India's export of Shallots sees a boom with a growth of 487% since 2013. Exports rose from USD 2 Million in April-December 2013 to USD 11.6 Million in April-December 2021. 

 

Major export destinations during April-December 2021 were Sri Lanka (35.9%), Malaysia (29.4%), Thailand (12%), U Arab E (7.5%) & Singapore (5.8%). 

 

India’s export of Pineapple also rose by almost 100% to USD 3.26 Million during April-December 2021 compared to USD 1.63 Million during April-December 2013. 

 

Major export destinations for Pineapple during April-December 2021 were U A E (32.2%), Nepal (22.7%), Qatar (16.6%), Maldives (13.2%) & U S A (7.1%). 

India has been seeing consistent growth in exports. It may be noted that India’s merchandise export in January 2022 increased by 23.69% to USD 34.06 billion over USD 27.54 billion in January 2021; recording an increase of 31.75% over USD 25.85 billion in January 2020. 

 

India’s merchandise export in 2021-22 (April-January) rose by 46.53% to USD 335.44 billion over USD 228.9 billion in 2020-21 (April-January); marking an increase of 27.0% over USD 264.13 billion in 2019-20 (April-January). 

 

The government has been taking up a number of proactive steps to boost exports.  An export monitoring desk has been set up to help remove impediments, constraints and bottlenecks faced by the export sector, especially during the pandemic. 

 

Various Acts under the Department of Commerce are being reviewed to remove redundancies and outdated provisions. 

 

Several bilateral trade agreements are being pursued with great vigour. The government is committed towards developing each district in India as an export hub through initiatives such as One District One Product (ODOP). Innovative measures such as use of payload carrying drones to address first and last mile connectivity issues are being taken. 

 

Efforts are being made for reducing compliance burden through rationalization and decriminalization and several initiatives are being undertaken to improve the ease of doing business. 

 

Support is also being extended to exporters through various exporters-oriented schemes. 

 

The Government is also working on enhancing value of branding of Indian exports to improve India’s global standing as a reliable supplier and proactive steps are being undertaken to align the nation with the global value chain. 

 

An IT based platform for providing exporters licensing and addressing their grievances is also in the works.

The tricennial of diplomatic ties between India and Israel is marked by ballyhoo on state broadcasters, commemorative livery and logo, and a planned visit of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett. Not too long ago, India was Israel’s reluctant partner. One that was eager to secure Israel’s technology and arms but shy and shirking, at best, when it came to reciprocating political warmth. Even amidst this political vagary, defence deals were a constant. So was their cooperation in agriculture. Hence, for too long, India-Israel relations were read through a narrow prism of geopolitics and warfare along with agricultural cooperation. Nevertheless, with increasing warmth since 2014, both countries are engaging in newer domains below the radar.

 

Spurred by a flurry of high-level visits, India shed its Israel inhibition in 2014. Both countries signed the strategic partnership agreement and a series of pacts focusing on unexplored areas during PM Modi’s Israel visit, the first by an Indian premier. India’s renewed West Asia outlook, particularly its attempt at dehyphenating the Israel-Palestine issue, provided the space for the deepening of cooperation. Through diplomatic signalling in terms of separate visits to Israel and Palestine, dropping the demand for East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, and occasional neutrality at the UN, India has been able to overtly realise its relations with the Jewish nation. Advertently, it is in line with its independent policy in the wider Middle East.

 

Defence and agri-tech have unquestionably sustained the partnership all the while. Although marginally documented in Indian military history, Israel had helped India during two major crises of 1971 and 1999 with Pakistan by supplying mortars and ammunition. Dynamics have changed since then. Nature of acquisitions has moved away from mortars to missiles, and components to avionics. Globally, India is the second-largest arms importer after China. Given the equally hostile neighbourhood, Israeli defence technology suits the deterrent bracket desired by India. With competitive pricing, it has enjoyed success with Indian military planners. As of 2020, India was its largest recipient acquiring 43 percent of Israel’s total arms exports. The signing of the impending defence cooperation agreement will further enhance defence trade.

