On March 31, 2021, the Union Cabinet approved Central Sector Scheme - Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore, to be implemented from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

 

The scheme consists of three components: incentivising manufacturing in four major food product segments (Ready to Cook/ Ready to Eat foods, Processed Fruits & Vegetables, Marine Products and Mozzarella Cheese), promoting Innovative/Organic products of SMEs, and supporting branding and marketing abroad for Indian brands. Additionally, the PLI Scheme for Millet-based Products (PLISMBP) was launched in the FY 2022-23 with an outlay of Rs 800 crore, utilising the savings under PLISFPI.

 

Under the scheme, 158 applications have been approved for availing incentives. As per the information received, the beneficiaries have invested Rs 7,427.22 crore under the scheme. So far, incentive of Rs 517.604 crore has been disbursed for the Financial Year 2021-22.

 

Government is fully aware of the potential issues that could arise from the PLISFPI scheme. To ensure its effectiveness and fairness, proactive measures were taken during the scheme formulation stage. Various stakeholders were actively engaged, and an extensive consultative process was followed, involving large-scale manufacturers, SMEs. As a result, the scheme guidelines ensure the scheme benefits all stakeholders, including farmers.

 

Category-II of the PLI scheme, with a specific focus on Innovative and Organic products, is exclusively for eligible MSMEs. A total of 16 applications have been selected under this particular category. Additionally, 22 applicants (out of 30 selected applicants) selected to participate under PLI Scheme for Millet-based products are MSMEs. Apart from the PLI Scheme, Government has introduced several other schemes to offer support across entire food value chain, which also helps SMEs in meeting international quality and safety standards for their food products.

 

The scheme guidelines specify that the entire manufacturing process, including primary processing, of the food products eligible for coverage under the scheme must occur in India, with the exception of additives, flavours, and edible oils. This approach aims to foster a strong value chain that benefits farmers and supports domestic production. These guidelines ensure farmer inclusivity, particularly for small-scale farmers, by guaranteeing remunerative prices for farm produce and higher income.

 

Government of India has launched Central Sector Scheme for formation and promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), in the year 2020 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 6,865 crore which will enable farmers to enhance their bargaining power, leverage economies of scale, reduction in cost of production and enhancing farmers’ incomes through aggregation of their agricultural produce, thus playing a major role towards sustainable incomes.

 

Under the said scheme, FPOs being provided financial assistance upto Rs 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of three years. In addition to this, provision has been made for matching equity grant upto Rs 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility upto Rs 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs. Further, Rs 25 lakhs are given to CBBOs for hand holding each FPO over a period of five years.

 

Considering the significance and strategic role of State Government and its machinery down the line in synergising the efforts in mobilising the farmers, offering various services relating to production and post-production and also periodically reviewing the development and functioning of FPOs, Government has made provisions in operational guidelines of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations, scheme wherein a State level consultative committee called SLCC is constituted with additional chief secretary, secretary, In-charge of agriculture, agriculture marketing as its chairperson.

 

In addition to above, under 10,000 FPOs scheme, at district level, a District Level Monitoring Committee (D-MC) is constituted under the chairmanship of district collector, CEO, Zilla Parishad with representatives of different line departments and experts which provides approval for potential produce clusters in the block and also responsible for overall coordination, monitoring and implementation of the scheme at the district level. Provisions have also been made in Government of India schemes for availing benefits by FPOs.

In 2023, the United Nations recognised the 'International Year of Millets', marking a significant milestone that positively impacted the global millet value chain. This declaration ignited a renewed focus on cultivating and consuming millets, generating a powerful momentum. Acknowledging the importance of this grain, the Indian government renamed millets 'Shree Anna,' symbolising its deep connection to Carnatic culture, and is actively implementing initiatives to promote millet cultivation and consumption throughout the country.

 

However, despite these promising advancements, many marginalised farmers who operate small independent farms, especially in the southern region of India have been unable to reap the benefits. Their lack of awareness, skills, market connections, and restricted access to modern agricultural technology have impeded their productivity and profitability.

