More than 2000 exhibitors are participating in the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show- a first of its kind event being held in UP to showcase products manufactured in the state to B2B and B2C buyers from India and abroad.

 

The show being held at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida was inaugurated on Thursday by president Droupadi Murmu. Murmu pointed out that the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration included the goal of local value creation and identifying the challenges faced by MSMEs and connecting MSMEs at the international level and said the trade show would 'advance India's national and international priorities in line with the goals of the G20'.

 

CM Yogi Adityanath in his address at the inaugural ceremony said in the last six years UP has moved from being a Bimaru state to becoming a prosperous state. 'The new UP is presenting itself to the world today by changing its scale into skills now,' he said.

 

More than 70,000 B2B from 70 countries have registered for the trade show, he noted.

 

The show is also expected to give international exposure to the products produced under UP's flagship One District One Product (ODOP) scheme and to 54 GI-tagged products from the state

As a part of Govt of India initiative for market intervention to control the retail price of wheat and atta, Food Corporation of India (FCI) is offering wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)] through weekly e-auction at the reserve price of Rs. 2125/- per qtl which is at par with the current MSP of wheat.

 

A quantity of 2.00 LMT wheat is being offered in each weekly auction across the country from more than 480 depots and during the year 2023-24, till 21.09.2023 total 13 e-auctions have been conducted wherein 18.09 LMT wheat has been sold under the scheme.

 

The weighted average selling price of wheat during August’23 was Rs. 2254.71/qtl which has come down to Rs. 2163.47/qtl in the e-auction dated 20.09.23. The downward trend in weighted average selling price of wheat suggests that the market prices of wheat have cooled down in the open market. In each weekly e-auction conducted, the quantity sold has not crossed 90% of the qty offered which shows that sufficient stocks of wheat are being offered across the country.

 

The successful implementation of the OMSS(D) policy has ensured that the prices of wheat are kept under control in the open market and sufficient stock of wheat is available in the central pool for the continuation of OMSS(D) policy for the remaining period of 2023-24.

The Rajasthan government has drawn out a plan for value addition and export promotion of agricultural commodities.

 

'The plan aims at offering sops to farmers engaged or are planning to enter this field. The government’s main aim is to attract investment in agro-processing along with value addition,' an agriculture department official said.

 

Rajasthan is one of the leading producers of many crops and animal products with a high potential for processing and value addition.

 

The state is one of the top producers of mustard, moth beans, bajra, guar, and Isabgol.

 

In mustard, the state contributes over 43 per cent of the country’s total production, and in guar, its share in the country stands at over 70 per cent.

 

The official pointed out that under the Rajasthan Agro-Processing, Agri-Business and Agri-Export Promotion Policy, 2019, a 50 per cent subsidy in the capital cost is provided to farmers and 25 per cent to non-farmers for agricultural products processing.

 

The government has enhanced this capital subsidy to 75 per cent and 50 per cent for farmers and non-farmers, respectively. The maximum limit of grant is now Rs 1.5 crore.

 

Moreover, to encourage beekeeping, 10,000 farmers of Bharatpur, Shri Ganganagar, Alwar, Dholpur and some other districts will be benefited in the coming year. He said that over Rs 100 crore will be spent on this. 

 

As part of the plan, a centre of excellence for apiculture is proposed at Tonk. Moreover, mini food parks will be set up in select districts, including Jaipur, Sikar and Alwar, among others.

In a groundbreaking move towards enhancing agricultural incomes and promoting millets, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu & DICCI, convened a high-level meeting at IIM Jammu permanent Campus, Jagti under the leadership of IIM Jammu Director, Prof. B.S. Sahay.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Gaurav Gupta from Theta Foundation for Development, along with several eminent dignitaries from industry, Industry bodies and experts.

The primary objective of this momentous gathering was to plan a Regional Conference dedicated to the promotion of Millets and FPOs in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Scheduled for September 29, 2023, at Hotel Radisson Blu, Jammu, the conference is expected to provide a stage for fostering exchange and collaboration opportunities within the realm of millets. The conference will witness the distinguished presence of eminent personalities from the field of administration, Industry, and Famer’s collectives. Milind. P. Kamble, Founder of DICCI and Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIM Jammu will also grace the occasion.

