Apex exporters body FIEO has urged the government to support domestic exporters in undertaking overseas marketing initiatives with a view to boost outbound shipments. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said that Indian exporters lack in marketing and small exporters 'hardly' have resources to market aggressively overseas.

 

'Government support and encouragement for aggressive marketing will push exports and will yield the desired results. We need to set up state-of-the-art exposition centers in important business centers abroad. Many countries have done it successfully,' he said.

 

Sakthivel also said that the country's exports are growing at a healthy pace and USD 2 trillion target by 2030 would be achieved before time.

 

The country's goods and services exports have reached an all-time high of USD 773 billion in 2022-23.

 

'The export sector added USD 218 billion in the last two financial years,' he added.

 

Sakthivel was addressing an award function of FIEO here on Wednesday.

 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal gave Niryat Shree and Niryat Bandhu awards to the outstanding exporters and service providers based on their export performance.

 

FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said the share of exports in the country's GDP is around 22 per cent.

 

'In 2021-22, out of overall incremental GDP in the financial year, over 50 per cent was contributed by exports alone. In 2022-23, despite global headwinds, exports accounted for over 40 per cent of the incremental GDP,' Sahai said.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI), in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), conducted its latest Food Safety Supervisor Training in Advance Catering (FoSTaC) programme on April 27 at The Dukes Retreat, Chalet Group Hotel, in Khandala.

 

The inaugural for the training was done by Stephen Dsouza - the cluster general manager, Rakeshwar Guleria - the general manager, Rushikesh Sanap - HR manager, and Ashutosh Balodhi – executive chef of The Dukes Retreat. Attended by 38 participants, the training conducted by Divya Bhaskaran was a resounding success. Through the initiative, FSSAI and HRAWI aim to promote safe and healthy food practices in the hospitality industry.

 

FoSTaC is a crucial initiative aimed at improving the quality and safety of food practices in the F&B industry. The programme equips hospitality professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and mitigate potential food safety risks, ensuring that customers are served safe and healthy food.

 

'The importance of this training programme cannot be overstated. As consumers become more health-conscious and aware of food safety issues, it is crucial for the hospitality industry to stay ahead of the curve and provide safe and healthy food options. By investing in the training and certification of employees, hospitality establishments not only improve their reputation but also provide a better customer experience, leading to increased customer loyalty and business growth. This collaboration between FSSAI and HRAWI is a valuable initiative that highlights the commitment of both organisations towards promoting safe and healthy food practices in the hospitality industry. We are thrilled with the success of this initiative and are proud to have trained and certified over 2,500 hospitality professionals across the Western region. We look forward to continuing our efforts in this direction,' says Pradeep Shetty, president, HRAWI.

 

The training programme covers a range of topics including food handling and preparation, hygiene and sanitation and waste management. By learning about these key areas, hospitality professionals are trained to develop a deep understanding of food safety practices and implement them in their daily operations. HRAWI has successfully trained and certified 2,575 hospitality professionals across India’s western region in FoSTaC and FSSAI's Management Training Program.

India warned developed nations that there was no escape from either a permanent solution on food security or text-based negotiations on public stock holding and MSP ceilings at the WTO, as some members, such as the US, the UK, the EU and Japan, attempted to junk the Bali interim decision that gave developing nations immunity against penal action for breach of food subsidy caps.

 

New Delhi’s intervention was at a meeting of the WTO Committee on Agriculture in Geneva this week where discussions began on the possible outcomes on food and agriculture at the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

 

'India emphasised on three nos– no escape from a permanent solution (on food security), no escape from text-based negotiations, and no excuse for (a tight) timeline. It criticised non-proponents (of its proposal on food security) for their lack of will to show flexibility,' a Geneva-based official privy to the CoA meeting told businessline.

 

It is crucial for India, and many other developing countries who support their poor farmers through MSP or other similar programmes, to get a permanent solution on public stockholding as under the WTO rules a country can be penalised by another if the subsidy for procurement of any crop exceeds 10 per cent of the production value. 

 

The Bali interim agreement, reached in 2013, provides a peace clause that insulates developing countries against action if their subsidy breaches the given limit but it is subject to onerous conditions including submission of copious data and subjective clauses such as the subsidies  not harming the food security of another country.

