The FSSAI has issued an advisory explaining the matrix for raising grievances/queries related to Central licences' applications.

 

The advisory says that in case any food business operator (FBO) is aggrieved by the decision by the Central licensing authority, the matter can be escalated to the concerned Regional Director while in case the FBO further wants to represent the case after receiving comments from the concerned Regional Director or in case no comments was received within 21 days from raising the request to the concerned RD, the FBO can escalate the matter before Executive Director Compliance Strategy at FSSAI Headquarters along with all the relevant communication made with respect to the case till date.

 

The FSSAI has also advised that communication should be made through registered email id as provided in the licensing application by the FBO.

 

It is pertinent to note that FSSAI has an online platform, the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) for issuance of pan-India FSSAI licence and registration and for Central licensing procedures as laid down under the FSS Act, the food authority has approved Central Licensing Authority (CLA).

Rice prices have soared to their highest since November 2011 with the production of the cereal projected to drop by 2.7 per cent during the current season (August 2022-July 2023), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.  

 

'Rice production is downgraded somewhat, largely on account of an area-based reduction for China, which overshadowed revisions for other countries, most notably an upgrade for Bangladesh,' the FAO’s Agricultural Market Information System said in its latest report. 

 

Aromatic ones strengthen

Separately, the UN organisation’s Rice Price Update said international prices of rice opened on a firm note in January. FAO’s all rice price index averaged 126.4 points in January, up 6.2 per cent over December. 

 

Prices of aromatic rice also strengthened by 9.8 per cent, sustained by demand for the (Chinese) Lunar New Year celebrations, preparative purchases for Ramadaan and post-harvest surge in Pakistan basmati quotations, the update said. 

 

According to AMIS, rice production this season is projected at 511.6 million tonnes (mt) against 525.5 mt last season. Utilisation or demand is anticipated to remain close to the 2021-22 peak at 519.5 mt (521.4 mt last season), while supply has been projected at 708.6 mt (719.3 mt).

 

The demand is expected to remain near peaks as food intake expansion will compensate for a cut in other uses of rice. Trade is seen lower at 52.8 mt (55.5 mt) as countries in Asia and Africa are likely to prune imports. 

 

Thai gains pronounced

Ending stocks are likely to be 2.3 per cent lower than last season at 192.5 mt, though they will be the third-highest on record. 

 

The Rice Update said Asian quotations firmed up across all major origins in January. The most pronounced gains were in Thailand, where the Baht rose to a 10-month high. Sentiments were further boosted by Indonesian purchases.

 

Short-supplies due to a flood-reduced crop and 'persistently inflationary pressure' compounded local demand for rice in Pakistan. Problems in wheat supply also drove up rice prices in the neighbouring country.

 

Prices increased in India, Vietnam and Brazil as the dollar strengthened. In Vietnam, availability was tight ahead of the winter-spring harvest, while in India record procurement by the government and a smaller kharif crop pushed up prices. 

 

Prices down a tad now

Meanwhile, as per data from Thai Rice Exporters Association, prices have softened a tad, though India’s parboiled rice prices have gained $5 a tonne over the past 10 days.

 

Thailand’s 5 per cent broken rice declined to $511 a tonne from $523, while its 25 per cent broken white rice slid to $500 from $511. Its parboiled 100 per cent sortexed quoted at $517, down from $523.

 

India’s 5 per cent broken was quoted at $440-44 ($443-47), 25 per cent broken at $427-31 ($428-32) and parboiled at $395-99 ($388-92). Pakistan’s 5 per cent broken dipped to $483-487 ($488-92), 25 per cent broken was unchanged at $458-462 and parboiled declined to $496-500 ($533-37).

 

Vietnam’s 5 per cent broken was quoted at $458-62 and  25 per cent broken at $438-42, slightly lower than two weeks ago. 

 

Rice prices have surged over the last couple of months as the paddy crop has been affected across Asia due to vagaries of the weather. In India, the crop was affected by deficient rainfall in eastern States, while the worst floods since 1961 affected Pakistan’s production. Chinese production was hit by a long dry period, while the crop in Thailand and Vietnam were also affected, though in a small way. 

Flour mills that make atta and maida have picked up 42% of the wheat the government sold in the open market through its first tender last week, according to the chairman ofFood Corporation of India (FCI), the government agency that purchases grains from farmers at the minimum support price.

 

Domestic wheat prices, which had crashed by more than 6% last week after the FCI's announcement that it would be selling the grain in the open market, are expected to decline further after the movement of wheat from the FCI warehouses starts, said wheat processors.

 

The FCI had announced on January 25 that it will sell 30 million tonnes of wheat under the open market sales scheme (OMSS) to cool down wheat prices in the open market. ET had reported on January 25 that the record wheat prices in the open market could make farmers turn away from selling wheat to FCI, thus affecting its procurement operations.