The meeting was attended by Aagam Jain, General Secretary, Laghu Udyog Authority, Arun Manas, J&K State Agro-Indo Development Corporation Ltd ( Online), C.M. Sharma, LEAD Network, Dr. Jyoti Kachroo, In-charge Incubation, SKUAST, Kamal Kaul and T.S Reen, from Federation of Industries, Manik Batra, Bhupesh Gupta and Amit Khajuria of ASSOCHAM, Kanav Padha, Jammu and Kashmir Angle Network, Gagan Jain from Nutraj, Abhimanyu from Jai Organics, Cmdr Kesavan Baskkaran (R), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), IIM Jammu and Dr. Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, IIM Jammu. Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, mentioned that “As we embark on this transformative journey to promote millets and empower Farmers in association with Govt. of India and DICCI, we recognize the immense potential these initiatives hold for our region and beyond. Millets are not only nutritious but also ecologically sustainable, offering a solution to both food security and environmental challenges. With the upcoming Regional Conference, we aim to shine a global spotlight on millets as ‘the world’s emerging smart food’ and create a collaborative platform that fosters innovation and partnership.'

Small domestic production opens an opportunity for good quality imports, said Swadha Rizvi, Deputy Secretary, East and Southern Africa Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, at the launch event of Kenyan Avocado in India jointly organised by Kenya High Commission and ASSOCHAM. This avocado launch event will improve bilateral relations with robust and multi-faceted partnerships. India offers immense potential for avocado consumption, she said.

 

She further focused on saying that it took eight long years of negotiations and diplomacy for Kenya to get market access in India for Avocados. So, it is definitely a moment to celebrate as Avocado represents the history, culture and emotions of Kenya and culture is a gateway that has the power to bind countries together and its people together. This is a milestone in the diplomacy and bilateral relations between India and Kenya. The Government of India is confident that Avocado imports from Kenya will help us to strengthen our trade relations with the African country.

 

Amb. Irene Oloo, Deputy High Commissioner of Kenya to India shared insights on how Kenya exports about 23 per cent of production of avocados. (95,000 tonnes). The increased production of avocados in Kenya calls for increased market access. It is for this reason that Kenya urged India to allow market access for Kenyan avocados.

 

She further added, 'The value of trade between two countries has been growing over the years to USD 1.83 billion in 2022. Currently, the balance of trade is in favour of India. We are confident the Indian market access to Kenyan avocados will help balance the trade deficit and will facilitate growth and development in this sector, she highlighted.

 

'Kenya is the world’s 6th largest avocado producer with a cultivated area of nearly 26,000 hectares and a production of 416,000 metric tonnes in 2021, double that of 2016. The increase of 20 per cent per annum on average has been achieved largely through the expansion of avocado plantations by an average of 14 per cent per annum with yields increasing by about 6 per cent. This sector is dominated by small farmers owning less than two hectares of landholding, who contribute 70 per cent of all Kenyan avocados,' Oloo further said.

 

'Kenya exports 23 per cent of the production of avocados. Kenya accounts for about 82 per cent of East African community avocado fruits export. Kenya’s main export markets are the Netherlands, USA, China, Spain, UK, UAE, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt among others. We are happy that India has been added to its export markets,' the Kenyan High Commissioner added.

 

Dr Umesh Kamble, Co-Chairman, ASSOCHAM MSDC and Founder & CEO, Farm to Forks highlighted the nutritional value of avocado and called avocado as green gold. Consumption of avocados is growing in India with respect to additional health benefits but the availability is less. It is a value-added product for agribusiness.

 

Dr. Kamble called for awareness creation and promotion of avocado consumption among Indians. 'To further boost the consumption of avocados in India, we need to focus on awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to educate people about the nutritional benefits of avocados, different ways to incorporate them into daily meals, and the importance of supporting domestic avocado farmers,' Kamble added. He also urged the industry to invest in research to develop innovative avocado-based products that cater to the Indian palate and meet consumer demands. Avocado imports from Kenya will help Indian consumers to get it from the local markets.

The meat consignment had been sent by a Karachi-based company by sea and the whole shipment was destroyed by the UAE authorities, while a ban was imposed on all further imports of frozen meat from Pakistan through maritime channels at least up till Oct 10.

 

However, meat exports by air will continue without any break.

 

Pakistan exports meat worth around $144 million per year to the UAE.

 

Naseeb Ahmad Saifi, a meat exporter, explains that it is not a ban rather the UAE authorities have put an embargo until Pakistani frozen meat exporters start following the protocol prescribed by the destination country for future shipments.

 

Under the protocol, the exporters are required to vacuum-pack their products before shipping them in a refrigerated container by sea, he says. The company in whose consignment fungus was allegedly detected had shipped the meat by wrapping it in cloth, he said, regretting that negligence while sending the export consignment has brought a bad name to the country. He confirmed that the ‘embargo’ on meat exports is only on the sea route, while the exports by air will continue without any interruption.

 

The country produces around 4.9 million tonnes of meat and of it exports only 95,991 tonnes or around 2pc of the total production. Gulf Cooperation Council states and some Far East countries are its major markets, while meat exports to China, Egypt and Indonesia have also started a few months ago.

