a growth of 273.92 per cent.

 

India imported arecanut valued at $99.59 million from Myanmar in the first eight months of 2022–23, compared with $27.12 million in 2021–22.

 

'Arecanut is imported from some countries, including Singapore and the UAE. However, there has been no import of arecanut from Bhutan in the last four years, including the current financial year,' the minister said.

 

Floor price for imports

On the measures being taken by the government to protect the interests of arecanut growers in the country, the Minister said the basic customs duty on the import of arecanut is already at a fixed rate of 100 per cent.

 

The import of arecanut is prohibited if the CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value is below ?251 per kg. 'Precisely, the government has imposed the condition of a minimum import price of ?251 per kg on arecanut to restrict the unabated import and to prevent entry of inferior quality arecanut into the domestic market and destabilization of the domestic prices,' she said.

 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have developed the quality standards to restrict the import of low-quality arecanut, the minister said.

Finland's Trade Minister Ville Skinnari, who is in India this week, termed India a 'trusted partner' even as he emphasised strengthening economic ties with New Delhi. Speaking to WION, the visiting minister said, 'for Finland, India is a trusted partner. For our companies, India is a trusted partner, for our people. We really see our bilateral relations in a very positive way', adding, 'the most important thing is we build up trust in the long term, then we can see development, investment, new jobs and growth, but the most thing is trust'.

 

The minister expressed that Finland, as a leading technology country, has a lot to offer and both countries can build a mutually beneficial relationship.

 

He explained, 'India is a very important partner for Finland and although we had covid pandemic, the figures, our companies are more and more keen to do things. We have opened flight connections between Finland and Mumbai. Finland is very much present in India, and would like to work with your ministers'. 

 

During his visit, Skinnari will open Finland's Consulate in Mumbai, which he considers a step forward in promoting regional-level collaborations. The minister acknowledged the huge potential that India holds and was confident that the bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to grow.

 

While in India, Skinnari will hold talks with the Indian ministers of commerce, telecom, and railways while he already spoke to the aviation minister. Skinnari also attended Finland's Smart Infrastructure Seminar in Mumbai, where he highlighted Finland's efforts towards carbon neutrality and its smart city initiatives.

 

He also emphasized that Finland is not dependent on Russian energy, and the country has invested in renewables and nuclear energy for a long time. Expressing concerns over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister said, 'Finland has a strong military, a rich history, and trusted partners, and the Minister believes that the country has a bright future ahead.'

 

On his country's NATO membership, he said, 'Process is there, the process is pending, Finland is a country with strong resilience, we believe we can find a solution, together with Sweden, and we hope that it very soon.'

Indian corn (maize) exports are on the rise as the coarse cereal is enjoying an advantage in freight charges in Southeast and West Asia. 

 

The export demand has resulted in domestic prices ruling higher than the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.1,962 a quintal, traders and exporters say. 

 

'We have stiff competition from Brazil, Argentina, and the Black Sea region. But our freight to destinations in South-East Asia and West Asia is cheap. It is proving to be an advantage,' said Delhi-based exporter Rajesh Paharia Jain.

 

Rise hits parity

Though Indian corn is quoted at $310 a tonne free-on-board (f.o.b) compared with $290, the low freight charge is giving it the market share in countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Oman.

 

'We are exporting to Vietnam and Malaysia at around $310 f.o.b. Domestic prices are ruling high, and we are getting deliveries for export in Mumbai at Rs.23,500 a tonne and in Chennai at Rs.24,500,' said M Madan Prakash, President, Agri Commodity Exporters Association (ACEA). 

 

'Corn prices have increased in the past month, affecting our parity. Prices have increased from Rs.18,000-20,000 a tonne to over Rs.21,000. Also, the moisture in some of the arrivals is high, at 15 to 17 per cent,' said Mukesh Singh, Director of Mumbai-based MuBala Agro. 

 

Emerging major player

According to data from Agmarknet, a unit of the Agriculture Ministry, the weighted average price of corn currently is Rs.2,114 per quintal, against Rs.1,775 a year ago. 

 

'Stockists are currently buying, and arrivals are good in the domestic market,' said ACEA’s Prakash.

 

'At least 3.5 lakh tonnes have headed towards Vietnam this fiscal. We are a major player in the region,' said Jain.

 

During the current fiscal, 19.53 lakh tonnes (lt) valued at $653.36 million have been exported during the April-November period of the current fiscal. In 2021–22, 36.90 lt were exported at a value of $1.02 billion. 

 

Bangladesh is the largest importer of Indian corn during the period, buying 11.5 lt, while Nepal purchased 2.7 lt and Vietnam 2.3 lt during the period.

 

Lanka begins enquiries

'The problem now is that exporters are fulfilling deals on hand, but they don’t have much stock. Corn suppliers in West Bengal are using it for their own production,' said Singh.

 

'Of late, we are getting good enquiries from Sri Lanka,' Jain said. 

 

'Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Malaysia continue to buy from India,' said Singh. 