 

A large number of developing countries, which includes the African Group, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group, and G33 Group, which has India as a member, sought immediate commencement of text-based negotiations on public stockholding, with their joint submission serving as the basis for discussion, to help address severe food security issues.

 

Indirectly referring to India invoking the Bali peace clause to allow its MSP bill for rice to breach the ceiling limit, the US said that the Bali interim decision had enabled one member to take advantage of unlimited levels of trade-distorting domestic support. The US alleged that ``this member’’ had been able to significantly increase its exports of that one commodity to now account for more than 40 per cent of global exports in that commodity. 

 

'Such allegations are baseless as India’s MSP programme has nothing to do with its rice exports. The variety India exports is premium and is not procured by the government,' a source tracking the matter said.

 

Japan, the UK and the EU stressed that it was important to maintain transparency in public stock holding programmes and insisted that the Bali interim decision could not serve as a model for formulating a permanent solution on the matter.

 

India called for a permanent solution based on proposal submitted by developing nations and dismissed arguments for alternative food security solutions beyond public stock holding and special safeguard measures.

India's exports of goods and services could touch $900 billion in the current financial year, up from $770 billion in the previous year, keeping resilient despite global headwinds, a top official of a grouping of exporters said.

 

Merchandise exports could expand to between $495 billion and $500 billion, while services exports could touch $400 billion in the year ending March 2024, said Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

 

Overseas demand remains strong in many markets, he added.

 

Trade Minister Piyush Goyal urged exporters to explore new markets, however, in view of the possible impact of war in Ukraine and a global slowdown.

 

'The times ahead are going to be very, very tough,' Goyal said speaking at a industry event late on Wednesday, while warning of the fallout from the conflict.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has set an export target of $2 trillion by 2030, offering benefits to boost exports of electronics, engineering, pharmaceutical, and other goods.

 

India's exports have increased by more than $200 billion in the last two years, led by a surge in exports of software, mobile exports, and agricultural and petroleum products.

 

Exports of engineering, gems, and jewellery goods have slowed in the last few months, however.

 

Exports of agricultural, petroleum, and electronic goods remained strong in the Western markets due to pricing factors while exports to Asian and Middle east countries have grown substantially, exporters said.

 

Sahai, who was part of a 50-member business delegation to Russia last week, said there was a huge demand for Indian goods, particularly food, after the Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war.

 

'Indian exporters are hopeful that both countries would soon work out a mechanism allowing payments in local currencies that would facilitate the shipments of Indian goods to Russia,' Sahai said.

 

But Indian officials have said Russia was reluctant to accept payments in the rupee currency for its oil exports.

 

India has not explicitly condemned Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has called for dialogue to resolve hostilities.

The directorate of industries has proposed to set up district level laboratories for certification of agriculture produce to promote exports from those districts.

 

A senior official from the directorate of industries said that the laboratories would certify agriculture produce with respect to standards required from the countries where the exports are intended.

 

'The laboratories are proposed to help farmers get certification of mostly major agriculture produce of the districts based on the parameters of presence of chemicals specified by destination countries. There is no common test for the produce as each country has a different set of parameters set by their governments,' said the officer.

 

The exercise is part of the measures taken to boost the locals towards exporting their produce. The department has decided to increase the exports to at least twice the current volume. Currently, farmers have to look for laboratories to get certified, which is a tedious process involving money and time. 'The laboratories to be set up on public private participation mode will certify the products and thus simplify the testing procedure. This will effect in faster turnaround time,' the officer said.

Trading in Indian rupees rather than the dollar or euro as has been traditionally done for decades is likely to encourage trade and promote economic growth and development between India and South Africa, a prominent business leader has said. Praveer Tripathi, the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry-India Business Forum (CII-IBF) in South Africa, made the remarks in his keynote address at the KwaZulu Natal International Business Association (KIBA) Gala Dinner hosted in Durban on Saturday.

 

'International trade settlement in Indian rupees, if implemented, will enable a trader in South Africa to import goods by paying in Indian rupees. Settling of trade in Indian rupees will not only eliminate the need for a third currency, such as the US dollar or Euro – it will result in lower transaction cost and reduce currency exchange risks,' Tripathi said. He said it will also create new avenues for investment and trade between the two countries and it will promote the use of local currencies which will benefit both countries’ economies.