The Future Food Forum, the Middle East's largest annual gathering of industry leaders, kicked off on September 21st with a focus on regional food security, sustainability, innovation, and consumer well-being discussions. Industry titans, government officials, and business leaders from across the globe descended upon Dubai for this milestone event.

 

The forum featured insightful sessions on India and UAE, tackling critical topics such as the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the growing investment trends in food tech startups. These discussions aimed to fortify food security and sustainability through cross-border collaboration.

 

Piruz Khambatta, Chairman of the CII Food Processing Committee, highlighted the need for international partnerships. 'By partnerships between countries like India and UAE, we are changing the future of our own citizens for the better,' Khambatta declared. He also underscored the significance of the India, Middle East, and Europe Corridor in creating a common free market. Mr Piruz Khambatta also led a panel discussion 

 

Minaz Alam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing and Industry, Government of India, emphasized India's commitment to food processing and the role of collaborative efforts between India and the UAE. 'Collaborative efforts between India and UAE can lead to the development of efficient logistics networks, cold storage facilities, and food processing units,' Alam stated. He highlighted the importance of reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring quality produce reaches the market promptly.

 

Mr Alam also spoke about the rising global interest in traditional foods like millets, promoting nutritional security. He mentioned the upcoming World Food India event, scheduled for November, which is set to be a monumental congregation of global investors, business leaders, and stakeholders. He also emphasized that the Ministry of Food Processing in India has been diligently working to drive the seamless growth of the food processing sector to its full potential. He declared that the Ministry is conscious of the many opportunities available in the sector and is acting as a catalyst to drive its growth to its fullest capacity.

 

He highlighted the Production Incentive Scheme, through which incentives are provided to the industry to encourage increased levels of processing and value addition. This initiative aims to create modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm to retail outlets. He also discussed the importance of strengthening Indian brands for global visibility and wider acceptance in international markets, stressing that robust and resilient supply chains are crucial for ensuring food security. The delegation from India included senior officials of the Ministry of  Food Processing and Industries, and from CII.

 

Inaugurated by Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy, the forum's theme 'Inspiring Sustainable Well-being' set the stage for a series of compelling discussions aimed at reinforcing self-reliant food supplies and leveraging agri-tech to enhance food security in the Middle East.

 

Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food & Beverage Business Group, welcomed the attendees, emphasizing the pivotal moment for the regional F&B sector. He stated, 'It is a pivotal moment for the F&B sector in the region, one where the sector is taking a new strategic direction to ensure UAE's position as the regional food hub of excellence.'

 

The Future Food Forum promises to be a catalytic event for the entire food industry, fostering dialogue and partnerships that will shape the future of food security, sustainability, and innovation in the Middle East and beyond. As discussions continue, experts and leaders from diverse backgrounds come together with a shared commitment to inspire sustainable well-being through food.

Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India today launched AI Chatbot for  the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme at New Delhi today. The AI Chatbot launch marks a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency and reach of the PM-KISAN scheme, and also providing farmers prompt, clear, and accurate responses to their queries.

 

Launching the AI Chatbot,  Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary said the initiative is in in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to bring positive change to lives of farmers and improve governance through use of technology. Shri Chaudhary said the AI Chatbot will help in accessing scheme information and resolving grievances. He also  called upon the need to widen the service to link it with other related issues like weather information, soil conditions and bank payments etc. The minister complemented the Ministry officials for onboarding the technology in a short span of time and added that it will ease the burden for agriculture officials at the Centre and states.

 

During the virtual event, dignitaries from the Government of India and the State Government gathered to celebrate this significant milestone in the agricultural sector. The successful launch of the AI Chatbot for PM KISAN scheme reaffirms the Government's commitment to leveraging technological advancements for the welfare of farmers.

 

Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Family Welfare noted that the AI chatbot will also be implemented for other major schemes of the Ministry in coming months.  Shri Pramod Mehreda, Addl. Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Family Welfare made a detailed presentation on the features of Chatbot and its benefits for farmers.

 

The AI Chatbot acts as a comprehensive guide for the beneficiaries, providing them with timely and accurate responses to their queries related to the scheme. This is the first AI Chatbot integrated with a major flagship scheme of the Union government. It has been developed and improved with the support of EKstep foundation and Bhashini. The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform. In its first phase of development, the AI chatbot will assist farmers in seeking information related to their application status, payment details, ineligibility status, and other scheme-related updates. The AI Chatbot, accessible through the PM KISAN mobile app, is integrated with Bhashini, which offers multilingual support, catering to the linguistic and regional diversity of the PM KISAN beneficiaries. This integration of advanced technology will not only enhance transparency but will also empower farmers to make informed decisions.

