17 Feb, 2023 News Image True Elements Represents India for Millets in Europe IYOM in 2023.
India’s first Clean Label and 100 percent Whole Grain certified food brand, True Elements, was invited to represent India at the first-ever global outreach event for Millets by the Government of India - the Saveurs and Métiers Expo - held in Belgium in January 
 
2023 has been earmarked as the International Year of Millets (IYOM) by the UN with the objective of promoting millets as the next supergrain globally. Naturally gluten-free, environmentally sustainable, and loaded with health benefits, Millets have taken center-stage for the Government of India (GOI), with Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi amplifying this mandate across manufacturer, consumer, and enabler cohorts alike. Participation at the three-day Saveurs and Métiers Expo, hosted by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA, Government of India) and the Embassy of India to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union (EU), marked the first global outreach for IYOM. At the expo, Ambassador Santosh Jha (Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU) inaugurated the India Pavilion and welcomed European businesses to sample Indian millet products and build a pathway to their retail presence in European retail stores.
 
Vinita Sudhanshu, Deputy GM, APEDA, Government of India, said, 'This expo in Belgium was the first-of-its-kind event, marking the beginning of the International Year of Millets 2023. Since India is leading the resurgence of this ancient super-grain, it was important for us to show the world how we are bringing millets and driving innovation within the packaged food category. Start-ups and disruptors like True Elements are showing the world the novel uses of millets by driving innovation in millets through their products like Jowar Poha, Millet Chikki, and Cereal Biscuits. It was heartening to see the wave of positive responses and appreciation coming their way because of these innovations.'
 
True Elements has been at the forefront of delivering taste and health via Millets for the last 4 years and was honored with the ‘Best Startup Award’ by the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) - Government of India. Recently, the brand also won the Forbes D2C Disruptor Award - Brand of the Year (Sustainability) for its work with Millets.
 
Sreejith Moolayil, Co-founder and COO of True Elements, said, 'There exists plenty of curiosity and intrigue around Millets in India and the world now - in fact, these super-grains have already begun to lead the sustainable nutrition conversation internationally. True Elements has been driving millet-based food innovations since 2019, and we’re glad our range saw global appreciation. We will continue innovating to deliver a larger range without compromising on taste and health benefits.'
 
At this global forum, which saw participation from large corporations, key retailers, and notable manufacturers from Europe, True Elements was accoladed for its range of over 35 innovative millet-based products which were suited to the global palate, met global accreditations and kept the brand’s promise of providing 100 percent taste with 0 percent jargon, 0 percent chemical, 0 percent preservatives or 0 percent added sugar.
 
Ved Agarwal, Head of Marketing of True Elements, mentioned, 'What truly summarised the event for us was Ambassador Santosh Jha’s immediate reaction as he took a bite of our Jowar Poha and said- ‘Wow. This is brilliant'. This, along with a meaningful pool of global leads and engagement with export partners who want to take Millets to Europe together with True Elements, made this outreach a success for us.'Meanwhile, closer home, True Elements also participated in the Millets and Organics International Trade Fair, one of the largest fairs organised by the Department of Agriculture and KAPPEC, Government of Karnataka in Bengaluru, where they demonstrated the versatility of their millet-based offerings and were appreciated for the same.'

 Source:  indianretailer.com
17 Feb, 2023 News Image Agri and food processing sector registers double digit growth in Andhra Pradesh.
The state of Andhra Pradesh showcased its rich natural resources, large investments in infrastructure, land bank, and intensive reforms in rules and regulations at a successful investors meeting held in Bengaluru. These efforts, taken together, position Andhra Pradesh as the State where abundance meets prosperity. The event is one of many such meets being organised in the run-up to the Global Investors Summit on March 3 and 4, 2023, in Visakhapatnam.
 
Agriculture and food processing industry in the State offers large opportunities with a double digit growth rate. The GVA of the Agriculture & Allied Sector for the year 2021-22 is estimated to be Rs 2 lakh crore, with a growth rate of 11.27%.
 
State ranks first in India in aquaculture accounting for 24% of nation’s fish production, second in production of paddy, maize and groundnut and fourth in milk and meat production.
 