 

Tripathi said settling trade in Indian rupees would also create new opportunities for businesses in South Africa and India to enter each other’s markets. This would encourage more bilateral trade and investment and promote economic growth and development in both countries.'Settling trade in Indian rupees would strengthen the ties between India and South Africa and promote long-term trade relationships. By promoting trade settlement in their respective currencies, both countries can demonstrate their commitment to fostering economic cooperation and partnerships,' Tripathi said.

 

'The IBF in South Africa recognises the potential of direct trade in rupees between our two countries and is committed to exploring this avenue,' Tripathi said as he called on KIBA to work with his organisation to promote direct trade between their two countries, especially for the benefits that it could bring to the small and medium business sectors. 'There are 18 countries, including some African countries, that have already agreed to transact in Indian rupees, so with your help, we want to get this started in South Africa – the sooner the better,' Tripathi concluded.

 

At the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (M0U) was also signed between KIBA and the Delhi-based Progress, Harmony and Development Chamber of Commerce and Industry. KIBA President Omie Singh described the signing of the M0U as historic since the 118-year-old organisation has not had a footprint in South Africa until now. 'This MoU will open the door to 160 other organisations throughout the world, be it in Germany, London, China, Russia, or Brazil. KIBA will have access to do business with all those organisations throughout the world,' Singh said, adding that this would benefit not only the province but South Africa as a whole.

India being a land of agriculture contributed to a major proportion of the country’s economy. While in the past decades, urbanisation and globalisation have reduced the agricultural output with chemical fertilisers, the country is again leading towards organic farming.

 

In the world’s organic agricultural land tally, India ranks fifth and has topped in terms of the total number of organic producers. The Centre is continuously putting relentless efforts in establishing organic farming as a major practice among farmers by providing subsidies and schemes. It is pushing initiatives such as the National Programme for Organic Production involving the accreditation of certification bodies, formulating standards for organic production, promotion and marketing of organic farming under Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

 

Burden of fertiliser subsidy

Such accreditation fosters international recognition of organic products produced in India. Moreover, there is an extensive burden on the governments to provide subsidies to farmers on the purchase of chemical fertilisers which has increased manifolds in the last decade. In order to tackle this challenge, organic farming is the only way out.

 

It can emerge as an effective substitute for chemical fertilisers, for which heavy prices are paid by importing them and causing detrimental effects on the climate as well as the health of the country’s citizens. Added to this, private players are also significantly contributing to advocating organic farming. All these efforts are being propelled to position organic farming as a solution and way towards sustainable agriculture.

 

Organic farming is the most sustainable method of farming which can fetter the use of chemically infused fertilizers and pesticides and foster the usage of naturally grown food products. In simple terms, it can replace synthetic fertilizers.

 

Mitigating climate change

Organic farming is beneficial for the environment as its practices include a focus on maintaining soil health, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity. Undoubtedly, the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers is already having negative impacts on the ecosystem resulting in rapid climate changes but it can be reversed by boosting organic farming. The adverse effects of chemical fertilizers include soil degradation, water pollution, and harm to wildlife. Therefore, by using natural methods such as crop rotation, composting, and biological pest control, organic farming ensures that the soil remains fertile and healthy, while also reducing the impact on the environment.

 

Reduces carbon footprint and greenhouse gases emission

Organic farming is key to reducing emissions from greenhouse gases and lowering the carbon footprint because it does not allow any chemical consumption. Many studies have shown that compared to conventional farming, organic farming practices consume approximately 45 per cent less energy and fumigant pesticides, likely used on strawberry fields that can emit very harmful nitrous oxide resulting in poor climate conditions. However, this can be averted by implementing organic farming methods and steeply decreasing the use of chemical fertilizers.

 

Supports Sustainable Development Goals

 

Organic farming has immense potential to support and boost sustainable development goals identified by United Nations and participating countries across the globe. These sustainable development goals have significantly emphasized the dire need for climate action and good health and well-being. To achieve the target of completing SDGs by 2030, organic farming can play a pivotal role in numerous ways but most importantly it can pave the path for the elimination of the vast usage of chemical fertilizers, providing naturally grown food to consumers, extending support to sustainable development goals.

 

Farmer-friendly

. Firstly, it minimizes the cost of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers because only organically produced manure or bio-fertilizers are cast into the soil. Organic farming prevents the overuse of these chemicals resulting in soil degradation and reduced crop yields, ultimately becoming financially devastating for farmers. Organic farming practices are more cost-effective in the long run, as they rely on natural methods that are less expensive and help maintain soil fertility. Furthermore, organic farming provides farmers with a stable income, as the demand for organic produce continues to grow.

