India’s agricultural and processed food products exports

India’s agricultural and processed food products exports

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Agriculture; Indian Economy

In News: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has scripted a new success story by achieving 90 per cent of the export target fixed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for the financial year 2021-22.

• The APEDA has successfully exported agricultural and processed food products worth USD 21.5 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal and is all set to achieve the annual export target of USD 23.71 billion for 2021-22.
• Geographical Identification (GI) certified fruits that were exported for the first time:
  • Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo, Jalgaon Banana and Marathwada Kesar sourced from farmers in Maharashtra. 
  • GI tagged Nendran banana 
  • GI tagged Vazhakulam Pineapple 
  • GI tagged Marayoor Jaggery 

Some of the initiatives taken by APEDA to boost agri-exports:

1. Agriculture Export Policy implementation in collaboration with states
2. Cluster development activities: Meetings, major interventions required have been identified and existing infrastructure has been mapped, Exports of horticulture produce
3. Creation of Export Promotion Forums (EPFs): To give impetus to the export of potential products as well as to remove the bottlenecks in the supply chain, APEDA created Export  Promotion Forums (EPFs), having  representatives of  different Department, Laboratories & top 10 leading exporters of each product 
4. Accreditation/Compliance/Enforcement Under National Programme for Organic Production
   • Overseas accreditation has been granted to a certificate body for certification in European Union.
   • Accreditation of a Certification Body for certification as per NPOP in European Union.
   • The mutual recognition with Taiwan has been concluded. This has been the first MRS under NPOP.
   • The accredited Certification Bodies have been increased to 32. 
   • Export of organic products during April –February 2022 has been 700 million USD. India exports mainly to USA, EU, Canada, Switzerland and Great Britain. 
5. Promotion of GI products

• • In order to promote the exports of GI products, two V-BSMs have been organised with the Embassies of UAE and USA.
  • APEDA officials have participated in several District level meetings for deliberation and promotion of GI registered products like Banganpalli mango in Andhra Pradesh, Govindbhog rice in West Bengal, Black rice in Manipur, Assam ginger etc.
  • An exclusive new section for GI products has been created in the APEDA portal and 112 GI registered agriproducts have been identified.
  • Development of traceability system for GI products has been initiated.

The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products has been also largely due to the various initiatives taken by APEDA such as 

• Organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries, 
• Exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.
• APEDA also assists in upgradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans. 
• Provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.

News Source: PIB