 

Likewise, Israel’s contribution to India’s food security is significant. Notably, Israel is the world leader in agricultural technology. Since the early phase of the normalisation, Tel Aviv has actively aided India in drip and community irrigation technologies. During former President Shimon Peres’ visit in 2014, he stressed how Israel can further assist India in its second green revolution by increasing crop productivity using smart farming technologies. Israel’s MASHAV along with India’s Ministry of Agriculture and different state governments have been involved in creating 30 Centers of Excellences (CoEs) spread across the country that will help roughly 1.2 lakh Indian farmers. In a recent move, while commemorating 30 years, both countries agreed to invest in the creation of 150 Villages of Excellences around these CoEs, focusing on capacity building and market linkages. Water conservation is another allied activity where India is learning from Israel’s success.

 

It is worth underscoring here that securing agri-tech from Tel Aviv is in New Delhi’s interest as agriculture remains the mainstay of the majority population in India. The sector is responsible for over 52 percent of employment, 16 percent of the GDP, and 10 percent of export earnings. Ranked at 101 out of 135 on Global Hunger Index, India’s food security challenges are acute. As its population continues to rise, the desire for technology that spurs agricultural productivity to meet domestic demand, enhance export revenues, and keep the sector lucrative is evident. In this case, Israel’s contribution would remain crucial in the days to come.

 

India’s gaze towards Israel’s technological prowess has not remained limited to agri-tech. In the age of rapid digitisation with heightened exposure to the vulnerabilities of the virtual world, both countries signed a cyber security pact in July 2020. As a first step, India and Israel are jointly developing protected systems and services to avert incessantly increasing cyber-attacks on their civilian and strategic assets. It is a crucial indicator of trust the Indian side has placed on Tel Aviv for co-developing protective technologies in line with its Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) initiative.

 

Both countries’ tiny diasporas have made notable contributions to host nations. India boasts around 5,000 Bene Israel Jews who are present in all walks of Indian life. Bnei Menashe, the Jewish population in north-eastern India, also traces its linkages to the Lost Tribes of Israel. Similarly, the Indian diaspora in Israel remains quite visible, from tech sector to caregiving. Increasing proliferation in tourism, education and health adds further social impetus to the bilateral.

 

Thus, beyond missiles and mortars, ‘India-Israel 2.0’ is getting underwritten by a broader spectrum of non-conventional areas such as information and cybersecurity, water conservation, education, health and research. The elevation of ties at the strategic partnership intends to deepen this incipient cooperation in new areas. A similar sentiment was noted in PM Modi’s tricennial commemoration speech,where he placed equal emphasis on evolving geopolitics and mutual possibilities. The renewed approach will benefit people at both ends as much as it would intensify trust and cooperation at the governmental level.

 

It is assumed that PM Bennett’s forthcoming visit may witness a plethora of agreements on various more such areas overlooked so far. However, the centrality of defence and agriculture would remain. To quote Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, the two countries are not just friends but partners. It reflects the sentiment that India and Israel mean business—but now, in many new sectors.

As Indian agricultural product exports begin to make inroads into the global market, particularly as a leader in non-basmati rice exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is playing an important role, accounting for 49% of total shipments of these products.

 

APEDA was established on February 13, 1986, with agricultural exports totaling $0.6 billion. Last fiscal year, its agricultural product shipments totaled $20.67 billion, and it expanded its footprint to 205 countries.

 

It was established by an Act of Parliament by the Government under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry after the government recognized the importance of agricultural and processed food product exports.

 

APEDA's progress in agricultural exports has not been easy. 'Despite several logistical challenges in global commodity trade, India's agricultural and processed food exports have grown steadily over the last decade,' says M Angamuthu, Chairman of APEDA.

 

Export Basket Break-up

Today, the authority is a cornerstone of the government's success in promoting agricultural exports. Cereals and fresh horticulture items account for 59% of APEDA's share of agricultural product exports, cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items account for 23%, and animal products account for 18%.

 

APEDA was given an export target of $23.7 billion for the current fiscal year, and by the end of January, it had met more than 70% of it, at $17.2 billion. According to the APEDA Chairman, the remainder of the target will be met within the time frame specified.

 

APEDA has promoted IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India in order to further the cause of agricultural exports. To make governance more efficient and effective, it has implemented initiatives such as paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, and electronic payment facility), APEDA mobile app, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair.

 

GI-Tagged, Ethnic Products

To meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'vocal for local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' the authority has been focusing on the promotion of exports of locally-sourced Geographical Indication (GI) products as well as indigenous, ethnic agricultural products.

 

According to APEDA, new products and export destinations have been identified, and trial shipments have been facilitated accordingly. Over 100 registered APEDA scheduled agricultural products are among the 150 GI-tagged agricultural products that have been registered so far (cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc).