 

Adding extra years to human life

Various research has shown that the chemicals used in conventional farming have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, birth defects, and respiratory illnesses resulting in reduced healthy years of human life. That’s where organic farming steps in to add an extra year to human life. Because organic farming practices do not involve the use of synthetic chemicals, making the food produced through this method is much safer for consumption. Besides, organic produce is also richer in nutrients and antioxidants than conventionally grown produce.

 

Organic farming has emerged as a game changer for agriculture in India and has disrupted the continuous intrusion of chemical fertilisers effectively. Certainly, this has immense potential to transform the agricultural industry as it is well-suited to India’s climate and soil conditions, further helping farmers in improving their yields while simultaneously protecting the ecosystem. Benefiting the environment, health, and farmers and promoting healthy soil, plants, and animals, organic farming can pave the path for sustainable agriculture.

Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2023-24 yesterday at NASC Complex, New Delhi. Addressing Conference, he emphasized that agriculture remains the prime pulse of the Indian economy and is at the core of the socio-economic development of the country. It accounts for around 19 percent of the GDP and about two-thirds of the population is dependent on the sector. 

 

Mr. Tomar expressed happiness that India’s agriculture sector has been witnessing robust growth with an average annual growth rate of 4.6 percent over the last six years. This has enabled the agriculture and allied activities sector to contribute significantly towards the country’s overall growth, development, and food security.

 

Crop-wise target for Kharif 2023

The objective of this conference was to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop seasons and fix crop-wise targets for the Kharif season in consultation with State Governments, ensure the supply of critical inputs, and facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies to enhance production and productivity of the crops. 

 

The national target for total food grains production is set at 3320 lakh tonnes for the year 2023-24.  The target for production of pulses has been fixed at 292.5 lakh tonnes compared to 278.1 lakh tonnes this year and oilseeds production will be increased from 400 to 440 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. Total Shree Anna production has to be increased from 159.1 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 170.0 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. The strategy would be to increase area through inter-cropping and crop diversification and productivity enhancement through the introduction of HYVs and the adoption of suitable agronomic practices in low-yielding regions. 

 

The priority of the government is agro-ecological based crop planning for the diversion of land from excess commodities like rice and wheat to deficit commodities like oilseeds and pulses and high-value export-earning crops. The special Mustard program was initiated during Rabi 2020-21 that has brought the most spectacular results. Mustard production has jumped by 40% from 91.24 to 128.18 lakh tonnes in the last 3 years. The productivity saw an 11% increase from 1331 to 1447 kg/ha. The area under rapeseed & mustard enhanced by 29% from 68.56 lakh ha in 2019-20 to 88.58 lakh ha in 2022-23.

 

Foodgrain Production Estimates

As per 2nd Advance Estimates (2022-23), the production of foodgrains in the country is estimated at 3235 lakh tonnes which is higher by 79 lakh tonnes than the production of foodgrains during 2021-22. Record production is estimated of rice, maize, gram, pulses, rapeseed and mustard, oilseeds, and sugarcane.

 

The total production of sugarcane in the country during 2022-23 is estimated at record 4688 lakh tonnes which is higher by 1553 lakh tonnes than the average sugarcane production. As per the 3rd Advance Estimates of Horticulture, a record 3423.3 lakh tonnes of horticultural production are estimated in 2021-22 which is 77.30 lakh tonnes higher than production of 2020-21.

 

Mr. Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, said that the country is maintaining an increasing trend in food grain production since 2015-16. The government has taken measures to augment crop and livestock productivity, ensure certainty of returns to the farmers through price support (Minimum Support Price), promote crop diversification, and made focused interventions to enhance credit availability, facilitate mechanization, and boost horticulture and organic farming. As a result, agriculture exports touched a historic high growth in 2021-22. As compared to the previous year 2020-21, the agri and allied export has increased from 41.86 billion USD in 2020-21 to 50.24 billion USD in 2021-22 i.e. an increase of 19.99%.

 

For the modernization of agriculture and to facilitate farmers, the government launched the SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication, and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App, a Centralized Online System for seed traceability, authentication, and inventory designed to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification.