 

'Out of the 22 lakh tonnes of wheat we had offered in our first tender issued last week, 9.26 lakh tonnes of wheat have been successfully bid for by the buyers,' FCI chairman Ashok KK Meena told ET.

 

India is facing a shortage of wheat after a heat wave in the country contracted output in the 2022 rabi season. Exports and private buying have not left enough wheat for government procurement, say traders.

 

'We expect the lifting of the wheat to begin from next week. With every tender that we will issue in the coming weeks, we expect the market to cool down further,' said Meena.

 

Wheat prices, which had fallen sharply in the previous week on the news of OMSS, have remained firm at those levels. With FCI's wheat yet to reach markets, the pipeline is dry at most places.

 

'Wheat prices have remained stable at around Rs 28/kg in West Bengal since last week. We expect the prices to move downwards in the coming weeks,' said Rohit Khaitan, a wheat processor from West Bengal. 'Along with FCI wheat, there will be a gradual build-up of the pressure of the wheat from the upcoming harvest'

 

Wheat prices in eastern India are normally higher than in the northern parts due to the additional cost incurred in transporting wheat from the growing centres.

 

Millers said that at most places, bids for wheat have been Rs 50-70/quintal over the reserve price. Some traders claimed that the quality of wheat offered by FCI is not up to the mark. At most places, FCI has offered wheat from the 2021-22 procurement. 'It is always the 'first-in first out' policy,' said Meena.

The India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), the apex trade body for the sector, will organise a three-day 'The Pulses Conclave’ 2023 (TPC 2023) in Mumbai from February 16-18.

 

Hundreds of key stakeholders from over 20 countries including promotional agencies, research scientists, food technologists, processing companies, value chain participants and service providers and other stakeholders are expected to congregate on a single platform to discuss in-depth current status, future trends, trade policies, sustainability and technological advances in the sector, IPGA said in a statement.

 

This is the sixth edition of the biennial event and the theme is ‘Sustainability of Pulses Sector’. The major focus of the conclave is to tackle the adverse effects of climate change on pulses and grains production. The emerging plant-based food segment and the application of new-age technologies in the agriculture sector will be subjects of discussion at the conclave. Billed as the world’s largest event on the pulses sector, TPC 2023 will set the roadmap for making India self-sufficient and help advance nutrition security. 

 

Increasing demand

Bimal Kothari, Chairman, IPGA, said, 'The Pulses Conclave 2023 will attract stakeholders across the entire value chain including large processors, branded players, trading houses, trading intermediaries, exporters, importers as well as service providers like indenters, warehousing companies, custom house agents, shipping companies. We believe value-added products from pulses will have an exponential growth potential that can be harnessed in India and it will go a long way to deliver twin benefits of augmenting farmers’ income and advancing nutrition security.'

 

India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses. The Indian pulses market is likely to reach $25 billion by 2026 and the demand is set to race towards 33-35 million tonnes by 2030, IPGA said.

 

The present consumption of pulses in India is estimated to be between 27-27.5 million tonnes, while domestic production hovers around 25.5 million tonnes.

Indian farmers have planted record areages under rabi (winter) crops such as wheat and mustard this year on improved water storage, higher residual moisture levels and a bullish trend in prices, while raising prospects of yet another bumper harvest.

 

Total area under rabi crops increased by 3.25 per cent to a record 720.68 lakh hectares (lh), an increase of 22.71 lh over the previous year’s 697.98 lh. When compared with the normal area of 633.80 lh for the season, the increase is to the tune of 13.71 per cent.

 

'Timely supply of quality seeds of high yielding varieties (HYVs), inputs, latest production technologies, credit, crop insurance, micro-irrigation and post-harvest facilities are few of such interventions taken to increase agricultural production and productivity. All these interventions have led to large increase in area under rabi crops this year,' Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

 

Wheat acreage up

Area under wheat, the main cereal crop was up at 343.23 lh with States such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh among others registering an increase, while Madhya Pradesh saw a decline of 4.15 lh.

 

Mustard acreage rose to a record 98.02 lh with States such as Rajasthan and MP leading area expansion, while the overall oilseeds acreage increased 7.31 per cent to 109.84 lh. The mustard acreage was higher by 54.5 per cent than the normal sown area of 63.46 lh for the season.

 

'Major area expansion has been attained due to implementation of Special Mustard Mission for the last two years. During rabi 2022-23, 26.50 lakh seed minikits of HYV, having yield potential of more than 20 quintals per hectare, were distributed to the farmers in 301 districts of 18 States under the National Food Security Mission,' the Ministry said.

 

Rabi rice recorded the maximum area increase, with farmers in States like Telangana and West Bengal expanding the acreages. Among pulses, the area under gram (chana) witnessed a marginal decline, which was on expected lines, while moong bean and lentil acreages saw an increase.

