A Jodhpur-based bakery this year exported millet cakes and cookies to the UAE, Indonesia and South Africa and is seeing strong demand for such gluten-free and vegan-friendly snacks made from locally sourced millets. It is among the 200-odd startups involved in producing millet-based products.

 

From 'mota anaaj (coarse grains)' to Shree Anna, millets have come a long way in India, in not only their branding but also exports. A 37.68% increase in exports to $57.14 million in five years to 2022-23, buckwheat, ragi, jawar, bajra, amaranth and canary seeds have found favour across the world. In the first six months of 2023-24, millet exports touched almost $30 million. In 2021, India was the top millet producer in the world with a 20% share of global production, followed by the US and Nigeria.

 

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has also organised food sampling and tasting campaigns at supermarkets and malls across the world have helped millets gain traction.

 

With 2023 being declared the International Year of Millets, diverse food preparations made from these coarse grains have gained popularity. From salads to dessert, jowar khakhra to bajra cake and bhujia, ragi biscuits and gajak, consumers are now spoilt for choice. There are 500 stock keeping units (SKU) of millet-based food products in the country, according to officials.

 

'The export of food preparation based on millets has increased 15% since last year,' said an official, who did not wish to be identified, adding that a new HS code (tariff classification) for value-added products of millets is being introduced which will help capture the export and import numbers better. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereal mix, biscuits, cookies and snacks, and ready-to-cook mixes such as dosa, idli and khichri are the best-selling export items. In its result update for the second quarter ended September 30, fast-moving consumer goods firm ITC said it has implemented a focused strategy to craft a millet-based product portfolio for every occasion, age and format, and has launched products across traditional and modern formats such as multi-millet mix and ragi flour.

The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been implementing an umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18 across the country. PMKSY is a comprehensive package of component schemes, which is aimed at the creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It provides a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the country, helps in providing better prices to farmers, creates huge employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, reduces wastage of agricultural produce, increases the processing level, and enhances the export of processed foods. Under the following component schemes, financial support in the form of grants-in-aid is provided for setting up of food processing projects across the country:

 

Mega Food Parks scheme (discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021)

Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition infrastructure

Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Cluster

Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities

Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021)

Operation Greens: Long Term Interventions

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure – Setting up / upgradation of quality control/ food testing laboratories

Human Resource & Institutions

A total of 1,132 projects for food processing have been approved in the 36 states/UTs with a total project cost of Rs 23,071.29 crores, to create a processing capacity of 252.297 lakh tpa, preservation capacity of 42.908 lakh tpa, employment of 6,02,070 persons and providing benefits to 38,19,220 farmers.

 

The details of physical targets proposed by the Ministry for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle period (2021 – 26).

The Ministry of Commerce has already sent a letter to the Bangladesh High Commission to take the necessary action in this regard.

 

Besides, all the respective deputy commissioners have been asked to ensure strict monitoring in their respective areas so that onion is being sold at the kitchen market at a rational price.

 

The price of onion shot up in the local market after India extended restrictions on onion exports on 7 December. But, before India's move, LCs were opened in Bangladesh for importing some 52,000 metric tonnes of onion from India. The government has now initiated the process of importing that quantity of onion from India soon.

 

Talking to BSS, Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said an initiative has been taken to import 52,000 metric tonnes of onion from India as soon as LCs in this regard were opened earlier before the restriction was extended by the neighbouring country.

 

'We've taken various initiatives to keep the price of onions under control. Efforts are also on to increase the import of onion from alternate countries. Alongside these, the sale of onion will continue among the low-income group of people by the TCB,' he said, adding that the concerned deputy commissioners have been asked to monitor the selling of onion at a rational price in the districts.

 

The commerce ministry senior secretary also called upon the business community of the country to become more responsible so that the common people do not suffer from the higher prices of essential items.

 

'It's not always right that the government will fix everything. The businessmen will also have to perceive that businesses are meant for the country's people. On the day the Indian government imposed restrictions on onion exports, the price of onions skyrocketed in our country. Such behavior from the business community is deemed irresponsible,' Tapan added.

 

Earlier in the day while addressing a seminar at the NBR Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon area on the National VAT Day, Tapan questioned how the price of onion could rise by Tk80 per KG in the country within a span of one day. 

 

'How could a trader who sold onions at Tk120 per KG one day earlier, sell that item at Tk200 per KG the next day? It would have taken a lot of time to let the price rise. But, the businesses didn't show any morality for being profit-mongers in this regard,' he added.

 

The Senior Commerce Secretary also informed that the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has been conducting countrywide drives to keep the prices of essentials, including onion, under control.

Indian food processing sector needs to tap into innovation opportunities for traditional foods and Ayurveda Aahara. This is an untapped sector and would give companies a first mover advantage, according to D B Anantha Narayana, CSO, Ayurvidye Trust, Bengaluru and Chairman of Expert Committee Nutra-FSSAI.

 

Speaking at the 9th International Food Convention (IFCoN)-AFSTI hosted in the CSIR-CFTRI campus, Mysuru, from December 7 to 10, 2023, Dr Narayana said both Indian and the international food sectors need to look at these innovations. This is so far untapped. Companies foraying into this arena can maximise the first mover advantage. This is also important for startups to develop and scale up such products.