Important steps have been taken by Government to boost the industry, 10,788 YSR Rythu Bharosa Kendras have been established as ‘One Stop Shops’ for a variety of agricultural and related services. The state was ranked first in registered food processing units during the annual Survey of Industries 2019–20 due to its ease of doing business. State has been ranked first in the total value of trade conducted on the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) in FY 2019–20 due to Government facilitation and technology deployment.
 
Gudivada Amarnath, minister for Industries, Infrastructure, Investment & Commerce, IT, Handlooms & Textiles, said, 'According to LEADS Report 2022, the state's exports increased by 15.31% from the previous year in 2021–2022, classifying it as 'Achievers' in the Coastal States. With the completion of new ports and also further development of infrastructure for the last-mile connectivity, the state’s share in exports can reach up to 10% of India’s total exports.'
 
Buggana Rajendranath, minister for Finance, Planning, Commercial Taxes, Skill Development, Training & Legislative Affairs, said, 'We strongly believe reducing the time to start a business will have a significant impact on the manufacturer’s profitability. The state is building numerous plug-and-play facilities which will have ready-built factory sheds with quality power and water supply and help speed up setting up of manufacturing units.'
 
'In the last 3.5 years, the State has approved investments to the tune of Rs 1.9 lakh crore. That would go on to create employment for around 90,000 people in the state in the future,' Amarnath said.
 

 Source:  fnbnews.com
17 Feb, 2023 News Image G20 for greater climate finance support for farmers, suggests incentives.
The G-20 members have stressed on the need to boost climate finance to support farmers who  make an effort to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on the  farm sector,  agriculture secretary Manoj Ahuja said on Wednesday.
 
After the G20 first agriculture deputies meeting held at Indore, he said the elegates also suggested that farmers can be financially incentivised if they adopt climate-friendly farming or green agriculture. 'One way of financially rewarding farmers is through giving carbon credit', he said.
 
The carbon farming programme in the country has been initiated by a private entity Grow Indigo, a joint venture between seed major Mahyco and US-based Indigo.Farmers who adopt farming techniques – direct seeded rice, which improves water use efficiency and no tillage practice which conserves soil organic biomass, prior to planting of paddy could register for the programme for getting carbon credit.
 
The G20 meeting also discussed the impact of climate change on agriculture and its productivity. 'We discussed how we can help save agriculture and make it sustainable,' Ahuja said. India shared the measures taken towards ‘climate smart agriculture’ like mapping the vulnerable areas and conducting research in the meet.
 
On the issue of food security and nutrition, agriculture secretary Ahuja said, there was a discussion on achieving one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of ‘zero hunger’ by 2030.
 
'It has been seen that food insecurity has increased after 2018. This is a cause of concern. We discussed what best we can do to reduce hunger,' he said
 
On the area of strengthening the value chain in agriculture, G20 delegates discussed improving the ‘farm to folk’ value chain in agriculture. India also shared about the Agristack project that will help issuing farm advisories specific to the region and help adoption of precision farming.
 
 For creating Agristack, the agriculture ministry is in the process of finalising ‘India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA) which will lay down a framework for Agristack.
 
Around 100 delegates, including representatives of international organisations including Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development and International Food Policy Research Institute attended the meet.
 
The three-day event which concluded on Wednesday deliberated on four key priority areas – food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture with climate smart approach, inclusive agriculture value chain and food supply system and digitisation of agriculture transformation.
 
The next meetings of the G20 agriculture working group will be held in Chandigarh, Varanasi and Hyderabad.

 Source:  financialexpress.com
17 Feb, 2023 News Image Enrich the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry sectors by identifying native breeds of livestock - Shri Tomar
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said that there are a large number of indigenous breeds of livestock in the country, which need to be identified in all regions. This will help make the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry sector prosperous.
 
Shri Tomar said this in his address at the Ceremony for Distribution of Animal Breed Registration Certificates today, organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at the National Agricultural Science Center, New Delhi. Shri Tomar, in his address, said that almost half of the livestock of the country is still unclassified. We have to identify such unique breeds as soon as possible so that these unclassified breeds can be saved. He expressed happiness that ICAR is working in this direction and a special campaign has been launched to identify such breeds in the country. Such a task is not an easy one and cannot be accomplished without the cooperation of State Universities, Animal Husbandry Departments, NGOs etc. ICAR has initiated documentation of all animal genetic resources of the country in Mission Mode in collaboration with all these agencies. This large group will fulfil the mission of documenting indigenous animal genetic resources in the country.
 