 

Overall area under coarse cereals increased 2.08 lh to 53.49 lh, led by higher sowing of maize, barley and ragi, while jowar and bajra saw a decline.

As per Economic Survey 2022-23, with its solid forward linkages, the Agriculture and Allied activities Sector significantly contributed to the country's overall growth and development by ensuring food security. In 2021-22, there was a record production of foodgrains 315.72 MT and horticulture crops 342.33 MT. In recent years, India has also rapidly emerged as the net exporter of agricultural products. In 2020-21, exports of agriculture and allied products from India grew by 18 per cent over the previous year. During 2021-22, agricultural exports reached an all-time high of US$ 50.2 billion. This period of buoyant performance could be ascribed to the measures taken by the Government to promote farmer-producer organisations, encourage crop diversification, and improve productivity in agriculture through support provided for mechanisation and the creation of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

 

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

On the occasion of India's presidency of the G-20, through the theme 'One Earth, One Family,One Future', a one-day workshop was organized today at Noronha Administrative Academy, Bhopal on the Madhya Pradesh Farm Gate App and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), with the aim of encouraging the sense of global unity and increasing the participation of women in the field of agriculture. The main objective of this workshop was to increase the participation of womenin the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and M.P. Farm Gate.

 

Smt. G.V. Rashmi, Managing Director, Mandi Board, in her address, gave information related to the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) in Madhya Pradesh, as well as highlighted the features of MP Farm Gate App developed by the Mandi Board. Conveying his compliments, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Kamal Patel, in his video message, called for the widespread use of the AIF scheme and the MP Farm Gate App.

 

Joint Secretary (Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund), Government of India, Shri Samuel P. Kumar, in his address, mentioned that the AIF scheme has been widely publicized in Madhya Pradesh, in which, till date, about 2,753 projects have been set up by women entrepreneurs, availing the benefits of this scheme widely. Madhya Pradesh is at the first place in comparison to other states in the outreach of the AIF scheme. He gave detailed information about the scheme. While participating in the workshop, Shri Ashok Varnwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, highlighted the important role of MP Farm Gate app. He said the app made it convenient for the farmers to sell their produce on the app, fetching remunerative price for their crops.

 

Around 200 participants attended the workshop. In the workshop, the participants were made aware about the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. Details were given by the experts from Agriculture Department, NABARD, Horticulture, APEDA, Banks and other organizations. Doubts among the participants were resolved during the question-answer session in the workshop. Information about the MP Farm Gate App was also given to women farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, businessmen etc. At the end of the workshop, Additional Director of Madhya Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board, Shri D.K. Nagendradelivered the Vote of Thanks.

Over 27,000 farmers have registered their vineyards, on around 18,000 hectare, for grape export in the Nashik district so far.

 

The initial deadline for registration of vineyards was November 30, 2022. However, at that time, only 18,000 farmers had registered their vineyards on 12,000 hectares.

 

Considering the poor response, the state agricultural department extended the deadline for registration to January 15.

 

The agricultural department officials said they are expecting a 20% rise in grape exports this season. They are expecting the export from the district to cross 1.5 lakh metric tonnes. Last year, the district exported 1.22 lakh MT of grapes.

 

The grape export from the district began in the first week of January. So far, 3,524 metric tonnes of grapes have been exported to European countries, including 3,026 MT to the Netherlands and 155 MT to Germany.

 

The area under grape plantation in Nashik district is estimated at around 58,367 hectares, including 22,000 hectares in Niphad taluka, 15,758 hectares in Dindori taluka, 11,671 hectares in Nashik taluka and 5,148 hectares in Chandwad taluka. The rest of the grape plantation is done in Bagalan and Kalwan taluka of the district.

 

Of the 58,367 hectares, early grape harvest takes place between September and November on 2,400 hectares. The regular grape harvest begins in December on the remaining area.

As per traders, basmati rates have reached an all-time high of Rs.120 to Rs.170 per kg (depending upon the quality and variety) from Rs.90 to Rs.140 three months ago, due to increasing exports amid falling production. The rates of parmal (non-basmati) rice have also witnessed an increase, going from Rs.30 to Rs.40 per kg three months ago to above Rs.45 per kg now.

 

Domestic consumers are on the receiving end as the rates of foodgrains, including basmati and non-basmati rice, besides wheat flour, have shot up due to the growing exports.

 

As per traders, basmati rates have reached an all-time high of Rs.120 to Rs.170 per kg (depending upon the quality and variety) from Rs.90 to Rs.140 three months ago, due to increasing exports amid falling production.

 

The rates of parmal (non-basmati) rice have also witnessed an increase, going from Rs.30 to Rs.40 per kg three months ago to above Rs.45 per kg now.

 

The rate of wheat flour is hovering between Rs.38 and Rs.40 per kg as compared to Rs.30 earlier.

