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21 Dec, 2022 News Image Thai, Vietnam and Pakistan hike rice prices as demand increases.
Rice prices in the global market have increased by as much as $25 a tonne for the cereal originating from Thailand and $6-10 for shipments from Vietnam and Pakistan over the past three weeks. This is even as the market is witnessing several developments following increasing demand and projections of lower production.
 
Indonesia is scouting to buy 0.5 million tonnes (mt) of rice, while Bangladesh is looking to import a similar volume on a government-to-government basis. African nations, too, are under pressure to import rice after the shortage of the grain created unrest in some parts.
 
Lanka cubs imports
Amidst these developments, Sri Lanka has curbed rice imports to help its farmers fetch better prices for their paddy. Its President Ranil Wickramasinghe told Parliament last week that the island nation is expecting a good crop in the current main Maha season and would want to ensure good prices to the growers.
 
'This is just the start. Once a clear picture is available on Indian kharif rice production and Food Corporation of India (FCI) procurement, the market will try and find a balance on the upside since global production is lower this year,' said S Chandrasekaran, a trade analyst.
 
The Agriculture Market Information System of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has forecast rice production this year at 512.8 mt against 525.6 mt last year. Other global organisations such as International Grains Council have also estimated the output to be lower. 
 
India set to catch up
'Global prices are rising. Indian prices will soon see an uptrend as domestic rates are increasing,' said VR Vidya Sagar, Director, Bulk Logix. 
 
While main rice-exporting nations such as Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan have hiked their prices, Indian prices have remained unchanged during the period (see Table). 'But our prices will be hiked shortly,' said Sagar. 
 
The weighted average price of rice has currently increased to Rs.3,502 a quintal, up Rs.200 from a year ago. Paddy prices are ruling at Rs.2,355.75 a quintal against the minimum support price of Rs.2,040 this year. Rice is retailing at Rs.37.89 a kg, data from the Consumer Affairs Ministry show. Prices have gained nearly 8 per cent this year. 
 
Indian traders are keenly watching the kharif rice procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which is currently 13 per cent higher compared with last year, and a clear picture of kharif rice production. 
 
India most competitive
Deficient rainfall is feared to have affected the cereal’s production this year in key growing areas in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated kharif rice production at 104.99 mt against 111.76 mt last year. 
 
Despite this, Indian rice prices are the most competitive in the global market. The competitiveness is also in spite of the Centre imposing curbs on the grain’s shipments from September 9. The Government has banned exports of fully broken rice and imposed a 20 per cent export duty on non-basmati white rice exports. 
 
Though Indonesia’s government procurement agency Bulog is looking to buy 0.5 mt of rice, it has not approached India as yet. Indian exporters are irked over Jakarta approaching New Delhi for broken rice rather than white rice. 
 
'Indian trade officials met Indonesian trade officials a few days ago. But there was no demand from Indonesia for rice from India,' said a trader without wishing to identify. The Rice Exporters Association of India has taken up the issue with Indian and Indonesian officials, particularly the Indonesian Ambassador to India in New Delhi.
 
Bangla’s search
Bangladesh officials have been visiting Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to source 0.5 mt of parboiled rice for distribution through its public distribution system. But it has not been successful in getting the foodgrain at the price of its choice.
 
It has now turned to India for the rice. The issue will likely be discussed when Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi visits New Delhi during December 21-24 and holds talks with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal. 
 
'The problem in the rice market is that crops in even countries such as Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar which can chip in during such situations have been affected,' a trader said. 
 
'We are getting enquiries from West Africa, mainly countries like Ethiopia and Benin,' said Bulk Logix’s Sagar. Benin has become the second-largest buyer of Indian rice in recent years. In the first half this fiscal, it has imported 0.78 mt.
 
Exports rise
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan importers will need licences to ship in rice contracted after December 9.  The import curbs have resulted in rice mill owners hiking paddy prices to Lankan rupees (LKR) 6,400 per 64-kg bag from LKR 6,000.
 
Sri Lanka was among the top 10 rice importers from India. In the first half of the current fiscal, it bought 3.79 lakh tonnes of rice valued at  953.63 crore. Last fiscal, it imported 4.21 lakh tonnes of rice valued at Rs.1,258 crore, data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority showed.
 