 

Some of these are infant foods which is a pristine area for growth. The FSSAI has issued Foods For Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020, which have been enforced from October 1,  2022, and there is immense scope to explore this area, he added.

 

Noting that there is a huge opportunity for the development of traditional food for infants which can be formulated using rice, rice flour, wheat flour,  semolina, pulses and other cereals, spices, dry fruits and vegetables, milk, ghee and eggs.

 

These can be developed in a ready-to-use or reconstituted with milk, water, curd or any other medium appropriate for infants. The food processor should provide clear instructions to prepare the food.

 

These can succeed in the market going by the appropriate technologies and packaging formats to retain nutritional, physical and sensorial qualities. However, it is mandatory to ensure that these are prominently labelled as ‘Traditional Food for Infants’.

 

There are also exhaustive offerings for infant food processing like cooked lentils, cereals, dry fruits, grains mashed to a pasty mass sweetened with sugar or jaggery or honey.

 

'Even cooked vegetable mashed to pasty form either sweetened or with ghee which can be prepared fresh at home. Also there are ragi and corn malt mixes, semolina or sooji based foods that can be blended with either milk or curd or ghee. All these examples have escaped attention of food sector,' said Dr Narayana.

 

Referring to the highlights of Ayurveda Aahara regulations notified in 2022, he said that these are not intended for administration to infants up to 24 months. 'Food Business Operators would need to formulate Ayurveda Aahara in accordance with the categories and requirements specified in Schedule B of the regulations. No vitamins, minerals and amino acids can be added to Ayurveda Aahara. The recipes are as per Granthas-Food basis. Inherent Vitamins, Minerals and Nutrients present can be claimed. Health benefit claims as per the Grantha is permitted,' he said. 

 

Some of these for adults could be Methi Ka Laddoo, which contains fenugreek seeds roasted, cooked in jaggery, with little cardamom powder and pepper. The innovations permitted here are adding ginger powder as it is anti-inflammatory, shatavari and jeera or cumin seeds.

 

In the case of pepper rasam, which is recommended in winter or for conditions like rhinitis, can also be consumed to improve immunity. The processor can consider a change in format from liquid to granules or cubes which could dissolve in hot water.

 

Indian food processing sector can consider such innovation as it provides it a competitive advantage. Going by India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, there is a wide-ranging and large raw material base suitable for food processing industries, according to Dr Narayana.

India is aiming to achieve the $2 trillion export target by 2030 and in the process it is moving this industry out of the government support to make it self-sustaining and cost competitive, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday.

 

Addressing Infinity Forum 2.0 virtually at Gujarat Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), he said the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City has become a lynchpin in propelling India's export-led growth.

 

GIFT City will play a pivotal role in powering India's exports to $2 trillion by 2030, and then onwards to up to $10 trillion that it envisages to see by 2047, said the Union Commerce and Industry Minister.

The new season Indian origin soyabean has fetched encouraging demand in the international market with exports in November up by more than 13 per cent at 1.50 lakh tonnes as against the corresponding period a year ago, a trade body said on Saturday.

The trade body, Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) said, India’s export of soyabean meal in November stood at 1.50 lakh tonnes, up 13.6 per cent from the previous year.

 

Exports in the first two months of the new oil year October and November stood at 2.50 lakh tonnes as against 1.81 lakh tonnes a year ago in the same period, data compiled by the trade body showed. The oil year runs from October to September.

SOPA executive director DN Pathak said, 'Exports in November this year is up by more than 13 per cent from a year ago on higher demand and sufficient availability in the market.'

 

Soyabean exporters said demand for the new season harvest is good from traditional buyers. Madhya Pradesh is a leading soybean producing state in the country contributing over 60 per cent in total production and is a major trading centre. tnn

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India bans onion exports till March next year

The government has prohibited onion exports until March 2024 to ensure more onions are available domestically and to stabilize prices, according to a notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

The government has extended the export ban on de-oiled rice bran, a major ingredient in preparation of cattle and poultry feed, till March 31 next year, according to a notification. It was first banned in July this year.

 

'Export prohibition of de-oiled rice bran is extended till March 31, 2024,' the directorate general of foreign trade has said in a notification.

 

According to experts, rise of prices of the feed is one of the major reasons for increasing milk prices in the country and putting a ban on the exports can help increase availability of the product in the domestic market, thereby containing rates.

 

However, Solvent Extractors Association of India had earlier asked the government to reconsider its decision on banning the exports as the move is likely to have minimal impact on the prices of cattle feed and milk.

 

As per estimates, in cattle feed, about 25 per cent rice bran extraction is used.

A global shortage of the spice, fuelled by reduced supply from China, the largest producer, has been driving up garlic export volumes from India.

China has a 75 percent share of the global garlic output, at over 23 million tonnes. India stands next, though with a much lower production of 3.3 million tonnes.

