Exporters must utilise the opportunity of IYoM  & increase the exports of millers, as Telagana is major millet producing state, said the Chairman, of APEDA Dr. M. Angamuthu.

 

He was speaking at an interactive meeting with exporters of Telangana state in the premises of its Regional Office in Hyderabad. 

 

The chief further added that exporters can also promote unique products of the state like Neera, Palm fruits and its products like Jaggery, Honey and GI products like Banganapalli mango and natural and tribal products. He assured all support from APEDA.

 

Exporters from cereals, millets, processed food sectors and fruits sectors took part in the meeting and interacted with the Chairman of APEDA. 

 

Senior officials of APEDA & other stakeholders like  Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Export Inspection Agency, Plant quarantine were present in the meeting.

 

Exporters discussed the  present status, export opportunities from the Telangana state, issues in exports and future export strategies to boost the exports from the state.  

Turmeric yesterday settled up by 0.46% at 7014 on short covering as export demand is good amidst lukewarm domestic demand. Turmeric harvesting has started in the key growing regions and farmers and stockists are releasing their stocks, in the fear of further decline in prices. In the AP (Nizamabad) Turmeric market around 5,000-7,000 bags are arriving on an average daily basis. In the Erode spot market 400-600 bags are reported daily, In the Sangli district it is around 3500-7000 bags. Coupled with weak demand in the export and domestic markets prices are trading at lower levels (in the current season). 

 

Turmeric exports during Apr-Jan 2023, rose by 7.76 percent at 1,36,492.59 tonnes as compared to 1,26,659.01 tonnes exported during Apr-Jan 2022. In January 2023 around 12,484.25 tonnes of turmeric was exported as against 12,039.57 tonnes in December 2022 showing a rise of 3.69%. In January 2023 around 12,484.25 tonnes of turmeric was exported as against 10,558.26 tonnes in January 2022 showing a rise of 18.24%. Production of spices in India is likely to have declined 1.5% on year to 10.9 mln tn in 2021-22 (Jul-Jun), according to data from Spices Board India. The country had produced 11.0 mln tn of spices in the previous year. The Spices Board has pegged turmeric production at 1.33 mln tn, up 18.4% on the year. In Nizamabad, a major spot market in AP, the price ended at 6956.25 Rupees gained 55.2 Rupees.

 

Technically market is under fresh buying as the market has witnessed a gain in open interest by 15.15% to settle at 7980 while prices are up 32 rupees, now Turmeric is getting support at 6974 and below same could see a test of 6934 levels, and resistance is now likely to be seen at 7052, a move above could see prices testing 7090. 

The Telangana government will host a Food Conclave-2023 on April 28 and 29. The annual brainstorming event is expected to host 100 thought leaders from the agri-food industry.

 

'They will have intense deliberations to identify the key challenges and opportunities for the growth of the Indian agri-food sector in this decade,' a senior government official said.

 

The event will have five thematic tracks covering agriculture (green), edible oil (yellow), dairy (white), meat and poultry (pink), and aquaculture (blue).

 

'We are collaborating with the World Economic Forum-India, Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA), Indian Dairy Association, Heifer International, and Society of Aquaculture Professionals to conduct these sessions. 'The conclave will have 27-panel discussions, five roundtables, and more than 40 one-on-one meetings between government and industry leaders,' a senior leader from the organising committee said.

 

'The current global situation presents a unique set of challenges and potential opportunities. It, however, will take a coordinated and calculated effort to capitalise on these opportunities for the State and country,' he said.

 

He asked key stakeholders to get together and chart out a clear path to cash in on the opportunity. 'Through this event, we intend to create such a platform,' he said.

India's goods exports touched $447 billion till the last count for 2022-23 fiscal year against $422 billion in 2021-22, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

 

The final export and import data for 2022-23 would be released by mid April. At present, the ministry is in the process of collating the data. The trade data for goods comes with a lag of about 15 days and in the case of services data, it is 45 days.

 

Goyal said services exports are estimated to cross $320 billion in 2022-23.

 

Growth in merchandise goods would be around 6% for the last fiscal, he said, adding that it has grown from '$422 billion to $447 billion at last count (as the) final numbers are still awaited'.