 

Technology will play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and transforming the millet food system into a sustainable model that supports rural livelihoods. Enhancing accessibility, raising awareness about the advantages of millet farming, and establishing market linkages are all vital components of this transformation. Ensuring digital inclusion for local farmers and actively involving the younger generation, particularly students, as essential stakeholders are pivotal steps in this direction.

 

New agricultural methods

The existing differences in millet farming practices across regions provide interesting opportunities for technological intervention and knowledge sharing. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, crops are grown with closer spacing, whereas wider spacing is recommended in Kerala. By creating awareness about these new techniques, farmers can optimise their own agricultural methods to maximise productivity.

 

Integrating technology into farming processes can help automate labor-intensive tasks like processing, relieving farmers of some of their workload and allowing them to allocate time to other vital activities. In addition, technology intervention provides farmers and the local community with a broader market reach, establishing connections with potential buyers, guaranteeing fair prices, and promoting sustainable growth while alleviating the issue of the 'digital divide.'

 

Investing in technological advancements

In rural areas, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and various corporate initiatives are driving progress by providing essential training to farmers and enabling them to utilise technology effectively. Recognising the potential for significant advancements in the agricultural sector, there is a growing emphasis on investing in technology within agricultural colleges. These colleges benefit farmers directly but also serve as incubators for small-scale agri-businesses led by enthusiastic young volunteers and students. Their collaboration with partners involves conducting in-depth analyses of the local millet food system and developing prototypes that promote sustainable farming practices for millet cultivation.

 

Encouraging student involvement through technology

A remarkable shift is taking place as stakeholders embrace the renewed interest in millet cultivation, marking a commitment to a second agricultural revolution. Let’s consider the College of Applied Science IHRD, in Kerala. A significant number of students at this college hail from farming backgrounds and are often the first in their families to pursue higher education. Driven by their deep-rooted passion for agriculture and a desire to make a meaningful impact in their communities, these students are working with corporates like Lenovo on projects like Work for Humankind and helping promote millet cultivation using technology. Such an environment fosters innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset among students. This ensures that the knowledge gained from their endeavours is theoretical and practically applied, yielding enduring positive changes.

 

The revival of millets and the sustainable development of agriculture hinge upon embracing technology-driven initiatives as a powerful force for change. To achieve this, we must disseminate knowledge of innovative farming practices, invest in technology for farmers and agricultural colleges, and inspire and support students. However, it is essential for corporations and government policies to play their part in creating an enabling ecosystem that nurtures and encourages young students to pursue careers in agriculture. By fostering collaboration among local stakeholders, academia, and policymakers, we can pave the way for a prosperous future where the fusion of technology and agriculture drives the revival of millets, ensuring a resilient and thriving society for the betterment of humankind.

Indian farmers have planted 23.7 million hectares with summer-sown rice so far, according to the farm ministry's latest data, up 1.71% year-on-year, as crucial monsoon rains revived in July and helped farmers accelerate sowing.

 

Higher rice planting in India, the world's second biggest producer of the grain, will ease concerns about the lower output of the staple.

 

Earlier this month, India ordered a halt to its largest rice export category - a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain.

 

Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains are expected to begin drenching India. Sowing usually lasts until July and early August.

 

Summer rains are crucial as nearly half of India's farmland lacks irrigation.

 

India received 10% below normal rains in June, but in some states, the rainfall deficit was as much as 60% below average.

 

The India Meteorological Department defines average, or normal, rainfall as ranging between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 87 cm (35 inches) for the four-month season.

 

India's weather office has forecast an average amount of rain in July despite the likely emergence of the El Nino weather pattern.

 

July rainfall is crucial as it accounts for most of the precipitation for the four-month-long monsoon season.

 

This year, the delayed arrival of monsoon rains and lower rainfall in some southern, eastern and central states held back the planting of summer crops even as the monsoon covered the entire country nearly a week in advance.

 

Some regions in India, including breadbasket states such as Punjab and Haryana, have received torrential rains in July, triggering floods. Still, dry weather conditions prevail in some parts of the country.