 

Currently, the Chatbot is available in English,Hindi,Bengali, Odia, and Tamil. In a short period, it will be available in all 22 languages of the country.

 

Background

 

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to support the financial needs of land-holding farmers in India. The scheme offers an annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- in three equal instalments to eligible farmers’ families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Since its inception, over Rs. 2.61 Lakhs Crores disbursed to more than 11 Crore farmers so far, it stands as one of the largest DBT schemes globally. The PM-KISAN scheme has played a vital role in providing income support to landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land. The scheme’s direct benefit transfer has ensured timely financial assistance to millions of farmers, including women beneficiaries, contributing to their socio-economic well-being. During the Covid Pandemic, more than Rs. 1.75 lakh Crore was transferred to the beneficiaries that provided a great relief to farmers and their families in a difficult time.

 

Government of India has also developed a mobile app with the feature of face authentication-based e-KYC. This app is first mobile app that use face authentication-based e-KYC feature in any benefit scheme of the Government. This Mobile App is very easy to use and is easily available for download on Google Play store. This app is a wonderful example of modern technology, through which, now the farmer can complete his e-KYC sitting at home even in remote areas of the country without any OTP or fingerprint, just by scanning his face. Not only this, but they can also assist 100 other farmers in their neighbourhood to complete e-KYC at their doorstep. In addition, the Government of India has also extended the facility for completing e-KYC of farmers to State Government officials, allowing each official to do e-KYC for 500 farmers.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday said it would prioritize imports of prepackaged eggs in future programs to avoid the controversies incurred by a special import program this year.

 

When facing an egg shortage at the start of the year, agriculture officials in the special egg import program purchased about 140 million eggs from abroad, Department of Animal Industry Director-General Chang Ching-wei (???) told the Cabinet.

 

The import program had achieved the desired result of ensuring a steady supply and inhibiting erratic price hikes, Chang said.

 

In the ministry’s report to the Cabinet, Chang estimated that overall benefits derived from the program totaled about NT$6 billion (US$186.85 million) — about 10 times the amount paid by the ministry for the imported eggs.

 

'This program specifically dealt with the shortage to fill domestic demand for eggs. It had limited conditions for the time frame and country of origin,' Chang said.

 

As the ministry did not reduce import tariffs, 'it would not affect the prices provided by domestic egg producers, protecting their revenue,' he added.

 

Negotiations resulted in deals with 12 countries, for which egg imports are open through this year for Paraguay, Guatemala, Singapore, Canada and Turkey, and until the end of June next year for Japan, the US, Australia, Brazil, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand, he said.

 

Chang said that the new measures would see the imported eggs held in reserve released in a timely fashion for processing, and that they would not be sold at retail outlets.

 

'We are constantly monitoring the situation, and will pick up on the special import program when the egg shortage surpasses 10 percent nationwide,' he added. 'In principle, future imports will require washing and packaging in the country of origin, while the eggs must be under cold-chain storage inside its own packaging. Each shipment must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration, which will publish testing results at regular intervals.'

 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (???) also said that imported eggs were not past their expiration date, which is a misconception being circulated on social media.

 

Chen said the ministry plans to import 330,000 chicken broilers this year, and increase its quota for egg-laying hens to 34 million to meet domestic demand.

 

The ministry would also provide NT$4.4 billion in additional investment to build new cold-storage chains and upgrade chicken farms to create more animal-friendly living conditions, he added.

The approval was given to six companies to import one crore eggs each, confirmed commerce ministry's Public Relations Officer Md Haider Ali on Thursday (21 September).

 

The companies which were given permission are: Cheese Gallery, Popular Trade Syndicate, M/S Ripa Enterprise, S M Corporation, BDS Corporation and M/s Joynur Traders.

 

According to the commerce ministry, the country's daily demand for eggs stands at four crore, with local production exceeding this demand.

 

However, the Bangladesh Poultry Industry Central Council said the current daily egg production has fallen below four crore pieces due to the closure of many layer farms amid the pandemic.

 

On Wednesday (20 September), the four importers, who were given permission to import four crore eggs, confirmed that poultry eggs will be available for purchase at Tk9-10 each at the retail level starting next week.

 

This decision to permit egg imports came in response to traders who had ignored the government's call to adhere to fixed pricing. Despite the government setting the retail price for each egg at Tk12, eggs continue to be sold in Dhaka at Tk12.50 or even higher.

 

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim previously said the price of eggs should not be more than Tk12 a piece at the retail level as the production cost per egg is around Tk10.50.