In the first half of the current fiscal, India exported 10.21 mt of rice worth $3.64 billion compared with 9.67 mt shipped during the same period ago at a value of $3.47 billion. 

 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
21 Dec, 2022 News Image Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare appointed 5 Knowledge Partners and 24 Agribusiness Incubators to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem.
Various activities have been taken up by the government, using Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture. Some of the activitiesare given below:
 
Department of Science & Technology (DST) is implementing a National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). Under the Mission, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been set up in premier institutes of national importance across the country in advanced technology verticals. Three of these TIHs are involved in the applications of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agriculture with objective of carrying out research, translation and technology development for various technologies including IoT and AI, namely:
 
Technology and Innovation Foundation in technology vertical of 'Technologies for Agriculture and Water' set up at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar,
 
TIH Foundation of IOT and Internet of Everything (IoE) in technology vertical of 'Technologies for Internet of Things and Internet for Everything' set up at IIT Bombay
 
AI4ICPS Foundation in technology vertical 'Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning' set up at IIT Kharagpur.
 
Some of the applications of AI and IoT in Agriculture are in the areas of Precision Farming, Agricultural Drones and Hopping systems, Livestock Monitoring, Monitor Climate Conditions, Smart Greenhouses, AI and IoT based Computer imaging etc. The work/activities taken by the above 3 institutes are given below:
 
IIT Ropar-Technology and Innovation Foundation is working towards IoT based devices and sensors that are being introduced to the saffron production and supply all over India.
 
TIH Foundation of IOT and IOE is executing a project of effective and efficient agriculture technology, which aims to develop an end to end solution for Agriculture Technology (Agri Tech) to predict crop production in the season. EAgriS is an IoT-based platform developed for this purpose. As an application of IoT in Precision Agriculture, the TIH focuses on Aerial Robotics for Soil Parameters Monitoring, Drone based Imaging and Drone based spraying. For the application of AI in Precision Agriculture, the focus of TIH is to develop a predictive data analysis model to make intelligent decisions based on ambient conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction rainfall), soil parameters (moisture, temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, NPK, Sulphur) and leaf wetness.
 
AI4ICPS Foundation is developing AI based technologies for Precision Agriculture, Predictive and Forecasting models using AI for Crop Health Monitoring and Soil health Monitoring.
 
Under the Digital India initiatives, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) along with NASSCOM and state governments has set up Centres of Excellence on Internet of Things at Bengaluru, Gurugram, Gandhi Nagar and Visakhapatnam. One of the objectives of these centres is to enable India to emerge as an innovation hub in IoT through democratization of innovation and realization of prototypes. One of the focus areas of Centres of Excellence on IoT at Visakhapatnam is on Agri-tech and it connects various entities such as startups, enterprises, venture capitalists, government and academia.
 
Under the National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) program under Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare funding is given to State Governments for Digital Agriculture projects using emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Internet of Things (IOT), Block chain etc.
 
A progamme called 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' has been in operation under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) since 2018-19 with the objective to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. Start-ups pertaining to agriculture and allied sectors are being encouraged in order to contribute directly and indirectly to enhancing the income of farmers by providing opportunities to them and to provide employment to youth. In this connection, five (5) Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty four (24) Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed by this Department to advise on smooth and efficient execution of this programme in various States across the country. The details are at Annexure -I.
 
Start-ups under the programme are taking up projects in various fields of agriculture and allied sectors like Agro-processing, Food Technology & Value Addition, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Block Chain Technology (BCT), precision farming and Digital agriculture, Block Chain technology, Agri. Logistics, Value & Supply chain management, Online/virtual platform, Agri. Extension, Agri. Inputs, Farm mechanization &  innovations, Organic farming & products, Natural Resource Management, Renewable Energy, Waste to Wealth, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy, Secondary agriculture, etc.
 
So far, 1102 start-ups operating in agriculture and allied sectors have been selected and Rs. 66.83crore has been released in installments. These start-ups were trained for two months at various agribusiness incubation centres i.e KPs &R-ABIs before providing financial assistance.
 
The Institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have initiated work on application of IoT and AI in agriculture. A list of activity initiated is given in Annexure-II.
 
Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre(MNCFC) has conducted few pilot studies under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana using innovative technologies for crop yield estimation through various Government and Private Agencies. During 2019-20, pilot studies were conducted envisaging space technologies through 12 agencies in 64 districts of 15 States for 9 crops, while these approaches were validated in Rabi 2019-20 in 15 blocks of 6 States. Further, during 2020-21, the pilot studies were scaled up to100 districts spread over 9 states of the country, with the help of 7 agencies for paddy crop in Kharif 2020, which continued in Rabi 2020-21 for Rabi Rice and wheat crop. 
 
Various technologies viz., Satellite, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Simulation models, IoT devices and AI/ML techniques were used in the study to derive the yield estimates at Gram Panchayat level.
 
Annexure – I
 
List of 5 Knowledge Partners (KPs) and 24 R-ABIs under RKVY Start up programme
 
1. Knowledge Partners (KPs):
 
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad
National Institute of Agricultural Marketing(NIAM) Jaipur
(3)Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Pusa, New Delhi
University of Agriculture Science, Dharwad, Karnataka and
Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, Assam
2. RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs):
 
ChaudharyCharan Singh University, Hisar, Haryana
CSK Himachal Pradesh KrishiVishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
IIT-BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Jawaharlal Nehru KrishiVishwaVidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab
Indira Gandhi KrishiVishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, J & K
IIM, Kashipur, Uttarakhand
Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala
ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, Telangana
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Agri innovation and entrepreneurship cell, ANGRAU, Andhra Pradesh
National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha
S K N Agriculture University, Jobner, Rajasthan
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal  
Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur, Bihar
Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat
ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr.PanjabraoDeshmukhKrishiVidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 
ICAR-NIVEDI, Bengaluru, Karnataka
College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura
Dept. of Veterinary Medicine College of Veterinary Sciences &Animal Husbandry, Mizoram
College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh
 

S.No.

Activity

Application

1.

Development of image (Visual and X-Ray) based mango sorting and grading system and sensor-based monitoring system with block chain technology for supply chain of banana

For grading of mangoes into different quality grade which is the prime needs for mango processing industries as well as for any commercial applications. Block-chain technology will be used to access and monitor the quality of banana in supply chain and hence traceability of the banana from source till the end point.

2.

Development of IoT-Based Real-Time Intelligent Monitoring and Controlling System for Cold Storage

For real-time monitoring and control of micro-environment inside storage room for prediction of status of product quality for commodity being stored.

3.

Development of Vision guided AI-enabled Robotic Apple Harvest Under National Programme on Electronics and ICT Applications in Agriculture and Environment.

 

For identification of the matured Apples using Machine Vision Techniques and harvesting and safety conveying of apples in a storage unit.

4.

Development of Automatic Jute Grading System.

 

For efficient grading of jute.

5.

Development of IoT based irrigation system

For automatic and efficient irrigation of agricultural crop.

 

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

 


 Source:  pib.gov.in
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Bangladesh commerce minister in India to discuss trade, economy.
Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi will visit India this week for talks aimed at pushing forward trade ties between the two sides, including the conclusion of a trade deal and assured supplies of essential commodities such as rice and wheat.
 
The two countries finalised a joint feasibility study for a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) earlier this year, and the next steps to take forward negotiations on the deal are expected to figure in Munshi’s upcoming meeting with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
 
Munshi, a senior leader of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League party, will be in India during December 21-24 at the invitation of Goyal. He is also expected to meet other senior Indian leaders.
 
Following a meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi in September, both leaders welcomed the finalisation of the joint feasibility study, which recommended the CEPA will be beneficial for both countries.
 
The leaders also directed trade officials from both sides to start negotiations on the CEPA within 2022 and to complete the talks in time for Bangladesh’s graduation from 'least developed country' status in 2026.
 
Munshi will give a push to broadening the economic and trade engagement with India, including talks on the CEPA, the people said. They said the trade deal is important as it will be the first such agreement for Bangladesh and a large Asian country.
 
