Local specialities, Bhaderwah Rajmash and Sulai honey of Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir, have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags. Officials said the development is a great leap in promoting these items at the international level.

 

Jammu-based organisations had applied for a GI tag for eight traditional items from various districts of the Jammu region last year.

 

'Doda and Ramban districts have got two GI tags today. One is Bhaderwah Rajmash, which is called red beans and another is for honey. It is the honey of Sulai in Ramban district. These are two important products of Chenab Valley,' director of agriculture production and farmers welfare Jammu KK Sharma said.

 

It is a tool for the socio-economic growth of the region and its farming community. 'It will double their income', he said.

 

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gifted organic Sulai honey to Queen Elizabeth during his visit to Britain. The director also said the process for GI tagging of these products was initiated by the department and it was granted on Tuesday.

 

'A GI tag is a trade name or label applied to a product that designates a geographic region or country of origin. The tag’s primary feature is its uniqueness, which guards against any form of third-party misuse,' he said.

 

He added that the tag is a form of intellectual property right that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location.

 

'Now, only an authorised user has the rights to use the geographical indication in relation to these products,' the director said.

Reportedly the Ministry of Agriculture has organized a two-day training program for cooks working in paramilitary canteens focusing on small grains. The Union Department of Agriculture has organized a two-day training program for over 200 culinary professionals working in paramilitary and various government sector canteens (canteens) focusing on small grain based cuisine.

 

Meanwhile the exercise, which began today in Delhi, aims to promote small grain-based diets. It introduces and trains a variety of small grain recipes ranging from simple snacks to healthy meals. These cooks are encouraged to cook and serve these in government sector canteens where they work. Additional Secretaries of Central Agriculture Department Bais ahmed Gidwai, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi and other officials participated in the program and encouraged 'more use of small grains'.

 

Moreover assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Force, National Security Force, Sashastra seema Pal and more than 200 Culinary Arts working in various government Department Canteens This small-scale culinary training course for professionals is organized by the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM). The exercise is being organized as part of a series of events to mark the international Year of Small Grains (IYM) 2023.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, has said that the upcoming G20 Summit holds significant importance for global trade, for attracting investments to India and for enhancing India’s role in multi-lateral organizations. Shri Goyal said this while addressing the Northern Regional Export Excellence Award function of Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) in New Delhi today.

 

Expressing confidence that India’s presidency will be recognized and remembered for many years as an action oriented Summit where significant deliverables were offered to the world, Shri Goyal noted that the recent G20 Trade Ministers’ meet in Jaipur gave a Call of Action through which Indian MSME sector will get a significant access to information, which will help them become globally successful exporters. 'We are looking at mapping global value chains so that Indian traders can play a greater role in global value chains and we also focussed on digitisation of trade documentation,' he added. He noted that India will have almost 90 percent of global GDP being represented in New Delhi at the G20 Summit in a few days.

 

Shri Goyal said that after a long period of a stagnation in exports, India broke the ceiling and crossed 450 billion dollars of merchandise exports in 2022-23. Admitting that the current year does show some challenges with geopolitical situation and the impact of that which we are seeing in certain sectors like petroleum, gems and textiles, he expressed confidence that our exporters have the ability and agility to overcome adverse situations. He said that we are living in a nation full of pride, a nation full of talent, a nation which is being recognized across the world as the future engine of world economic growth. India has celebrated three major achievements in the recent days – Chandrayan mission, in sports in form of wins in javelin and chess and the successful engagements in Ministerial Meetings in G20, he said.

 

Shri Goyal quoted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi saying 'Business can transform potential into prosperity, obstacles into opportunity, aspirations into achievements, small or big, global or local, it can ensure progress for everyone.' This is truly a great vote of confidence in our business community, he said. 'You are being recognized and respected for the work that you do and your contribution in our journey towards become a developed nation is being recognized and applauded,' he added.

 

Commerce and Industry Minister said that India was one of the few nations who showed resilience and responsibility during the pandemic. 'We also showed sensitivity to the developing world by providing them vaccines, to many of them free of charge. We showed that under Prime Minister Modi’s astute leadership we will perform and lead global growth,' he said.