 

Wheat grain is also fetching a whopping Rs.2,800 per quintal, against the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.2,125, in the domestic market despite a ban on exports. The government had banned wheat exports in May last year in view of a dip in production. While in 2020-21, the country had produced 109.59 million tonnes of wheat, in the subsequent year (2021-22), it had produced 106.84 million tonnes.

 

Bunty Garg, a rice-trader from Taraori of Karnal, said, 'The prices of basmati and non-basmati rice are rising with every passing month. Even the rates of common basmati rice have shot up to Rs.110 per kg from Rs.85 two months ago.'

 

Rice exporters from Karnal say the global surge in demand for basmati is driving the surge in domestic rates.

 

Former vice-president of All-India Rice Exporters’ Association Vijay Setia said, 'With around 13% increase in basmati exports and more than 5% increase in non-basmati rice exports in the international market, the prices of both varieties have witnessed a surge in the domestic market. Though basmati consumers are not affected much, the increase in prices of non-basmati which is called common man’s rice is worrisome.'

 

India’s exports see a rise

 

The latest comparative statement of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) reveals that India’s cereal export between April and November 2022 reached Rs.72,626 crore as compared to Rs.57,658 crore for the corresponding period in 2021.

 

The figures revealed that 27.32 lakh tonne of basmati was shipped between April and November against 23.97 lakh tonne in the corresponding period last year and the price of Basmati touched 1,051 USD ( Rs.85,971) per tonne in November 2022 against 860 USD ( Rs.70,348) per tonne in November in the last financial year.

 

The government had even imposed 20% duty on rice exports during this period but the basmati export increased.

 

Wheat export reached to Rs.11,727 crore from Rs.8,658 crore. Despite poor production last rabi harvesting season, India had exported 4.92 lakh MT wheat more than the previous year as the figures reveal that India’s wheat export from April to November this year was 46.56 lakh MT against 41.64 lakh MT of the last year.

 

The biggest reason behind the surge in the wheat export is surge in the prices in the international market -- it increased to 324 USD ( Rs.26,503) in November this year from 280 USD ( Rs.22,904) last year. 'We are selling wheat flour at Rs.35 per kg and maize flour at Rs.40 a kg. This is the highest ever it has gone in recent memory and there is a strong possibility that the prices will increase further,' said Pawan Kumar, a trader of Ladwa of Kurukshetra.

 

Agriculture economist and food expert Devinder Sharma said increased export is leading to increase in prices of wheat flour and rice. 'Though basmati consumers can afford this increase in prices, the main concern is the increase in prices of parmal rice which is consumed by the common man. As of now, the government has enough stock of rice. But the increase in wheat flour rates is worrisome. Even the Food Corporation of India has offered to sell wheat in open market to bring down the prices but there is need of more steps deal with the problem and protect the consumers.'

The Russia-Ukraine war has gained an unlikely beneficiary in the Indian rose (flower) export market. According to officials of the Talegaon-based Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP), Indian rose farmers are expecting rose exports to double this Valentine season as the ongoing war has discouraged Europe from growing flowers. According to Praveen Sharma, president of ISFP, India’s total rose exports have touched Rs.18.34 crores in November 2022 as against Rs.9.68 crores in 2021.

 

'The war in Europe and the energy crisis has discouraged growers in Europe from growing flowers during the winters. This is mainly because of high energy consumption which includes heating, artificial lighting, CO2 enrichment and above all, high labour costs,' Sharma said.

 

'Many leading Dutch growers have decided to pause production during the winter season owing to the said reasons. Considering all this, our flowers are in demand as affirmed by sales data till November,' he said.

 

According to ISFP, India’s flower exports are back on track again after the Covid-19 setback. The last two years were very bad for exports, with many flower growers pausing production. However, domestic markets offered relief during the pandemic. And now due to the resurgent economy and growing domestic market, flower growers have reason to cheer once again. This year, there are great opportunities in the international market as well. ISFP officials further said that they are inching close to India’s 2019 export levels although the biggest challenge for exporters is the rising freight costs, which have gone up nearly 30% as compared to last year. The negotiations with foreign buyers have been tough, mainly due to the rise in freight costs.

 

Indian roses have a distinct image in the international market, and are primarily exported to the UK (35% of total exports), Australia (19%) and Japan (18%) followed by special orders for the Valentine season from Malaysia, Singapore and the Gulf countries. Maval taluka in Pune district is a major floriculture hub for the cultivation of export-quality flowers. The ISFP expects flower exports to cross Rs.50 crores (back to pre-Covid levels) this Valentine season. Besides Maharashtra, the major rose-growing states in the country include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal. Exports are mainly from the Mumbai and Bangalore airports, with Mumbai accounting for more than 60% of shipments for the Valentine season.