 

He said the country's exports are growing despite global challenges such as rise in raw material prices, restrictions in exports of certain products like wheat and Russia-Ukraine war.

 

'The final numbers (exports of goods and services will be closer to $765 billion... I would not be surprised if we actually go up to $772 billion which we figured while drawing the road map for $2 trillion of exports by 2030,' the minister said.

 

If the data reaches $772 billion, Goyal said, 'then, I will probably reset the $2 trillion target also'.

 

Speaking at an event, he also said that the express delivery services sector had huge potential for growth in India.

 

'To bridge the cost in logistics, we need to look at scale, efficiency and the building blocks through technology,' he added.

 

Going by the strong foundation which the government is building in terms of high expenditure for developing modern infrastructure, internationalisation of trade , free trade agreements and growth in exports of goods and services, the economy may reach $35-40 trillion by 2047, he added.

Describing the coming together of Centre, states, industry, and Civil Society organization in the welfare of agriculture sector a healthy thing, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICAR said that in the next 25 years, by the time India’s Amritkal is complete, India will write a better and spectacular story wherein agriculture sector will play an important role.

 

He was speaking at a seminar in New Delhi on 'Unlocking the Potential of India’s Agriculture: Key to Unleash A Thriving Economy' organized by the Foundation for the Growth of New India or FGNI.

 

Dr. Pathak who himself was a farmer in his early growing up years said that he feels the pain of India’s farmers, particularly the small and marginal farmers. If India is to be a developed nation by 2047, it cannot happen without agriculture and the contribution of small and marginal farmers, he stated.

 

Pathak was joined by Dr. R. B. Singh, a well-known figure in India’s agriculture policy field, ‘Padma Bhushan’ awardee, Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal and President & Founding Member of FGNI and Shri R. G. Agarwal, Advisor, FGNI.

 

Calling for making 'New India' a truly New India which is equitable, prosperous and happy too, Dr. R. B. Singh said, 'World is looking towards India for direction, G20 presidency being one of such instances, however rather than being complacent, we should empower our farmers and rural populace, who constitute about 50% of population with technology to increase their income from being one fourth in comparison to non-farmers to being equal to any other group.

 

R. G. Agarwal candidly spoke at length on a number of issues faced by Indian farmers, including use of injurious pesticides imported from China which is damaging the soil and crops, lack of technology in hands of farmers, different treatment to fertilizer and pesticides by the government etc.

 

Binod Anand, who spoke on the plight of small and marginal farmers, proposed to organize four deliberations on the issues faced by farmers. The same was agreed upon by all scientists and eminent personalities. DG ICAR Dr. Himanshu Pathak also accepted to be a patron of the foundation.

 

FGNI will compile the suggestions and inputs presented by the participating scientists, industrialists and other eminent speakers and will bring out a Policy Paper to be presented to government, said Anand.

 

Several scientists and eminent persons were present on the occasion including B. V. Rao, Group Consulting Editor (Digital), India Today Group.

Bihar's famous 'Marcha Rice' which is known for its aroma and palatability was awarded the Geographical Indication tag, according to the GI registry. Marcha is a short indigenous cultivar of rice found in West Champaran district of Bihar. By its size and shape, its grain appears like black pepper so it is known as 'Mircha' (pepper in Hindi) or 'Marcha Rice'.

 

The Journal of GI Registry said it has accepted the application seeking the GI tag for the rice.

 

A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

 

'It (the rice) is also known as Mircha, Marchaiya, Marichaetc locally. Plants, grains and flakes have a unique aroma that makes it different,' said the journal.

 

Expressing happiness over the development, Bihar agriculture minister told PTI: 'This will further boost the production of Marcha Rice. It will also help farmers, engaged in the cultivation of Marcha rice, get a decent price for their produce'.

 

The major growing areas of Marcha rice include Mainatand, Gaunaha, Narkatiyaganj, Ramnagar and Chanpatiya blocks of West Champaran district.

Kerala has topped the list of States in the country with the most number of products securing the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in FY23, data shared by the GI Registry said on Wednesday.

 

Attappady Aattukombu Avara (beans), Attappady Thuvara (red gram), Onattukara Ellu (sesame), Kanthaloor Vattavada Veluthuli (garlic), and Kodungallur Pottuvellari (snap melon) were picked for the GI recognition tag as per the data released by the registry.