Complimenting all the applicants of new breeds from different parts of the country, Shri Tomar said that these indigenous breeds are unique, which also shows the vastness of diversity present in all regions. Animal husbandry has historically been an integral part of agriculture since the time of development of human civilizations. This is even more relevant in a country like ours, where a large section of the society is actively engaged and dependent on Animal Husbandry. Our country is rich in animal biodiversity and people have been rearing different types of species since ages. These species have been used for various purposes such as food, fiber, transportation, manure, agricultural purposes, etc. In the past, our farmers have developed many specific breeds of these species, which are adapted to that climatic condition. The whole world is currently looking at India's grand diversity in the livestock and poultry sector. Efforts to document animal genetic resources in the country and preserve their genetic diversity have also been lauded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the international level.
 
On this occasion, breed registration certificates of 28 newly registered breeds were distributed, including 10 breeds of cattle, 5 of pig, 4 of buffalo, 3 each of goat and dog, one each of sheep, donkey and duck. In order to claim sovereignty over these indigenous breeds, DARE has started notifying all registered breeds in the Gazette from the year 2019. Officers of DAHD, ICAR and its institutes and Vice Chancellors of various universities were present in the programme.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
16 Feb, 2023 News Image Wheat production estimated to touch new record of 112.18 million tonnes in 2022-23 crop year: Govt.
The country's wheat production is expected to touch a new record of 112.18 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year (July-June), according to the agriculture ministry's latest estimate. Wheat production had declined marginally to 107.74 million tonnes in the previous year due to heat wave in some states.
 
The previous record in wheat production was 109.59 million tonnes in 2020-21 crop year.
 
Wheat is a major rabi crop.
 
As per the second estimate of foodgrains production released by the agriculture ministry, wheat production is estimated to be 112.18 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year, higher by 4.40 million tonnes from the previous year.
 
Total area planted with wheat crop has risen by only 1.39 lakh hectares to 343.23 lakh hectares (ha) in the rabi season of the 2022-23 crop year (July-June) from the year-ago period, but the crop yields are expected to be better due to good weather conditions.
 
Wheat has already started arriving in Madhya Pradesh, one of the major wheat growing states in the country.
 
Total foodgrain production is also estimated to touch a record of 323.55 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year, higher by 7.93 million tonnes from the previous year.
 

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
16 Feb, 2023 News Image G-20 members stressed on increasing climate finance to help farmers take up adaptation measures, says Agriculture Secy.
The G-20 members stressed on the need to increase climate finance to help farmers take up adaptation measures in order to mitigate the climate change impact on the farm sector, agriculture secretary Manoj Ahuja said on Wednesday. Addressing media on the concluding day of the G20 first Agriculture Deputies' Meeting here, Ahuja said: 'Climate finance was one of the issues which was discussed. The members felt that there was a need for an environment for increasing climate financing in terms of financing farmers for adaptation measures.'
 
The member countries also suggested that farmers can be incentivised if they are adopting climate friendly farming or green agriculture. One of the ways was carbon credit, he said.
 
The G20 nations also shared their experience on the impact of climate change in agriculture, he added.
 
Climate smart agriculture was one of the four priority areas discussed in the first Agriculture Deputies Meeting.
 
The secretary said: 'There was also discussion on the impact of climate change on agriculture and its productivity. We discussed how we can help save agriculture and make it sustainable.'
 
India also shared the steps taken towards 'climate smart agriculture' like mapping the vulnerable areas and conducting research, he said.
 
On the 'food security and nutrition' issue, Ahuja said, there was a discussion on achieving one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 'zero hunger'.
 
'It has been seen that food insecurity has increased after 2018. This is a cause of concern. We discussed what best we can do to reduce hunger,' he said.
 
On the third priority area of strengthening the value chain in agriculture, the secretary said there was a detailed discussion on improving the 'farm to folk' value chain in agriculture. India has already shifted its focus on production-centric approach to value-chain approach.
 