The Bangladesh side is also expected to raise the issue of India’s anti-dumping duties on jute and jute products from the neighbouring country, which was imposed in 2017, and seek assured supplies of essential commodities such as vegetables, wheat and rice from the Indian side, the people said.
 
'The supply of these essential commodities needs to be made predictable. As economic linkages between the two countries have deepened in recent years, Bangladesh perceives India as a key supplier of these essential commodities,' one of the people cited above said.
 
Pointing to disruptions in the supply of items such as onions in past years and the impact on the Bangladesh economy, the people said the Bangladeshi side is looking for some sort of assurances regarding the steady supply of goods such as rice and wheat at assured prices. This will also obviate the need for Bangladesh to turn to other countries such as Vietnam for procuring rice, the people added.
 
In August, Bangladesh finalised deals with India and Vietnam to import 330,000 tonnes of rice to replenish reserves and bring down domestic prices.
 
India is Bangladesh’s second-largest trade partner in Asia. Despite disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, two-way trade grew by 44% from $10.8 billion during 2020-21 to $18 billion during 2021-22.

 Source:  hindustantimes.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Exports to UAE get FTA boost.
Six months after the India-UAE free trade agreement (FTA) came into force, India’s merchandise exports to the West Asian economy rose 13.5% from a year earlier, outpacing a 10.3% increase in the country’s overall goods despatches.
 
Between May and October this fiscal, exports to the UAE hit $15.39 billion, compared with $13.56 billion a year before, according to the latest official data. Meanwhile, goods imports from the UAE jumped 32.6% during this period to $27.44 billion, compared with a 34.6% jump in India’s total imports.
 
Of course, these are early days and a comprehensive analysis of gains or losses from the FTA is possible only over the medium-to-long term. '(Nevertheless), the initial signs are encouraging. We have been expecting a positive result,' an official source said.
 
The outcome of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which entered into force on May 1, assumes significance, as it was the first FTA that New Delhi had signed with any economy in a decade, shedding its inhibitions about the efficacy of trade deals. According to an FE analysis earlier this year, five of India’s six prominent FTAs, which came into force between 2006 and 2011, had exacerbated New Delhi’s trade balance. After the agreement with the UAE, India hammered out an interim trade deal with Australia and is now engaged in talks for FTAs with the UK, the EU, Canada, and members of the Gulf Co-operation Council.
 
According to the official data, petroleum products and gems and jewellery made up close to a half of India’s exports to the UAE, followed by certain capital goods and steel and iron and such products. Similarly, oil and gems and jewellery dominated India’s purchases from the UAE, with an 80% share in imports.
 
The gems and jewellery segment has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trade deal. Such exports to the UAE jumped 20.6% this fiscal, far exceeding just a 2.6% rise in overall despatches of these products.
 
According to the CEPA, the UAE will allow as many as 99% of Indian goods (in value term) at zero duty in five years from about 90% in the first year. Similarly, India will permit duty-free access to 80% of goods from the UAE now and it would go up to 90% in 10 years.
 
Indian labour-intensive sectors, such as gems & jewellery, textiles & garments, leather, footwear, sports goods, plastics, furniture, agricultural and wood products stand to gain from the FTA, along with other sectors like engineering products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and automobiles.
 
Indian service providers, too, will have greater access to around 111 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service categories. Bilateral trade (both goods and services) is targeted to touch $115 billion in five years from about $60 billion in the pre-pandemic year of FY20.

 Source:  financialexpress.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image India's export destinations: Netherlands and Brazil leapfrog ahead.
Netherlands and Brazil have jumped ahead from their previous positions on India's list of export destinations in the ongoing fiscal, a TOI report showed.
 
Citing commerce department data, the report highlights that the Netherlands is now India's third-largest export destination. Brazil, India's 20th biggest export destination between April and October 2021, is currently in the eighth position. US & UAE remain on top.
 
Exports to Tanzania have grown three times to $2.4 billion in the ongoing fiscal so far. Over 80% in exports from India are on account of more petrol and diesel shopped to the African nation.
 
While India's total exports have risen 12.5% to over $263 billion, oil product exports have soared around 70%.
 