 

Besides the 6 products from Kerala, Mithila Makhana (aquatic fox nut) from Bihar was selected for GI recognition followed by Alibag white onion from Maharashtra.

 

Tandur Redgram from Telangana, the local variety of pea, Ladakh Raktsey Karpo Apricot from Ladakh, and Gamosa handicrafts from Assam were also chosen for the honours.

 

The Geogrphical Indication relates to particular location and product manufactured from that region.

 

Accordingly, between April 2022 and March 2023, 12 products were selected for the recognition with two of them from overseas.

 

Brandy De Jerez from Spain, which is locally manufactured was selected, while Provolone Valpadana from Italy also received GI recognition.

 

In FY22, as many as 50 products from domestic and overseas markets were selected for the recognition, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list with seven GI tags, followed by Uttarakhand at six.

 

Handcraft products like Chunar Glaze Pottery, Banaras Zardozi, Mirzapur Pital Bartan, Banaras Wood Carving, Banaras Hand Block Print, Rataul Mango, and Mau saree were selected for the GI recognition from Uttar Pradesh.

 

Other handcraft products from Uttarakhand the Aipan, Munsyari Razma, Uttarakhand handcraft Ringal Craft, Tamta from Uttarakhand, Thulma (Handicraft), and Kumaon Chyura Oil were selected with the GI tag recognition.

 

The famous Kanniyakumari Clove, wood carving from Kallakurichi, Karuppur Kalamkari paintings, and Narsinghapettai Nagaswaram (a wind instrument) also were chosen for recognition from Tamil Nadu between 2021-22, the data said.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said that logistics has become the centerpiece of India’s policy making in its journey towards becoming a developed nation and a leader in international trade. He also said that express delivery of services has transformed through innovative ideas under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

 

During his address at the ICRIER Release of the Report on Express Delivery Services in New Delhi, the Minister praised the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for a report which aims to improve the overall logistics system by partnering with industry and government. He said that ICRIER acts as a bridge between government and industry. He added that it must work with industry experts on the roadmap for fruitful realization and implementation of the recommendations of the report.

 

The Minister noted that the growth in overall exports over the last two years despite challenges like inventory pileup, high raw material costs, freight issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact is commendable. He said that the government is making a conscious effort to change the mindset of looking at things from the old perspective and living in hesitations of history. It is the result of these efforts that the overall exports from India in 2022-23 are expected to be about US$ 765 billion, he said.

 

The Minister said that the government is focused on taking digital connectivity across the length and breadth of the country, with 4G and broadband internet reaching almost every corner of the country. He observed that the seamless digital connectivity enabled India to deliver services on time during the COVID period by facilitating work from home. He said that this express delivery of services through an expansive digital network created over the last 8 years must be duplicated in the logistics sector for timely delivery of goods.

 

He said that Express Delivery Services is yet to come to terms with the huge potential India holds. The Minister noted that scale, efficiency, and building blocks through technology must be utilized to bring down the cost in logistics. He said that the government is taking steps in this direction through massive infrastructure development through PM GatiShakti for smarter and faster planning and implementation of projects, Unified Logistics Interface Platform and dedicated freight corridors.

 

He highlighted that when the Prime Minister said that India can be the trusted partner to the world at the G20 Summit, the message went out that India is ready to do business with its transparent and rule based ecosystem and its highly talented and committed human resource. The Minister said that trust, transparency, and talent will help us in our trade.

 

He said that the Prime Minister’s vision for India is big and bold, and the entire world is looking up to India with hope and confidence that the country can deliver. He appreciated the role played by youth in the startup sector and encouraged them to think big and work towards making India a developed country.

 

The Minister said that the Prime Minister’s innovative ideas, including transporting liquid medical oxygen by trains and empty containers by air transport during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to a significant reduction in delivery time and saved numerous lives. He emphasized the importance of speed in determining the success of India and called for newer ideas and ways of doing work in the spirit of togetherness for the country.

The country may look at importing dairy products if needed as there is a supply constraint for such items due to milk production remaining stagnant in the last fiscal, a top government official said on Wednesday. The government will intervene to import dairy products like butter and ghee, if required, after assessing the stock position of milk in Southern states, where the flushing (peak production) season has started now, he added.