 

Mr. Arun Baroka Secretary (Fertilizers) assured a timely supply of fertilizers for the forthcoming Kharif season. The government also announced to convert more than 3.25 lakh fertilizer shops across the country as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras. These will be centers where farmers can buy not only fertilizers and seeds but also implement soil testing and avail useful information about farming techniques. Further, he provided the information about Integrated fertilizer management system (IFMS) for detailed information about fertilizer and related issues. In his deliberation he has given the information on the PM PRANAM and PM Kisan Samridhi Kendra he advised farmers should use organic inputs.

 

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, ICAR shared recent technological advances made in agriculture for the benefit of the states and prepared a plan of development accordingly. He stressed on using bio-fortified and climate-resilient varieties to fulfill the dream of food and nutritional security for all. Further in his deliberation, he has highlighted the improvement of varieties that are climate resilient, and newly released and biofortified varieties should be used.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he wants to see a greater presence of American aircraft and aerospace major Boeing in India as it has recently received a large order of planes from the Tata group-owned Air India.

 

At the 31st annual general meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM), he also said the India-US bilateral trade is increasing at a healthy rate and both sides are looking to expand the trade four-fold to 'touch $500 billion target by 2030'.

 

In February, Air India announced its plan to buy 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing, in one of the largest aircraft orders by an airline, valued at $80 billion.

 

'Boeing has received a very large order from the Tatas and I am given to understand that similar sized orders are in the pipeline... I want to see greater presence of Boeing in India, we would love to see you expand your local supply chains... and have more MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) activity here, which will serve the entire region,' Goyal said.

 

On Ajay Banga's appointment as the World Bank president, Goyal said: 'I am sure he will be able to bring the developing world perspective and a much more sensitive approach to the way World Bank operates and works'.

 

Banga is the first-ever Indian-American to head the global financial institution.

 

Goyal said there are huge opportunities to enhance cooperation in sectors such as defence, pharma, textiles, engineering, auto components, agri products, electricals, and that Alphonso mangoes are going to the US 'in a big way'.

 

He encouraged American companies to establish their base in India.

Exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 9% to $26.3 billion in 2022-23 as compared to FY22, driven by a spike in shipment of rice, fruits and vegetables, livestock and dairy products.

 

The shipment of products under the agricultural and processed food products exports development authority (Apeda) basket surpassed the target of $23.56 billion for FY23.

 

According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the value of rice exports in FY23 rose by more than 15% year-on-year to a record $11.1 billion from $9.6 billion in the previous fiscal. In terms of volume, rice shipment grew by 5% to 22.34 million tonne (MT) last fiscal year-on-year.

 

The increased realisation in rice exports has been achieved despite India last year banning broken rice shipment and imposition of exports tax of 20% on white rice.

 

Officials attribute the spike in rice exports to factors such as robust global demand especially from West Asian countries, Africa and Europe and floods in Pakistan, a major grain exporter which had hugely impacted a large chunk of paddy crop.

 

India has been the world’s largest exporter of rice in the last decade and currently has 45% share in global grain trade.

 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its April 2023 crop outlook, stated 'India’s prices are the most competitive among global suppliers and its total supply of rice is near-record high'.

 

'Robust global demand and competitive pricing have ensured a surge in rice exports in the current fiscal and adherence to quality parameters has resulted in sharp increase in demand for Indian rice with the grain being shipped to more than 75 countries,' an official told FE.

 

Fresh and processed fruits and vegetables reported export growth of 18.8% to $3.8 billion in the last fiscal year. The shipment of cereals, preparations and processed food products rose by 20% $4.3 billion in FY23.

 

Export of meat, dairy and poultry products declined marginally compared to last year at $4 billion last fiscal compared to previous year.

 

However exports realisation, in terms of rupees, rose by 4% to Rs 32,334 crore last fiscal.

 

Exports of products under Apeda basket was $ 25.6 billion in 2021-22, which was around 51% of the country’s total agricultural goods exports of more than $50 billion. Rest of agricultural products exports include marine, tobacco, coffee and tea.

 

Commerce ministry officials attribute the rise in the export of agricultural and processed food products because of the government’s initiatives such as organising B2B exhibitions in various countries, tie ups with global hypermarket chains, exploring new markets through product-specific marketing campaigns by the active involvement of Indian missions.