 

In FY23, a production shortfall of garlic in China led to record exports of garlic from India. But in the current year, exports are doing even better and are likely to touch a new peak. As per the latest Spices Board data, at 56,823 tonnes valued at Rs 277 crore for the period April–September 2023–24, exports were 110 percent higher in terms of quantity and 129 percent higher in terms of value over the same period of the previous year.

 

In FY23, garlic exports reached a new high of 57,346 tonnes valued at Rs 246 crore. In the past six months, while the quantity has inched close to the annual export volume last year, the value has already crossed last year’s level.

 

There was a 159 percent rise in quantity and a 32 percent increase in value year-on-year (YoY) in FY23. This was the first time garlic exports from India crossed the 50,000-tonne mark. The previous high was 47,000 tonnes in 2017–18.

 

Interestingly, this happened when the overall spice export volumes fell by 8 percent during the year, with heavyweights such as chilli, cumin, spice oleoresins, and mint products showing a decline in export quantities. Also, this was a period of high domestic and international prices of Indian garlic. International prices of Indian garlic are currently around $1,800 per tonne, compared to $1,350 per tonne of China, according to exporters.

 

Wholesale garlic prices are hovering around Rs 240 per kg, pushing retail prices to the range of Rs 260–265 per kg in the domestic market. 'Prices reached this level in the last couple of weeks. As a result, offtake by shops has declined. This is the highest price so far. Prices had reached Rs 180 per kg two years ago,’’ said Sujesh, a wholesale garlic merchant in Kerala.

 

Garlic prices have escalated as the old stock is wearing thin and export demand is shooting up. Though the new crop in the next year is expected to be higher, rising demand could keep prices up. 'We are expecting a crop of 3.6 to 3.75 million tonnes in place of 3.3 million tonnes in the last season,’’ said Vijay Hotwani, Managing Director of Varchasva Agro, an exporting firm based in Madhya Pradesh.

 

Sowing has increased by 30 percent for the next season. But higher production will depend on weather conditions, he said. Madhya Pradesh is the largest garlic-producing state, accounting for around 65 percent of the output. The other major producers are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

 

Hotwani feels the current price trends will continue until the harvest in February-March. 'After that, prices could slacken, which may boost exports. Our prices could fall to $900 per tonne next year, which could be below the garlic price in China,’’ he pointed out.

 

The global shortage has prompted several countries that are not traditional buyers of Indian garlic to turn to the country for the spice. Indian garlic is mostly preferred by Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Nepal. But Latin American countries like Brazil raised their offtake from India last year. 'They used to buy from China but have now shifted their focus to India,’’ Hotwani said.

 

Almost 70 percent of the garlic export output is in fresh form, while the rest mostly comprises flakes and granules, demand for which has been rising in recent times, especially from Western countries.

 

The US, Europe, and West Asia usually prefer Chinese garlic, which comes in bigger sizes, more colour, and less pungency. But some of these countries, particularly West Asian countries, the US, and Russia, are buying more Indian garlic flakes. 'Indian garlic flake prices, which were hovering below Rs 100 per kg, have touched Rs 105 per kg now. However, demand has increased as there is no buffer stock in China. Production is just enough to meet the demand there,’’ said Murtuza Badami, MD, Murtuza Foods Pvt. Ltd.

 

A September market report by Olam Group, a major global agri-products company, points out that garlic planting for the 2023 crop in China was 15-20 percent lower than the previous year because of COVID-19 conditions, slow demand for fresh garlic, weak prices, and higher support prices for wheat.

The government has made it mandatory to register import of yellow peas under the import monitoring system till March 31 next year, according to a notification. The move is aimed at increasing domestic availability of the commodity.

 

From April 1, 2024, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said that the restricted import policy and associated policy conditions will come into effect.

 

'Imports of yellow peas... is free subject to registration under the import monitoring system with immediate effect for the period up to March 31, 2024. MIP (Minimum Import Price) conditions and port restrictions shall also not to be applicable to such yellow peas import for the period up to March 31, 2024,' the DGFT notification has said.

 

Till now, the import was subject to an annual (fiscal year) quota MIP of Rs 200 and above CIF (cost, insurance, freight) per kilogramme, and import is allowed through Kolkata Sea port only.

 

India imported USD 0.14 million worth of yellow peas in 2022-23, all from Russia.

The 5th edition of 'SIAL India', an international exhibition for food and beverages, collocated with Vinexpo India, an event on wine and spirits, is being held at Yashobhoomi, India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi.

 

The event is supported by the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) along with MoFPI.

 

According  to the organisers, SIAL India received an excellent response from the industry, with the participation of over 20 country ambassadors, including France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey, 300 national and international exhibitors, and various sponsors.

 

The exhibition provided new products, the latest technology and product innovation from countries like Austria, the European Union, France, Greece, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkiye, Thailand and USA.

 

SIAL India has developed three event categories: SIAL Innovation, SIAL Conference and SIAL Tasting Square.

 

The key takeaways were focused on global market development and discussions with industry experts.

 

Nicola Trentesaux – director of SIAL Group, said, 'All the main Indian importers and distributors are attending the show to identify new sourcing opportunities. We are pleased to host an amazing European delegation led by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food.'