On the fourth priority area of digital agriculture, he said India shared about the Agristack project that will help issuing farm advisories and move towards precision farming.
 
'Based on the outcome of this meeting, further discussions will continue in future meetings on agriculture to be held in Chandigarh, Varanasi and Hyderabad,' he added.
 
The three-day event of the first G20 Agriculture Deputies Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) concluded on Wednesday.
 
Around 100 delegates, including representatives of international organisations like FAO, IFAD and IFPRI, attended the event.
 
The secretary said 10 more countries will be invited in future meetings on agriculture.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
16 Feb, 2023 News Image APEDA to support exports of vegan food ingredients.
The Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA), which is eyeing $30 billion in exports this fiscal, has recently launched a National Programme on Vegan Products to cater to overseas demand for plant-based products. APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu shares details with businessline on the new initiatives which will help diversify the agency’s export product basket. Excerpts:
 
What are the factors behind APEDA initiating work on the National Programme on vegan products programme?
India produces plenty of protein-rich foods such as pulses, soyabean, legumes, seeds, nuts, and wheat which are excellent alternatives to meat proteins. As we race into the new decade, it is no secret that plant-based diets are on the rise and as the trend continues to grow, so are the companies growing with vegetarian and vegan options within the food and beverage industry. Consumers are becoming receptive to plant-based meat substitutes. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the popularity of these products has surged as they are being perceived as immunity-boosters. Now, vegetarians can relish the taste of animal meat without consuming animal products.
 
Being a food surplus production country, India has a number of good quality protein raw materials such as chickpea, soyabean, wheat, millets , allowing not only product diversification but also towards a sustainable environment.
 
What are the export potentials for vegan products?
Given the unique mix of natural, social, and economic advantages, India has the potential to play a prominent role on a global stage by growing and processing plant-based ingredients and building a thriving export market. India is one of the top five producers of core plant proteins — chickpeas, lentils, millet, peas, rice, soyabeans, and wheat. In addition, early signs point to a significant growth opportunity for the plant-based foods industry in the country. The plant-based foods industry in the US has achieved unparalleled growth in recent years and generated over $7.4 billion in retail sales in 2021. There is a tremendous market opportunity for India and it can become a global leader in the plant-based food sector.
 
How big is the market for vegan products globally?
Comprehensive global data on the plant-based sector is still limited, but data from specific markets provide insight into the sector’s overall trajectory. Retail plant-based milk sales grew 14 per cent to $17.8 billion and plant-based meat sales grew 17 per cent to $5.6 billion in 2021. Over a five-year timeframe, retail plant-based milk sales grew 18 per cent, affected by relatively flat sales from 2018 to 2020. Asia Pacific led the plant-based milk sector in retail sales in 2021 with $9.4 billion and also saw the largest growth at 16 per cent.
 
Financial institutions are projecting strong continued growth for plant-based foods. Analysing the potential growth for alternative milk and meat (potentially inclusive of plant-based, cultivated, and/or fermentation-derived products), Credit Suisse projects global sales of alternative dairy and meat to reach between $146 billion and $380 billion by 2030. By 2050, the bank projects sales between $748 billion and $1.4 trillion.
 
How will it benefit the Indian farmers? Are Indian farmers/processors ready to tap the export potential for vegan products?
Consumer interest is high, private sector companies are coming to market at a rapid pace, and the strength of the agricultural sector provides a strong foundation for growth. APEDA will focus on creating an international market for its indigenous crops that will benefit farmers and other key stakeholders.
 
The plant-based food sector poses an incredible opportunity to provide for Indian farmers in the long term by effectively and efficiently utilising natural resources and adding value through processing. It can cater towards the populations living and working in cities as well as those in rural settings, who increasingly have access to cold chains and supermarkets. It can leverage the unique strengths and qualities of its indigenous crops. It can attract foreign investment, research and technology advancements, and a significant export market.
 
What kind of intervention/support mechanism are you envisaging to help Indian exporters tap this new market?
The Government of India has been an important and effective supporter of the food processing sector, including as one of the pillars of its “Make in India” initiative. Infrastructure investments, advantageous financial and credit schemes, foreign direct investment policy, and centralised procurement schemes have propelled the sector’s growth. Federal examples of such support are reflected in Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), and specific support for smaller enterprises.
 