 

Indian corn prices have gained in tandem with global prices, ruling near the highs witnessed in November 2022. Currently, corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) are quoting at $6.8 a bushel (Rs.22,100 a tonne). 

 

Global corn prices have gained on supply chain disruption, rising input costs, and higher demand. The ongoing Ukraine war, late plantings in the US, and dry weather in South America are causing concern in the market, particularly since Kyiv contributes 15 per cent to the export market. 

 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, global corn production is estimated to be 4.7 per cent lower in 2022–23 at 1,156 million tonnes (mt) against 1,211.8 mt in 2021–22. Supply is projected 2.5 per cent lower at 1,461.1 mt and ending stocks will likely be over 7 per cent lower at 283.5 mt. 

 

India has been aided by a record kharif maize production of 23.10 mt compared with 22.63 mt last kharif season.

The Gross State Value Added (GSVA) by the agriculture and allied sectors has increased by a staggering 186 percent from 2014-15 to 2022-23 in Telangana.

 

According to the Socio Economic Outlook 2023, released by Finance Minister T Harish Rao on Monday, the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries sectors’ Gross Value Added (Current Prices) to the State economy has also seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.05 percent from Rs 76,123 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 2,17,877 crore in 2022-23.

 

Telangana has made significant progress in the agriculture sector by adopting innovative methods, increasing the use of technology, and providing financial support to farmers.

 

The State accounts for substantial agricultural produce in rice, maize, lemon, grapes, mango and soybean, with highest production of turmeric and sweet orange.

 

As per the Socio Economic Outlook 2022, Telangana has emerged as the top contributor to the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in the Agriculture service sector of the country with a share of 26.32 percent between October 2019 and September 2021. During the period, the agriculture service sector in India is estimated to have attracted FDI of more than Rs 3,000 crore.

 

Agricultural exports are expected to play a pivotal role in doubling the farmers’ income and linking agriculture production to the export market is a critical step. To achieve this, the State government has been striving for all possible linkages to the export markets.

 

Accordingly, the exports from agriculture and allied sectors in Telangana during 2021-22, accounted for a massive Rs 6,737 crore, indicating the rapid growth in the State. Among the exports, cereals, spices, meat and cotton are the top commodities in the State.

 

Cotton exports were worth Rs 3,055 crore, while spices, coffee, tea and mate accounted for Rs 1,936 crore. This was followed by cereals with Rs 1,480 crore along with mean and edible meat offal exports at Rs 268 crore.

 

To improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in the agriculture sector, the State government is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies through pilot projects such as AI4AI-Artificial Intelligence for Agricultural Innovation.

 

These initiatives are aimed to help bring global competitiveness to the sector in a way that is profitable and sustainable for farmers.

The Indian government has met nearly 85 per cent of its kharif rice procurement target between October 1 and February 1. This may help it to reach last year’s procurement level at the end of the season and ease pressure on foodgrain distribution. A bumper harvest of wheat coupled with comfortable procurement may further help it to increase allocation under the food security law.

 

Pan-India procurement in terms of rice was 43.73 million tonnes (mt) valued at over Rs.1.36 lakh crore in the four months since the kharif marketing season began on October 1. This is compared with 43.59 mt bought during the same period a year ago. The target from the entire kharif season (October 1-March 31) is 52.1 mt. So far, 87 lakh farmers have got the benefit from the paddy procurement programme as the Centre buys at minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.2,060/quintal (Grade A variety).

 

Kharif paddy procurement in West Bengal has been extended until May 31 and in Assam up to June 30. Procurement has got over in most of the States, while it will end on February 15 in Madhya Pradesh, February 28 in eastern Uttar Pradesh, on March 31 in Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

 

Not impact on UP, Bihar

According to the latest data, there was no significant impact on procurement in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as was feared earlier since these two States had experienced deficient rainfall during the south-west monsoon season. Most of the districts in these States reported deficient rainfall.

 

'In western UP, there is a 20,000-tonne rise and in eastern UP there is a fall of about 40,000 tonnes compared with the year-ago period,' a government official said, adding that the State had exceeded the target of 4 mt. He attributed the drop to higher prices in the open market as there has been a lot of demand.

 

Procurement in Punjab and Haryana has been completed with 12.19 mt and 3.95 mt, purchases respectively. While the buying Punjab is lower by 3.3 lt (down 2.6 per cent), it is 3 lt more (up by 8.2 per cent) in Haryana.

 

Odisha buys 27% more

In Chhattisgarh, the rice procurement ended at 6.16 mt, the same as last year despite 1.6 mt being purchased in November 2022 as the buying schedule was advanced by a month from the usual December 1. In Odisha, authorities have reported a 27 per cent jump to 3.1.6 mt whereas in Telangana it has declined 9 per cent to 4.17 mt.