 

Dragon fruit, patented village rice, jackfruit, jamun, Burmese grapes, dehydrated mahua flowers, and puffed rice were among the ethnic and GI tagged products shipped out of the country last fiscal year and this fiscal year. GI varieties of mango, GI tagged Shahi litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai malli, Mihidana, Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon banana, Vazhakulam pineapple and Marayoor jaggery are among these, says Angamuthu.

 

Strategy Reports

In order to boost exports even further, country-specific agri-export strategy reports for 60 countries have been prepared. APEDA has established a Market Intelligence Cell and has begun releasing E-market intelligence reports that include detailed market analysis.

 

Mango, basmati rice, non-basmati rice, groundnut, grapes, gherkins, dehydrated onion, pomegranate, banana, potato, buffalo meat, swine meat, fresh-cut flowers, wine, egg, dairy products (SMP & cheese), biscuits, jaggery, millets, fruits and vegetable seeds, moringa, fox nut, fruit juices, mango pulp, potato flakes, and cereal preparations are among the 27 reports prepared so far.

 

APEDA has established a farmer connect portal on its website to provide a platform for farmer producer organizations (FPOs) or farmer producer companies (FPCs), Cooperatives to interact with exporters. According to him, approximately 3,295 FPO/FPCs and 3,315 exporters have registered in the portal so far.

 

APEDA has also included a Blockchain solution in its GrapeNet traceability platform, which is a web-based certification and traceability software system for tracking fresh grapes exports to the European Union. The Blockchain solution, known as APEDA Trust Chain, assists in tracking all aspects of the export consignment, right down to the vineyard location.

 

According to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, exports of agricultural and processed food products under the APEDA basket increased over the last decade to 1,53,049 crore in 2020-21, up from 42,437 crore in 2010-11.

 

Non-Basmati Rice Contribution

APEDA exported agricultural and processed food products worth $17,465 million (1,29,782 crore) from April to December of the current fiscal year.

 

Non-basmati rice, India's top export item in the APEDA basket of agricultural and processed food product exports, contributed nearly one-fourth of total exports in 2020-21. Non-basmati rice (23.22 percent), basmati rice (19.44 percent), and buffalo meat were the top three products in the APEDA export basket in 2020-21. Together, these products account for 58% of total shipments.

 

Other Initiatives

According to Angamuthu, APEDA pioneered its first traceability system for grape exports to EU countries in 2005-06. It has now been expanded to include peanut (Peanut.net), organic (Tracenet), and meat products (Meat.net). Traceability systems for additional products are being developed, according to the APEDA chairman.

 

APEDA organised a number of activities, including a virtual buyer-seller meet, showcasing the strength of Indian agri-exports on the Virtual trade fair platform, synergy with ministries, and convergence of various schemes run by line ministries and concerned organisations. 'APEDA's visionary approach, aggressive and consistent efforts have enabled India to position itself as a consistent and quality supplier of agricultural products,' Angamuthu said.

Tamil Nadu Cashew Processors and Exporters Association (TNCPEA) has sought exemption in customs clearance for imported raw cashew nuts from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

 

In this regard, association’s secretary M Ramakrishnan has written to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. In the letter, he stated that  raw cashew nuts were not suitable for consumption and subjected to steam boiling before being deshelled.

 

The kernels with outer covering would have to be heated to approximately 70 degree for around 12 hours before obtaining edible cashew nuts.

 

Hence, according to Ramakrishnan, FSSAI norms of edible nuts should not be applied to cashew kernels as the raw seeds and kernels have to be treated separately.

 

Raw cashew nuts are regarded as a raw material and therefore do not require FSSAI clearance presently. Till the standards for raw cashew nuts are framed FSSAI cannot detain import consignment for inspection and such cashews only fall under plant quarantine. However, the FSSAI was now insisting on customs clearance for importing raw cashew nuts, according to Ramakrishnan.

 

Meanwhile FSSAI has recently passed an order stating that all authorised officers are hereby directed to facilitate import of raw cashew nuts by ensuring compliance to the horizontal standards as laid out in FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011; and, by considering them under ‘foods not specified'.

With a view to provide further relief to consumers and to keep in check any further rise in the prices of domestic edible oils due to rise in the prices of edible oils globally, the Government of India has reduced the agri-cess for Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from 7.5% to 5% with effect from 12th February, 2022.  After reduction of the agri-cess, the import tax gap between CPO and Refined Palm Oil has increased to 8.25%. The increase in the gap between the CPO and Refined Palm Oil will benefit the domestic refining industry to import Crude Oil for refining.