 

Milk output in the country stood at 221 million tonne in 2021-22, up 6.25 per cent from 208 million tonne in the previous year, as per the official data.

 

Addressing a press conference, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said the country's milk production remained stagnant in the 2022-23 fiscal due to lumpy skin disease in cattle, while the domestic demand grew by 8-10 per cent in the same period because of a rebound in the post-pandemic demand.

 

'There is no constraint in milk supply as such in the country...There is an adequate inventory of skimmed milk powder (SMP). But in the case of dairy products, especially fats, butter and ghee etc, the stocks are lower than the previous year,' he said.

 

The government will intervene to import dairy products like butter and ghee, if required, after assessing the stock position of milk in Southern states, where the flushing (peak production) season has started now, he said.

 

Singh, however, observed that the imports may not be beneficial at this point in time as international prices in recent months are ruling firm.

 

'If global prices are high, there is no point in importing. We will assess the flush season in the rest of the country and then take a call,' he said.

 

The shortage will be less in north India where the lean season has been postponed with temperature cooling down due to untimely rains in the last 20 days, he added.

 

According to the secretary, the country's milk output remained stagnant due to the impact of lumpy skin disease that killed 1.89 lakh cattle last year and the post-pandemic rebound in milk demand.

 

'The impact of lumpy skin disease on cattle can be felt to the extent that the total milk production is a little stagnant. Normally, milk production has been growing at 6 per cent annually. However this year (2022-23), it will be either stagnant or grow at 1-2 per cent,' Singh said.

 

Since the government takes into account the milk production data of the cooperative sector and not the entire private and unorganised sector, 'we assume it will be stagnant,' Singh said.

 

It is a true rise in fodder prices that has led to milk inflation. There is a problem in fodder supply as the fodder crop area has remained stagnant in the last four years, while the dairy sector has been growing annually at 6 per cent, he added.

 

India last imported dairy products in 2011.

Famous Banarasi paan and langda mango of Varanasi have entered the Geographical Indication (GI) list recently. As many as 33 products were granted GI certification on March 31 by the GI Registry, Chennai, as per news reports. Among them, 10 belonged to UP, including two from Varanasi.  

 

Besides, Banarasi paan and langda mango two more products from the region, Ramnagar Bhanta (brinjal) and Chandausi's adamchini chawal (rice) were given the GI tags.  

 

As per the GI Registry list, the newly added items from Varanasi include Aligarh Tala, Bakharia Brassware, Banda Shazar Patthar Craft, Nagina Wood Craft, Pratapgarh Aonla, and Hathras Hing. 

 

A geographical indication (GI) tag is a sign used on locally produced products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities that are due to that origin. A product can be given a GI tag if it is a specialty of a given place. 

 

The tags were first introduced in 2003, wherein Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get a GI tag.

 

The GI tag recognition is a significant achievement for the people associated with the production and trade of these crops.  Talking about the GI tags, Dr Rajnikant, a GI specialist, told India Today: 'All four products are related to agriculture and horticulture. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Uttar Pradesh government have played a pivotal role in the process to obtain the GI tags. ' 

 

He added that over 20 lakh people are involved in the trade of the four products with an annual business of approximately Rs 25,500 crore.  

 

Earlier, two varieties of betel leaf were given the tag from the GI Registry. The first is the Maghai paan from Bihar, a distinctive variety grown in four districts of the state, which fetches a high price.  

 

The second is the Mahoba Desawari paan, which grows in the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh and Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh. 

 

More GI tags 

 

In the last few years, the Uttar Pradesh government with its One District One Product (ODOP) scheme is trying to promote the special products of the region, such as Banarasi sarees and metal crafts, and obtain GI tags for them. 

 

Some of the 15 handloom and handicraft items, which already have the GI tag, are Banaras Brocade and Banarasi Saree, wooden toys, metal repoussé craft items, soft stone Jali craft, Gulabi Meenakari, hand block print, wood carving and glass beads produced by local craftsmen living in different areas of Varanasi.

PM Narendra Modi, who represents the Varanasi constituency, has been trying to push local Varanasi products at the international level. During his to the G7 summit, he gifted GI products, including Banarasi Gulabi Meenakari and wood carving, to foreign dignitaries.