While several countries have reduced their dependence on Russia-refined oil products, India, which has seen a sharp spike in crude imported from Russia, is seen to be processing it and exporting to many countries, especially in Europe.
 
India's exports saw a marginal growth of 0.6 per cent to USD 32 billion in November, according to the data released by the government. Exports of the country stood at $31.8 billion in November last year.
 
Imports rose 5. 4 per cent to USD 55. 9 billion in November as compared to $53 billion in the corresponding month a year ago, the data showed. Trade deficit widened to $23. 9 billion during November month.
 
India's overall export, which included both merchandise and services, stood at USD 58.22 billion in November, which showed a 10 per cent growth over the same period last year.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Northeast is not last part of country but gateway for trade and ties: PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18, 2022 said the Centre has been investing heavily in the north-east with his government’s motto being ‘Act fast for northeast’ and ‘Act first for northeast'.
 
Addressing the golden jubilee celebration of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, he said the Centre’s is spending Rs.7 lakh crore in the region compared to Rs.2 lakh crore after India’s independence. Established in 1971 and formally inaugurated in 1972, the NEC is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the north-eastern region comprising eight States.
 
Mr. Modi attributed the focus on the northeast to the change in the way the Centre has been looking at the region since 2014. 'For us, the north-east in not the last part of the country, but the peace and development gateway for trade and other ties with Southeast Asian countries,' he said.  
 
Slamming the previous governments for ignoring areas along the international borders in the region, he said the government’s vibrant border village programme would help develop these areas on a par with urban centres and prevent outmigration.
 
The Prime Minister noted that the number of airports in the region increased from nine to 16 and the number of flights increased from 900 to 1,900 in the last eight years. 'Work is now under way to connect all the State capitals of the region by railway,' he said.
 
He also underscored the 50% increase in the length of national highways in the region since 2014, insisting that the infrastructure projects in the north-east gained momentum after the launch of the PM-DevINE scheme.
 
'Our government has gone beyond the conversion of the Look East policy to Act East and now to Act fast for northeast and Act first for northeast,' he said, highlighting several peace initiatives in the north-east to help 'push development like never before'.
 
These initiatives include peace agreements with extremist groups and resolving decades old interstate boundary disputes. The reign of peace, he added, has made the Centre lift the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from many parts of the northeast.
 
Mr. Modi said the government has been working on improving digital connectivity in the north-east by increasing the optical fibre network with 6,000 mobile towers being set up at a cost of Rs.5,000 crore. 'The Atmanirbhar 5G infrastructure will help develop the start-up ecosystem and service sector in the region,' he said.
 
The Prime Minister highlighted the potential of organic farming in the region, the scope for deriving benefits through the oil pam mission, and the use of drones for farmers to overcome geographical challenges.
 
He also discussed India’s G-20 presidency and said its meetings would see people from all over the world coming to the northeast. 'This will be an apt opportunity to showcase the nature, culture and potential of the region,' he said.
 
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects worth over Rs.2,450 crore. These include an integrated beekeeping development centre and 21 Hindi libraries for Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Assam.
 
Also addressing the golden jubilee function of the NEC as its chairperson, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed the northeast improved vastly in terms of funding, peace, development and connectivity after Mr. Modi took charge at the Centre.
 
'Budget for the northeast never percolated down (from the corridors of power) earlier. After 2014, when our government took over, funds are reaching the villages,' he said, adding that Mr. Modi set targets for the NEC for the next 50 years while assessing its performance in the 50 years since its birth.
 
'The north-east has moved from violence and conflicts in the last eight years to an era of peace and progress. Since 2014, extremism in the region has decreased by 74% while attacks on security forces has come down by 60% and civilian deaths decreased by 89%,' Mr. Shah said.
 

 Source:  thehindu.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Demand for Indian agriculture and food items is increasing abroad, exports will continue to increase.
The growth in total export of goods may have slowed down, but the export of agricultural and food items is continuously increasing rapidly. According to exporters, exports of agricultural and food items will continue to show strong growth in the coming months on the back of orders.
 