 

Farmers planted 17.1 million hectares with oilseeds, including soybeans, 2.3% more than a year earlier. Corn was planted on 6.9 million hectares, almost unchanged from last year. The cotton area was marginally lower at 11.8 million hectares.

The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) have released BARI Chinabadam-12 (ICGV 07219), an improved groundnut variety in Bangladesh. The variety is available for cultivation for the upcoming season post rains.

 

It demonstrates greater resistance to foliar fungal diseases and matures four days earlier than its counterpart. Additionally, the variety features desirable seed size, with kernels weighing 44-48 grams per 100 kernels, showing a sizeable increase of 4-8 grams compared to the check variety.

 

'This improved variety is more resistant to diseases and has been designed to meet the needs of food processing industries,' an ICRISAT executive said.

 

The variety clocks an average on-farm yield of about 2.0 to 2.2 tonnes per hectare. It has been approved for commercial release after successful testing in the country.

 

'This new variety presents a valuable opportunity for expanding groundnut cultivation in areas typically submerged during the rainy season, such as the ‘Char regions’ (newly-formed landmasses in a river or estuary) or locations adjacent to rivers with sandy-loam soil,' Manjurul Khadir, Principal Scientific Officer at BARI’s Regional Agricultural Research Station, said.

 

'I look forward to further releases, and it is great that BARI is currently testing high oleic acid groundnut varieties to meet the industry’s demands,' Sean Mayes, Research Programme Director (Accelerated Crop Improvement) at ICRISAT, said.

In a collaborative effort, the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), National Crop Protection Organization (NPPO), Maharashtra State Board of Agricultural Marketing, Pomegranate Research Centre, Solapur, and INI Farms Pvt. Ltd. initiated the export of pomegranates to the United States on a pilot basis.

 

The inaugural shipment was flagged off by APEDA’s General Manager, Vinita Sudhanshu, at the Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. This strategic move is aimed at exploring the American market’s potential and creating new opportunities for pomegranate exporters.

 

Present during the launch were APEDA President Abhishek Dev, Director Tarun Bajaj, Executive Director of Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board Sanjay Kadam, Dr R. A. Marathe from the National Pomegranate Research Center Solapur, APEDA General Manager UK Vats, Plant Protection Advisor J. P. Singh, and Satish Waghmode, Head of Irradiation Facility Center, among other officials and exporters.

 

The United States imposed a ban on pomegranate imports from India in 2017-18 due to concerns over fruit fly infestation in pomegranate seeds. After extensive discussions between the Indian government, APEDA, and NPPO, in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture, the export ban was finally lifted in 2022, following the fulfillment of quality standards.

 

As part of the pilot export, 150 boxes (450 kg) of pomegranates were air-shipped to New York, USA, from the facility at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, adhering strictly to the prescribed pomegranate fruit standards set by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board’s vegetable processing center.

 

This experimental venture holds promising prospects for Pune’s pomegranate industry as it aims to tap into the vast American market, presenting new avenues for growth and trade opportunities. APEDA and its partners are optimistic about the success of this initial export, which could pave the way for increased pomegranate exports to the USA in the near future.

Meghalaya exporting over 1.3 tonnes of Pineapples to the Middle East.

 

To further promote and build the market for Meghalaya’s pineapples, the government is organising a Pineapple festival in Delhi. The festival will be held post the celebrations of Independence Day.

 

Following on the successful export of Khasi mandarin last year, the Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of Meghalaya and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) has recently facilitated market linkages of over 1.3 tonnes of Pineapples to the Middle East.

 

This is part of the continued efforts to reduce the gulf between the farmers of the state and lucrative international markets. The pineapples from Meghalaya are being sold across malls in Dubai, Kuwait and Sharjah, but more importantly the farmers are enjoying the fruit of their labour with up to two times increase in price realisation from these trades.

 

The efforts closer home has resulted in sustained market linkages with domestic processors and retailers. Last year, over 40 tonnes of pineapples were shipped to a Karnataka based processor to be further exported to European and North American markets. This year, the same processor has established a mobile processing unit at Umdihar IVCS, in Umdihar Village (Ri Bhoi) for taking in larger quantities and over 23 tonnes of Pineapples have been processed by the unit in the first week of its operation.