 

Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister Modi has described India as a nation of opportunities. For the next 30 years, India will continue to have a young population and we will add 30 trillion dollars to become a 35 trillion economy by 2047, he said, adding that our young, aspirational demography will create a demand for us. Now even the sky is not the limit for us, he said, alluding to India’s successful space mission.

 

'We are investing huge amounts of money on infrastructure so that we can get lower logistics cost, so that we can get seamless movement of goods and services and we are ensuring that we get corruption free environment,' Shri Goyal said, adding that 'no power can stop India’s growth now.' The target for 2030 is to have 1 trillion dollars of goods exports and 1 trillion dollars of service exports and this will be met with your hard work and contributions, Shri Goyal added. He informed the gathering that India is trying to unlock newer markets through FTAs, encouraging investments in modern technology, looking for digitalization and technology adaption to become more acceptable to the world for high quality goods and services so that the true potential of India can be harnessed.

 

'We should focus on quality, sustainability and innovation and if we keep these in our priority, the world is looking up to India wants to deal and trade with India and to partner with us in our growth story,' he concluded.

India and New Zealand have committed to work together to further strengthen the cooperation in the agriculture sector and collaboration between the two countries, according to an official release.

A meeting was held here between Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, and New Zealand minister for trade & export growth and agriculture Damien O'Connor.

 

'Both the leaders reiterated their commitments to work together in strengthening the agricultural cooperation and collaboration between the two countries,' an official statement said on Tuesday.

At the meeting, Tomar mentioned the importance of relations between India and New Zealand and its steady progress.

 

He highlighted the resumption of the Joint Trade Committee after a gap of 14 years and the initiation of discussions on market access issues for agricultural products under its framework.

Tomar also thanked the New Zealand Minister for granting market access to Indian pomegranate arils and lifting the suspension on the import of mangoes from the MSAMB VHT facility in India.

 

He informed the New Zealand Minister about India's initiatives in celebrating the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet and sought their cooperation in promoting the health and other benefits of Millet.

'Both ministers emphasised the potential of the partnership envisaged in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) being finalised between the two countries for the overall development of horticulture,' the statement said.

 

The ministers assured each other of their commitments towards maintaining the quality and safety of the agricultural commodities being traded between the two countries and resolved to continue working on phytosanitary measures and systems.

They also discussed the importance of developing a sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural system.

 

The New Zealand Minister invited India to join the Global Research Alliance which is an alliance of 67 countries for sharing research on mitigation of climate change impacts on agriculture.

The government has clarified exporters who have paid the export duty before the issue of notification on the ban on rice exports on July 20 will be allowed to ship that consignment. On July 20, the government banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply.

 

While notifying this ban decision, the DGFT had specified about certain consignments which can be exported.

 

In 'relaxation' of DGFT's notification dated July 20, 'export of non-basmati white rice is allowed when export duty is paid before 21:57:01 hours on July 20, 2023,' the directorate has said in a notification dated August 29.

 

It added that if the consignment has been handed over to the customs before 21:57:01 hours on July 20 and is registered in customs system for exportation before this specified time or is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned custodian of the customs station with verifiable evidence of date and time, those consignments are allowed up to October 30.

Basmati rice exporters are negotiating with global buyers for a price exceeding $1,200 per tonne for new orders now and adjust the price against future orders when the government's move to temporarily halt exports of this aromatic variety of rice is rescinded.

 

India on Sunday announced a temporary halt of export of any basmati rice consignment for less than $1,200 a tonne, while shipments contracted above that price threshold will continue to be allowed. The move was to restrict possible 'illegal' shipment of white non-basmati rice in the garb of premium basmati rice. This will remain effective till October 15, 2023.

 

Basmati rice exporters are choosing the overbilling route so that they do not lose their export markets to Pakistan, a major competitor. 'For the time being exporters can only do overbilling and export rice above $1,200. They will adjust it with the buyers in future orders,' said the CEO of a rice exporting company, who did not want to be identified.