 

Bihar is another State where the procurement is down by 13 per cent at 1.89 mt and it may not be able to achieve its target of 3 mt this year due to drought. The procurement in the State may end up at around 2.5 mt, officials said, adding that farmers have been realising better prices this year on demand from exporters. Madhya Pradesh has reported 3.09 mt purchase, a notch higher from 3.07 mt a year ago.

 

'Rice procurement in January was nearly 30 per cent lower from the year-ago period while in each of the previous three months, purchases were nearly 10 per cent higher. As there has been a significant increase in demand in recent days, procurement may dip in February and March. In that case, the government may be able to buy less than last year,' a former top official of the Food Corporation of India said .

As per latest report published by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) Germany and FiBL Switzerland in 2022, the Global Organic Market has been growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.7 % during last six years (2015-2020). In value terms, the market size has grown from US $ 84 billion in 2015 to US $ 129 billion in 2020 suggesting that the demand for chemical free organic produces has increased in the international market.

 

The data on domestic consumption of organic product is not available.  But it is fact that demand of organic products in the domestic market is increasing with rising health consciousness and more inclination towards organic farming. According to IMARC report Indian India organic food market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 25.25% during 2022-2027. Export of organic products for last three years is given below:

Export of organic products in term of value for last three years

S. No.	Year	Exported Qty  (In MT)	Value (In Crore)	Value  (In USD Million)
1	2019-20	638998	4686.00	689.10
2	2020-21	888179	7078.50	1040.96
3	2021-22	460320	5249.32	771.96

Two types of organic certifications systems have been developed for quality assurance of organic products in country.

 

Third Party Certification by Accredited Certification Agency under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry for development of export market .

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) under Ministry of Agriculture and farmers Welfare for meeting the demand of domestic market.

NPOP was launched during 2001 by the Government of India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The NPOP not only provides the institutional framework for accreditation of certification agencies and operationalization of certification programme through its accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) but also ensures that the system effectively works and is monitored on regular basis. NPOP is third party certification programme where the production and handling of activities at all stages such as production, processing, trading and export requirements for organic products is covered.  Also, the system for grading and quality control of organic products is equivalent to conventional products.

 

Under PGS-India programme, Government is implementing Participatory Guarantee System of India (PGS-India) as a quality assurance initiative for certification of organic produce that is locally relevant, emphasizing the participation of stakeholders, including producers / farmers and consumers and operate outside the frame of third-party certification. In the operation of PGS-India, stakeholders (including farmers/ producers) are involved in decision making and essential decisions about the operation of the PGS-India certification itself by assessing, inspecting and verifying the production practices of each other and collectively declare produce as organic.

 

Food Safety Regulation has made it mandatory for organic products to be certified under NPOP or PGS for being sold in the domestic market under Jaivik Bharat logo. To ensure end-to-end traceability (as per the requirements of regulatory framework under Food Safety Standard (FSS) [Organic Foods] Regulation 2017, PGS-India programme also provides uninterrupted chain of custody, starting from producer groups till the products are processed and finally packed into retail packs.

 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

The government's efforts to double the income of farmers have yielded 'very positive' results, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Parliament on Tuesday. The government had set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee in April 2016 to examine issues relating to 'Doubling of Farmers' Income (DFI)' and recommended strategies to achieve the same.

 

The panel had submitted its final report to the government in September 2018. It contained the strategy for doubling farmers' income through various policies, reforms and programmes.

 

As per the strategy, Tomar said the government has adopted and implemented several policies, reforms, developmental programmes and schemes for achieving higher income for farmers directly or indirectly.

 

'The efforts of the government to double the income of farmers have yielded very positive results,' he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

 

As part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a book that contains compilation of success stories of 75,000 farmers out of innumerable farmers who have increased their income more than two times, he added.

FSSAI has decided that ‘high risk food products’ shall be allowed only through designated ports of entry. The FSSAI has issued a notice, in this regard, saying that such products shall not be allowed through any other port. A total of 79 ports have been designated by the FSSAI.

 

'It has been decided and approved by the food authority that import of these products as specified shall be permitted through designated ports as per the list and not through any other port/channel,' reads the notice.

 

The high risk products include milk, milk products, egg powder, meat, meat products including poultry, fish & their products, food for infant nutrition/infant foods, nutraceuticals, health supplements, foods for dietary uses, probiotic & prebiotic foods and food for special medical purposes.

 

According to the FSSAI, in October 2022, comments were invited from the stakeholders on entry of food items under specific ports.

 

'Considering the comments from stakeholders in order to envisage a robust import control system in India and ensuring efficient monitoring and traceability of high risk products, it has been decided that these products shall be permitted through designated ports,' stated Dr Amit Sharma, Director, Trade and International Cooperation, FSSAI.

According to production data of Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database(FAOSTAT), India is the highest milk producer i.e., rank first position in the world contributing twenty-four percent of global milk production in the year 2021-22.

 

The milk production of India has registered fifty-one percent increase during the last eight years i.e., during the year 2014-15 and 2021-22 and increased to twenty-two crore tonne in the year 2021-22.

 

This information was given by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.