0.62 percent increase in exports
In the month of November this year, only 0.62 per cent increase was registered in the total export of commodities as compared to November last year, but the export of almost all the items of agriculture and food items registered a double digit growth. Apart from rice, an increase of 53.78 percent was registered in the export of different types of cereals in the month of November. According to the exporters, the coming year has been declared as Millets Year by the United Nations and this will encourage the export of coarse grains.
 
Cashew and spice exports decline
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in the month of November, the export of tea, rice, various cereals, tobacco, oil mills, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, various types of finished grains and processed items increased in double digits as compared to November last year. doing. A decline was registered in the export of cashew nuts and spices.
 
Expected to get orders worth one billion dollars
Mohit Singla, chairman of the Trade Promotion Council of India, said that due to the food crisis, foreign buyers are taking a lot of interest in Indian agriculture and food items. He informed that this year buyers from more than 80 countries are coming to Indus Food, which is being organized for export promotion of agricultural products. Agricultural exporters are expected to get orders worth one billion dollars at the upcoming Indus Food Fair to be held in Hyderabad on January 7-8.
 
 
Millets being made separately in Indus Food 
Singla informed that considering the interest of foreign buyers regarding millets, a separate millets pavilion is being set up at Indus Food. Percentage increase in exports of agricultural commodities in November this year over November last year (Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry);
 
Tea - 27.03 percent
Rice - 19.16 percent
Other cereals - 53.78 percent
Tobacco - 101.2 percent
Oil Mills - 17.55 percent
Oilseeds - 38.83 percent
Fruits and vegetables - 25.01 percent
Processed food items - 22.75 percent 

 Source:  jagran.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Oilmeals export up 50 per cent in April-November as rapemeal shipments double.
The overall export of oilmeals increased to 23.92 lakh tonnes (lt) during April-November of 2022-23 against 15.96 lt in the corresponding period of the previous financial year, recording a growth of 50 per cent.
 
Data available with the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India showed the export of oilmeals at 4.07 lt in November 2022, against 1.63 lt in November 2021, recording a growth of 150 per cent.
 
B.V. Mehta, Executive Director of the SEA of India, said export of rapeseed meal in the first eight months of 2022-23 stood at a record 14.76 lt against 7 lt in the corresponding period of the previous year. The earlier record for rapeseed meal export was at 12.48 lt in 2011-12.
 
He said India is the most competitive supplier of rapeseed meal to South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other Far-East countries at $255 a tonne (FOB), while rapeseed meal Hamburg ex-mill is quoted at $368 a tonne.
 
Soyameal turns attractive
With the fall in local soyabean prices to Rs.5,500 a quintal, local soyabean meal prices have slipped to Rs.42,000 a tonne. This has has made export of soyabean meal more attractive.
 
Soyabean meal exports from the other origins is expected to increase due to the lower-than-expected Argentine soyabean crop and crushing. Supplies from the US, Brazil and India are likely to increase on better prices, he said.
 
On December 15, the Brazil soyabean meal price ex-Rotterdam was quoted at $588 a tonne and Indian soyabean meal ex-Kandla was quoted at $535 a tonne.
 
Stating that the major consumers of Indian soyabean meal are countries from South-East Asia, he said India has a logistic advantage and can supply in small lots to these countries. Being a non-GMO, Indian soyabean meal is preferred by certain European countries and the US.
 
He said rupee depreciation was also pushing up overall exports. This has helped India revive the export of soyabean meal.
 
The export of soyabean meal was reported at 1.64 lt in November 2022, against 42,000 tonnes in November 2021.
 
India exported 3.26 lt of soyabean meal during the first eight months of 2022-23, against 2.19 lt in the corresponding period of 2021-22.
 
Korea biggest buyer
South Korea imported 6.03 lt of oilmeals during April-November 2022-23 (4.08 lt in April-November 2021-22) from India. This included 4.20 lt of rapeseed meal, 1.61 lt of castorseed meal, and 21,837 tonnes of soyabean meal.
 
India exported 5.67 lt of oilmeals (3.78 lt) to Vietnam during the first eight months of 2022-23. This included 2.41 lt of ricebran extract, 1.89 lt of rapeseed meal, 1.32 lt of soyabean meal, and 3,234 tonnes of groundnut meal.
 