 

India exported 4.5 million tonnes of basmati valued at ?38,524.11 crore in FY23. Gulf nations are major buyers. Vijay Setia, former president of All India Rice Exporters Association said: 'Overbilling will be possible in cases where exporters have long-standing relationships with buyers and have offices abroad.'

 

Trade sources said overseas buyers are in touch with Indian exporters to work out a possible formula for the import of rice as they have to fulfil their domestic demand.

Rajmash (red kidney beans) from Bhaderwah and Ramban Sulai honey of Jammu and Kashmir have now received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag through the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), while three more products of the Union Territory are in the final stages of getting the GI tag, said an official on Tuesday.

Premium Bhaderwah rajmash of Jammu is a red kidney bean that is smaller and distinct in texture. It has a sweet nuttier taste and is used to make a lot of delicious recipes. This rajmash is grown as an intercrop with maize in Chinta Valley of Doda district. Sulai honey, meanwhile is a premium and exotic variety of honey in Ramban. Known for its taste across the globe, this honey is extracted from Sulai plants grown on the Himalayas of Ramban, Doda.

Earlier in March this year, Basohli painting of Kathua, and Ladakh wood carving got the GI tag. In August, Chikri woodcraft from Rajouri, and Mushqbudji rice from Anantnag district received the GI tag.

NABARD general manager Anamika said, 'GI is a form of intellectual property right that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location and having a distinct nature, quality and characteristics linked to that location.'

'The process for the GI tagging of nine products was started by NABARD in consultation with and support from the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom and Department of Agriculture in December 2020, during the difficult times of Covid,' she said, adding, 'The GI tags have now finally been granted to these two products after a long legal process. In total, six products have been granted GI tags with NABARD support in J&K and Ladakh.'

 

'With GI tagging, unauthorised use of these registered GI goods by third parties is prevented and it will boost exports and promote their brands at the international level, thereby promoting economic prosperity of producers and related stakeholders including contribution to GDP of the country,' Anamika added.

A meeting between Ministers for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister for Trade & Export Growth, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information and Minister for Rural Communities of New Zealand Shri Damien O’Connor was held here today. Both the leaders reiterated their commitments to work together in strengthening the agricultural cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.

 

Welcoming the New Zealand Minister and his delegation, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare mentioned about the importance of relations between India and New Zealand and its steady progress. He highlighted the resumption of Joint Trade Committee after a gap of 14 years and initiation of discussions on market access issues for agricultural products under its framework. He also thanked the New Zealand Minister for granting market access to Indian pomegranate arils and lifting suspension on import of Mangoes from MSAMB VHT facility in India.

 

Shri Tomar informed the New Zealand Minister about India’s initiatives in celebrating the year 2023 as International Years of Millet and sought their cooperation in promoting the health and other benefits of Millets. Both Ministers emphasised the potential of the partnership envisaged in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) being finalized between the two countries for overall development of Horticulture.

 

The Ministers assured each other of their commitments towards maintaining quality and safety of the agricultural commodities being traded between the two countries and resolved to continuing working on phytosanitary measures and systems. The Ministers also discussed the importance of developing a sustainable and climate resilient agricultural system. The New Zealand Minister invited India to join the Global Research Alliance which is an alliance of 67 countries for sharing researches on mitigation of climate change impacts on agriculture.

India on Wednesday allowed export of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore, and allocated export quotas for the kitchen staple.

 

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, in a notification, said that exports of 79,000 metric tons of non-basmati white rice would be allowed to Bhutan, 50,000 tons to Singapore and 14,000 tons to Mauritius.

 

'Export of non-Basmati white rice…to Bhutan, Mauritius and Singapore is notified,' the DGFT said in a notification.

 

Last month, India prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice but said that exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments.

 

The exports have been permitted through National Cooperative Exports Limited.

 

India exported $2.2 billion of non-Basmati white rice in FY23 of which $87 million worth of the staple was shipped to Nepal and $38 million to Singapore.