 

Another pre-emptive measure taken by the Government to check the prices of edible oils is to extend the current basic rate of import duty of zero percent on Crude Palm Oil, Crude Soyabean oil and Crude Sunflower Oil upto 30th September, 2022. The rate of import duty on Refined Palm Oils at 12.5%, Refined Soyabean oil and Refined Sunflower Oil at 17.5% will remain in force up to 30th September, 2022. This measure will help in cooling down the prices of edible oils which are witnessing an upward trend in the international market due to lower availability and other international factors.

 

The above steps will augment the earlier measure taken by the Government viz. the stock limit order dated 3rd February, 2022 vide which the Government had specified the stock limit quantities on edible oils and oilseeds for a period upto 30th June, 2022 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This measure is expected to curtail any unfair practices like hoarding, black marketing etc. of edible oils and oilseeds in the market which may lead to any increase in the prices of edible oils. Oil industry is being called for a meeting tomorrow to do their best in passing on the benefit to consumers and State Governments have been requested to enforce stock limit order strictly.

The highest ever exports are happing in India this fiscal, said Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, adding that along with a new foreign trade policy, restructuring of the organisational set up within the Department of Commerce is taking place

 

'The country is likely to cross $400 billion worth of exports in the financial year 2021-22. Exports have grown substantially. We have seen 46 per cent of growth in exports over the previous year. The previous year, of course, had a much lower base. We are likely to achieve our highest every export from our country in achieving $400 billion of exports' said Sarangi, speaking at the Pune International Business Summit organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) on Monday.

 

'We have to come up with a new foreign trade policy and we are working in setting up an ecosystem that will facilitate foreign trade and a positive export environment. We are also working on restructuring some of the organisational set up within the Department of Commerce to give us an additional advantage in terms of trade negotiations, in terms of trade promotion, and in the areas of trade remedial,' he said.

 

Key elements

Sarangi said that he anticipates that India’s export effort will continue to focus on four or five key elements.

 

'One of these will be a greater linkage between the manufacturing hubs and exports. SEZs, industrial clusters, food processing clusters are going to become increasingly important. The kind of quality consciousness, the quality of technological augmentation will determine our ability to ramp up our exports substantially,' he said. 

 

Sarangi added that in horizontal support, the focus is going to be on the creation of global standards of infrastructure like roads or linkage of manufacturing with ports.

 

'The second horizontal effort will be on quality up-gradation. The focus and thrust on quality are going to be key and the government’s increased investment and focus is also going to be in the areas of quality,' he added. 

 

Sarangi said that the government will be facilitating market access through a range of pre-trade agreements which are being negotiated right now and on simplification of regulations. 

 

He said that one of the key area is ability to adjust to the post-pandemic global economic order and invest more in the emerging technologies like AI, digital blockchain, nano technology and genetics.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) has been formulated by the Ministry as part of 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan' for enhancing India's manufacturing capabilities and enhancing exports with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore. The scheme has three broad components. The first component relates to incentivizing manufacturing of four major food product segments viz. Ready to Cook/ Ready to Eat (RTC/ RTE) including millet-based foods, Processed Fruits & Vegetables, Marine Products and Mozzarella Cheese. The second component is intended for incentivizing Innovative/ Organic products of SMEs across all the above four food product segments including Free Range - Eggs, Poultry Meat and Egg Products.  The third component relates to support for branding and marketing abroad to incentivize the emergence of strong Indian brands.

 

The scheme guidelines were notified on 2nd May, 2021 and EoI was issued for inviting applications under the scheme on 2nd May, 2021 with closure date of application window as 24th June, 2021.  A total of 60 applicants under Category-I, 12 applicants under Category-II and 71 applicants under Category-III have been selected recently.

 

This information was given by Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today

Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) celebrated its 36th Foundation Day today. APEDA actively supported the Government in taking the export of agricultural products to USD 20.67 billion in 2020-21 from USD 0.6 billion in 1986 when it was founded.  APEDA also helped expand the export basket to 205 countries.

 

The share of APEDA exports (USD 20.67 billion) constituted 49% of overall agri- product exports in 2020-21 out of which, Cereals and fresh horticulture comprised 59%, Cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items 23% and animal products 18%.