 

The processing units require pineapples weighing a kilogram and above and don’t accept fruits of smaller sizes. During harvest season, entire fields are harvested for sale, but only the large pineapples (Grade A) get sold to the processing units. This leaves the farmers with a large quantity of smaller sized pineapples (Grade B aka table variety). Since the ripening accelerates post-harvest, these table-variety pineapples are often sold at throw away prices.

 

To mitigate distress sale of these table-variety pineapples, the department is actively exploring market linkages with local retailers and have recently established linkages with Reliance Retail stores across Guwahati for sale of table-variety pineapples from Meghalaya. As a result of this intervention the farmers are now able to get over 2 times the price for the table-variety pineapples.

 

The Meghalaya pineapples are famous for their high-sugar content (brix value of 16-18) and low sourness. The pineapples in the State are mostly being cultivated without any use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in significantly lower heavy metal and pesticide residue in the fruit. These traits make them highly suitable for lucrative international and national markets.

 

However, for long the trade has been dominated by middlemen and traders who often ‘book bagaans’ (farm fields) months before harvest season by paying the farmers a lumpsum amount. The farmers, having poor access to market information and needing money before the festive season and onset of school semester, unwillingly ‘book’ their farms at a fraction of the cost of the fruits on their farm.

 

The government has been actively working towards building community-centric, grassroots level solutions. These efforts are slowly coming to fruition now. The government has been working towards mobilising the farmers to form farmer cooperatives and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) across the state and over 350 such collectives have been formed in the last 3 years.

 

The Department and MBMA have been hand-holding these collectives so that they are able to replace the middlemen and transition to better production and marketing. For instance, the recent consignment of over 1.3 tonnes of Pineapples shipped to Middle East was undertaken by the ‘Silchang Dimrimbri Palwa Adling IVCS’ of East Garo Hills District. This was the first time that the farmer collective had undertaken an international trade and this was only made possible by the active support of the Department and MBMA.

 

Dr. Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, stated, 'We are delighted to witness the remarkable success of our pineapple growers in Meghalaya, who have embraced prosperity through their hard work and dedication. The recent market linkages to the Middle East and domestic processors are a testament to the immense potential of our state's pineapples in the international and national markets. The surge in price realization and the establishment of market connections have not only elevated our farmers' livelihoods but have also showcased the superior quality of Meghalaya's pineapples with their exceptional sweetness and low sourness. Government of Meghalaya recognized the challenges faced by our farmers in the past, and it has been our earnest endeavor to empower them with community-centric solutions. The formation of farmer cooperatives and producer organizations has proven instrumental in reducing reliance on middlemen and traders, enabling our farmers to receive fair value for their produce. The forthcoming Pineapple festival in Delhi is yet another significant step towards promoting our exquisite 'fineapples' and strengthening their presence in the national market. We extend our gratitude to the Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, as well as the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, for their unwavering support in realizing these achievements. As we continue to foster sustainable growth in the agricultural sector, we envision a brighter and more prosperous future for our farmers and the state of Meghalaya as a whole. Together, we shall cultivate success and sweetness in every step of this journey.'

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said he is hopeful of India finalising certain free trade agreements (FTAs) in the next few months, which would help promote exports. India is in the final stages of concluding FTA negotiations with the UK. The country is also negotiating similar pacts with Canada and European Union (EU).

 

'We can leverage the free trade agreements with the UAE and Australia and we are hopeful that in the next few months, we will finalise many more free trade agreements to help you grow your business with zero duty on finished leather products and footwear available for you to exploit bigger and better markets,' Goyal said while addressing footwear industry representatives here.

 

The minister also asked the industry to focus on quality and sustainable manufacturing processes to tap business opportunities in the developed world.

 

The Indian footwear and leather industry is not only a major foreign exchange earner but being a labour-intensive sector, it also provides employment to approximately 4.5 million people, 40 per cent of whom are women.