Thailand imported 4.33 lt of oilmeals (1.40 lt) during April-November 2022-23. This included 4.28 lt of rapeseed meal, 2,080 tonnes of soyabean meal, and 2,337 tonnes of groundnut meal.
 
India exported 2.42 lt (2.71 lt) of oilmeal to Bangladesh during April-November of 2022-23. This included 45,961 tonnes of ricebran extractions, and 1.96 lt of rapeseed meal.

 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Indonesia's Bulog to import 500,000 T of Rice until Feb 2023.
Indonesia food procurement agency Bulog will import a total 500,000 tonnes of rice between this month and February 2023, to top up government stocks and contain price rises in the staple food, the agency said on Friday.
 
Indonesia previously said it aimed to secure 1.2 million tonnes of rice stocks by year end. The government prefers to source the grain as much as possible from domestic farmers, though has had to look abroad after the main rice harvest period ended.
 
'In the last few months the rice price has sky-rocketed and Bulog's stock for market operations has decreased, so stocks from abroad are urgently needed to dampen increases in rice prices,' Trade minister Zulkifli Hasan said in a statement.
 
Bulog CEO Budi Waseso said 200,000 tonnes of rice will be delivered by the end of December, procured from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar. Bulog received the first shipment of 10,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam on Friday.
 
Authorities have given Bulog an import quota of 500,000 tonnes of rice, and the rest of the rice imports will be delivered gradually until February next year before the main rice harvest is due to start.
 
'If necessary, this imported rice will be released to the market in the Christmas and New Year festivities' period, so that there will be no price fluctuations,' National Food Agency chief Arief Prasetyo Adi said in the statement.
 
Bulog helps the government stabilise rice prices by selling stocks at a lower price in the event of a price surge.
 
The National Food Agency warned that Bulog's rice reserves could drop to a 'dangerous' level of 342,000 tonnes by year end without new supply.
 
Indonesia's inflation remained above the central bank's target range for a sixth consecutive month in November, boosted by rising food prices.

 Source:  agriculture.com
20 Dec, 2022 News Image Slew Of Road Projects Will Make Nashik Major Export-Import Hub, Says Gadkari.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said efforts are on to develop infrastructure to make Nashik a leading region in the country for export-import of agricultural produce as well as automobile and other manufacturing items.
 
He was speaking here while inaugurating some projects and laying foundation stones for upcoming ones.
 
'Rapid development, especially of good roads, will bring about employment opportunities. We want export of grapes, onions etc as well as automobile sector items to take place directly from here. Efforts are on to make Nashik a leading region for export-import using road, rail and air,' he said.
 
He launched and laid foundation stones of 226 kilometres of road worth Rs 1,830 crore during the function held in Igatpuri here.
 
'We are performing the bhoomipujan of seven road works with a total length of 205 kilometres. These projects are worth Rs 1,577 crore. They include works in Dhule Lok Sabha area as well. The work on six-laning the Gonde-Pimpri Sado section will also start,' he said.
 
The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said the commissioning of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway will bring traffic pressure at Vadpe, where the Mumbai-Agra Highway and upcoming Mumbai-Delhi Expressway will converge.
 
'Vadpe will become a very important junction in the future. It will directly benefit JNPT Port near Mumbai. It will speed up export-import. From Vadpe, we will reach Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in quick time. This will increase the importance of Nahsik,' he said.
 
Moreover, some Rs 10,000 crore of works of the proposed Rs 80000-crore Surat-Chennai Expressway, will pass through Nashik, he said, adding the expressway will be 1,290 kilometres long and motorists can reach the two cities in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in 10 hours.
 
'It will pass through Nashik, Ahmednagar, Beed, Osmanabad and Solapur districts in Maharashtra. Of the 482 kilometres of the Surat-Chennai Expressway in Maharashtra, 122 kilometres will be in Nashik district. There will be scope for industries, logistic parts etc along the route,' Gadkari asserted.
 
He said a 6-kilometre long double flyover from Nashik Road to Dwarka Chowk worth Rs 1,600 crore on the Nashik-Pune Highway has been approved.

 Source:  outlookindia.com