 

The target given to APEDA in the current financial year (2021-22) is USD 23.7 billion, out of which more than 70% i.e. USD 17.20 billion has been achieved till January 2022, and the remaining target is expected to be completed within the stipulated time period.

 

Aiming to take export of agricultural products to a new level, APEDA promoted IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India. APEDA has undertaken initiatives like paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, electronic payment facility), APEDA Mobile App, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair to make governance more efficient and effective.

 

Keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘vocal for local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, APEDA has been focusing on promotion of exports of locally sourced Geographical Indications (GI) tagged as well as indigenous, ethnic agricultural products. New products and new export destinations have been identified and accordingly the trial shipments have been facilitated.

 

As on date, there are 417 registered GI products and of them around 150 GI tagged products are agricultural and food GI out of which more than 100 registered GI products fall under the category of APEDA scheduled products (Cereals, Fresh Fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc).

 

In 2020-21 and in the current fiscal, some of ethnic and GI tagged products exported by India include dragon fruit, patented village rice, jackfruit, jamun, Burmese grapes, dehydrated mahua flowers, puffed rice. GI varieties of mango, GI tagged Shahi litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai malli, Mihidana, Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon banana, Vazhakulam pineapple and Marayoor jiggery, etc.

 

The implementation of revamped Agri Export Policy is also in the final stage as 21 states and two UTs (Ladakh A&N Islands) have already finalised the state specific action plan. Those states which have specific action plans are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.  The action plans of the remaining seven states are at different stages of finalisation.

 

Country specific agri-export strategy reports have been prepared for 60 countries in consultation with the Indian Embassies and High Commissions of the respective countries to tap the opportunities emerging during Covid-19 pandemic and the potential for agri exports to countries.

 

In coordination with the Government of India’s thrust on ensuring ‘ease of doing business’, APEDA is working with the state governments for ensuring traceability and market linkages for farmers for promoting exports. APEDA’s thrust has been on ensuring digitalization of land records and formalization of tenancy for the farmers, which helps in boosting exports.

 

A Market Intelligence Cell has been constituted in APEDA and the activity of dissemination of E-market intelligence reports comprising detailed market analysis has commenced.

 

A Farmer Connect Portal has also been set up by APEDA on its website for providing a platform for Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) or Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), Cooperatives to interact with exporters. Around 3,295 FPOs/FPCs and 3,315 exporters have been registered in the portal so far.

 

For promoting use of hybrid technology, APEDA has integrated a Blockchain solution into its GrapeNet traceability platform. The GrapeNet is a web-based certification and traceability software system for monitoring fresh grapes exported from India to the European Union. The Blockchain solution, called APEDA Trust Chain, helps track all the details of the export consignment, right down to the location of the vineyards.

 

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the APEDA has taken a giant leap in making landlocked Purvanchal a new destination of agri export activities by developing Varanasi Agri – Export Hub in a record time. The Varanasi region, where almost negligible export activities because of lack of basic infrastructure, is now abuzz with agri export activities.

 

After the intervention of APEDA, Varanasi region has recorded exemplary changes in the export scenario and registered many first-of-its-kind achievements in a very short span of time as about 20,000 tonnes of agri produce have been exported from Purvanchal region in the last six months.

 

'Notwithstanding several logistical challenges faced in the global trade of commodities, India’s agricultural and processed food exports have grown at a steady pace in the last decade,' Dr. M.Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said on the occasion.

 

Exports of agricultural and processed food products under APEDA basket rose to USD 20.67 billion (Rs 1,53,049crores) during 2020-21, from USD 9.31 billion (Rs 42,437crores) in 2010-11, according to data by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S).

 

In 2018-19, the export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products recorded at USD 19406 million (Rs 1,35,112 crores). Export value stood at USD 20,674 million (Rs 1,53,049 crores) in 2020-21. In the current financial year 2021-22 (April-December), APEDA has exported agricultural and processed food products worth USD 17,465 million (Rs 1,29,782crores).

 

Even though India is the biggest producer of main agricultural crops, fruits and vegetables, the country’s contribution to the agri-exports in the global market is not significant due to lack of requisite infrastructure at farm gate, post production and logistics complied with other aspects such as awareness about the good agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, hygienically producing and other latest international standards in the area of quality and packaging, etc, have been the key hindrances in harnessing export potential of the country.