 

He said that India has the capacity to become the world's largest and best-quality footwear manufacturer.

 

India is the second largest exporter of leather garments, third-largest exporter of saddlery and harnesses and fourth-largest exporter of leather goods in the world.

 

More than 95 per cent of the production units in this sector are micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) units.

 

Further Goyal said that Indian size of footwear will be launched soon to help distinguish Indian footwear around the globe and reduce dependence on foreign sizing trends.

 

He suggested industrialists explore FTAs for technological collaborations, joint ventures of non-leather footwear, thus increasing the export of the country and enhancing the domestic market with Indian products.

 

Goyal highlighted the beauty of Kolhapuri footwear of Maharashtra and Mojari footwear of Rajasthan, stating that it should be an area of attraction for international buyers as well.

 

Talking about quality, he said the government has issued quality control norms for the sector and the government is ready to set up testing facilities for certifications.

 

Goyal urged the stakeholders to expand the business while keeping the focus on quality and sustainability, eco-friendly process, waste management, and exploring renewable sources for electricity.

 

Not only do we need to enhance our design capabilities to move up the value chain, but also bring in more investments and technology to scale up the production and produce innovative products, he added.

India has sought a review of its free trade agreements with the Asean, Japan and Korea to make them fair and equitable, a top government official said.

 

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India’s free trade pact with the Asean was the 'most ill-conceived'. 'The Asean agreement...(is the) most ill-conceived agreement. If anyone would have read that, it is so unfair to Indian industry,' Goyal said at an event organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

 

Noting that India had opened its markets for Japan and Korea, Goyal pointed out that its exports to Japan had not grown 'at all' but imports from that country had jumped 200%.

 

'What it (India’s exports to Japan) was 10 years ago, it is the same today with Japan… we are asking them to renegotiate with us the FTA to make it more balanced, fair and equitable,' he said. 'It’s a difficult task for us in government also…we fight for the textile sector, our farmers, our auto sector, fisheries, electronics,' Goyal said. Emphasising the importance of stakeholder consultations, Goyal said that with the UAE, India imposed tariff quotas on some products after industry raised concerns on some products though the two sides had initially agreed, which was an 'embarrassing situation' but it was beneficial for the domestic industry.

 

The volume of mango imports from India has risen threefold to date this year, according to latest figures from the Ministry of Primary Industries.

 

New Zealand imported just under 30000 kilogrammes of mango from India in 2022, but this year's figure has already exceeded 100000 kilogrammes, with further imports possible through the end of the month.

 

Mango season in India usually starts in April and ends around the middle of July after monsoon rains begin.

 

The Ministry of Primary Industries said the increase in volume could be traced to the resumption of services at a facility treating mangoes headed for New Zealand.

 

The Maharashtra Agricultural Marketing Board vapour heat treatment facility in Mumbai is one of two entities that have been licensed to treat mangoes for export to New Zealand. The other is Andhra Pradesh Agro Food facility in Tirupati near Chennai.

 

The ministry said exports from the facility in Mumbai to New Zealand were suspended in July 2020 following the interception of live fruit flies at the border. The suspension was lifted in May this year following a virtual audit in February and then a subsequent in-country audit in April.

 

'Mangoes imported into New Zealand must meet the requirements in the Import Health Standard and as specified in the bilateral agreement between the two countries,' a spokesperson from the ministry said. 'These are then inspected on arrival here to check for compliance requirements.'

 

Over the past three months, the facility in Mumbai has treated 87407 kilogrammes of mangoes, which represents about 80 percent of total imports from India to New Zealand.

 

Despite the overall improvement in trade figures, mango exports from India to New Zealand are still far below those from Latin America.

 

Peru leads the pack, making up 65.7 percent of overall mango imports to New Zealand to date this year. Mexico comes second with 15.3 percent, followed by Australia at just under 10 percent. India makes up 6.9 percent of total imports.

 

The South and Central American nations appear to have overtaken Australia as the country's largest sources of mango, with Australia taking the top spot from 2019 to 2022.