 

Realising the importance of Agriculture and Processed Food Products export from the country, the Government in 1986 had set up APEDA through an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Then the newly created body replaced the then existing Processed Food Export Promotion Council. The APEDA had been undertaking most of the activities as per its mandate and scope of work allocated spanning its 14 product categories which mainly includes the sector of fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, animal, dairy and poultry products and cereals.

 

Over the years, APEDA has been handling issues concerning product safety and global promotion for all its product categories, compromising more than 800 tariff lines. With the agriculture awareness about environmental and food safety issues in the importing countries and constantly additional food norms and consumer preferences, APEDA has been constantly sensitizing its trade exporters about export requirements and also providing assistance for setting up of infrastructure facilities for common uses and as well as by the concerned member exporters for having export-oriented production for exports from the country.

 

Considering the importance of food safety and traceability required by the importing countries of developed economies, APEDA took a number of initiatives in the area of quality development such as preparation of standards, procedures for identified potential products, development of residue monitoring protocol, recognition of laboratories and implementation of traceability systems, etc.

 

APEDA pioneered its first traceability system for export of grapes to EU countries in the year 2005-06.  First the system was made paper-based and then made IT enabled which gave birth to the first traceability system in the horticulture sector as GrapeNet. After the success of traceability implementation in the grapes sector, the same was replicated for other products such as peanut (Peanut.net); Organic products (Tracenet) and meat products (Meat.net). The traceability systems for more products are being developed for further implementation.

 

The APEDA website is providing online facilities for the issuance of Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC) and submission of financial assistance schemes applications.

 

The Government of India through the Ministry of Commerce initiated development of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which was approved by the Government on May 2, 2001 and APEDA designated as Secretariat for NPOP.

 

The export growth in the last two years has been achieved despite disruption of supplies during Covid-19 pandemic. APEDA organised a host of activities such as organising VBSM, showcasing Indian agri-exports strength at the Virtual trade fair platform, synergy with ministries and convergence of various schemes run by line ministries and concerned organisations.

 

'The visionary approach, aggressive and consistent efforts of APEDA have enabled India to position itself as a consistent and quality supplier of agri products,' Dr.M.Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said.

Exports of agricultural and processed food products through APEDA are expected to exceed the target of USD 23.7 billion in the current fiscal, the commerce ministry said on Sunday.

 

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is taking a series of steps such as promoting IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India, it said.

 

APEDA, it said, is working with the state governments for ensuring traceability and market linkages for farmers for promoting exports.

 

It is giving thrust on ensuring digitization of land records and formalization of tenancy for the farmers, which helps in boosting exports, the ministry added.

It also said that as of date, there are 417 registered GI (geographical indication) products and out of that 150 are from the agricultural and food sector.

 

Country specific agri-export strategy reports have been prepared for 60 countries in consultation with the Indian Embassies and High Commissions of the respective countries to tap the opportunities emerging during the Covid-19 pandemic, it added.

 

'Notwithstanding several logistical challenges faced in the global trade of commodities, India’s agricultural and processed food exports have grown at a steady pace in the last decade,' M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said on the occasion of the authority’s 36th Foundation Day.

 

Exports of agricultural and processed food products under APEDA basket rose to USD 20.67 billion (Rs 1,53,049 crore) during 2020-21, from USD 9.31 billion (Rs 42,437 crore) in 2010-11.

As Indian agricultural product exports begin to make inroads in the global market, especially leading in non-basmati rice exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is playing a significant role, accounting for 49 per cent of the overall shipments of these products.

 

Founded on February 13, 1986, APEDA began with agricultural exports to the tune of $0.6 billion. Last fiscal, its shipments of agricultural products totalled $20.67 billion and expanded its footprints to 205 countries.

 

APEDA was set up under an Act by Parliament by the Government under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry once it realised the importance of agriculture and processed food products exports.

 

The progress made by APEDA in agricultural exports has not come easily. 'Notwithstanding several logistical challenges faced in the global trade of commodities, India’s agricultural and processed food exports have grown at a steady pace in the last decade,' says M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA. 

 

Break-up of export basket

Today, the authority has become a cornerstone of the Government’s success in promoting exports of agricultural products. Of APEDA’s share in agricultural product exports, cereals and fresh horticulture items comprise 59 per cent, cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items 23 per cent and animal products 18 per cent. 

 

For the current fiscal, APEDA has been set an export target of $23.7 billion and by January-end it has met over 70 per cent of it at $17.2 billion. The rest of the target will be met within the stipulated time, says the APEDA Chairman. 

 

In furthering the cause of agricultural exports, APEDA has promoted IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India. It has undertaken initiatives such as paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, electronic payment facility), APEDA mobile app, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair to make governance more efficient and effective.

 

GI-tagged, ethnic products

The authority has been focussing on the promotion of exports of locally-sourced Geographical Indication (GI) products besides indigenous, ethnic agricultural products to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for 'vocal for local' and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

 

APEDA says it has identified new products and export destinations and the trial shipments have been facilitated accordingly. Of the 150 GI tagged agricultural products till now, over 100 registered ones fall under the category of APEDA scheduled products (cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc).

 

Last and this fiscal, dragon fruit, patented village rice, jackfruit, jamun, Burmese grapes, dehydrated mahua flowers and puffed rice are some of the ethnic and GI tagged products shipped out of the country. GI varieties of mango, GI tagged Shahi litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai malli, Mihidana, Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon banana, Vazhakulam pineapple and Marayoor jaggery are among these, says Angamuthu.

 

Strategy reports

In order to give further fillip to exports, country specific agri-export strategy reports have been prepared for 60 countries to tap the potential. A Market Intelligence Cell has been set up in APEDA and it has begun putting out E-market intelligence reports comprising detailed market analysis. 

 

Till now, 27 reports have been prepared for mango, basmati rice, non-basmati rice, groundnut, grapes, gherkins, dehydrated onion, pomegranate, banana, potato, buffalo meat, swine meat, fresh cut flowers, wine, egg, dairy products (SMP & cheese), biscuits, jaggery, millets, fruits and vegetable seeds, moringa, fox nut, fruit juices, mango pulp, potato flakes and cereal preparations.

 

APEDA has set up a farmer connect portal on its website for providing a platform for farmer producers organisations (FPOs) or farmer producer companies (FPCs), Cooperatives to interact with exporters. Around 3,295 FPO/FPCs and 3,315 exporters have been registered in the portal so far, he said.

 

APEDA has also integrated a Blockchain solution in its GrapeNet traceability platform, which is a web-based certification and traceability software system for monitoring fresh grapes exports to the European Union. The Blockchain solution, called APEDA Trust Chain, helps track all the details of the export consignment, right down to the location of the vineyards.

 

In the past decade, exports of agricultural and processed food products under the APEDA basket rose to ?1,53,049 crore in 2020-21, from ?42,437 crore in 2010-11, as per the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics data. 

 

Non-basmati rice contribution

During the April-December period of the current fiscal, APEDA exported agricultural and processed food products worth $17,465 million (?1,29,782 crore).

 

Non-basmati rice, India’s top export item among the many agricultural and processed food product exports in the APEDA basket, contributed close to one-fourth of the total exports in 2020-21. The top three products in the APEDA export basket in 2020-21 were non-basmati rice (23.22%), basmati rice (19.44%) and buffalo meat (15.34%). These products together account for 58 per cent of total shipments.

 

Over the years, APEDA has been handling issues concerning product safety and global promotion for all its product categories, compromising over 800 tariff lines. With the agriculture awareness about environmental and food safety issues in the importing countries rising and food norms and consumer preferences changing constantly, APEDA has been sensitizing its trade exporters on export requirements. I 

 

Considering the importance of food safety and traceability required by the importing countries of developed economies, APEDA has taken a number of initiatives in the area of quality development such as preparation of standards, procedures for identified potential products, development of residue monitoring protocol, recognition of laboratories and implementation of traceability systems.

 

Other initiatives

In fact, APEDA pioneered its first traceability system for the export of grapes to EU countries in the year 2005-06, says Angamuthu. It has now been extended to peanut (Peanut.net); organic products (Tracenet) and meat products (Meat.net). Traceability systems for more products are under development, the APEDA chairman said. 

 

 APEDA, which has been designated as secretariat for National Programme for Organic Production, has been able to achieve export growth over the past two years despite disruption of supplies during Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

APEDA organised a host of activities such as organising a virtual buyer-seller meet, showcasing Indian agri-exports strength at the Virtual trade fair platform, synergy with ministries and convergence of various schemes run by line ministries and concerned organisations.

 

'The visionary approach, aggressive and consistent efforts of APEDA have enabled India to position itself as a consistent and quality supplier of agri products,' said Angamuthu.