Through July 2021, 792 of a total of 818 proposed projects have been approved, with approved grants-in-aid totalling $753 million. As of July 2021, the government had approved 41 mega food parks, 353 cold chain projects, 63 agro-processing clusters, and 292 food processing units.
 
With an outlay of $1.5 billion (?10,900 crore), PLISFPI supports the creation of global food manufacturing champions commensurate with India’s natural resource endowment and will help Indian brands increase success in international markets. Objectives of the scheme include creating jobs, attracting investment, expanding industrial capacity to increase the production of processed foods, increasing farmer incomes, and boosting exports. The scheme will run 2021-22 through 2026-27.
 
The Ministry of Food Processing Industry is providing strategic support to the industry. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) serving as a strong template for future work. All of these efforts are important to the near- and long-term success of the plant-based foods sector.
 
What are the categories of vegan products APEDA is exploring to support for export promotion?
While much of the global attention on the plant-based foods sector is on whole products like milks and mock meats, the ingredient market is a significant opportunity as well. Protein-rich concentrates, isolates, and flours can provide nutrition across a wide range of applications – from protein shakes to mixing protein atta into chapati.
 
National production of plant-based foods can take advantage of and further stimulate a healthy international market for plant protein crops, processed protein ingredients, and manufactured products. Soaring consumer interest and investment for plant-based foods in North America, Europe, and Asia will provide near-term opportunities to fill supply shortages and take advantage of rapidly-modernising technology.
 
What is the current value of vegan products exported from India?
The plant-based foods sector in India is projected to increase significantly over the next decade, driven by increased consumer interest and access, product innovation, and hundreds of millions in domestic and foreign private sector investment.
 
The export market for India’s plant-based sector is also projected to be significant by 2030, though the plant-based meat market is expected to be larger than that of milk. The plant-based meat market is projected to range from $283 million to $880 million, whereas the plant-based milk market is projected to range from $59 million to $244 million and the plant-based egg market will range from $34 million to $81 million.

 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
16 Feb, 2023 News Image Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Chile for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Chile for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors.
 
The MoU provides for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.  The main areas of cooperation envisaged are Agricultural policies for development of modern agriculture, Organic agriculture to facilitate the bilateral trade of organic products, as well as promote the exchange of policies aimed to develop organic production in both countries, Science and innovation to explore partnerships to promote innovation in the agricultural sector among Indian Institutes and Chilean institutes as well as collaborate to confront common challenges. 
 
Under the MoU, a Chile-India Agricultural Working Group will be constituted which will be responsible for the supervision, review and assessment of the implementation of this MoU as well as for establishing frequent communication and coordination.
 
The meetings of the Agricultural Working Group will be held once a year alternatively in Chile and India.  The MoU shall enter into force upon its signature and shall remain in force for a period of five years from the date of execution after which it shall be automatically renewed for a further period of 5 years.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
16 Feb, 2023 News Image Edible oil imports in Jan 2nd highest; record shipments of cooking oils in Nov-Jan.
India's edible oil imports rose 33 per cent in January to 16.61 lakh tonnes, the highest since September 2021, driven by higher imports of sunflower oil, according to industry body SEA. Import of vegetable oils (edible and non-edible oils) in January rose 31 per cent to 16,61,750 tonnes from 12,70,728 tonnes in the same month last year.
 
Edible oil imports rose to 16,61,750 tonnes in January -- the second highest monthly volume after September 2021 -- from 12,51,926 tonnes, while non-edible oil imports fell to nil from 18,802 tonnes, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said in a statement.
 
The total import of vegetable oils during the first three months of the oil year 2022-23 (November-October) rose 30 per cent to 47,73,419 tonnes compared to 36,71,161 tonnes in the same period last year.
 
Edible oil imports increased to 47,46,290 tonnes during November 2022-January 2023 period of the current oil year from 36,07,612 tonnes in the year-ago period, while shipments of non-edible oils fell to 27,129 tonnes from 63,549 tonnes.
 
'India's January sunflower oil imports surged to 4,61,000 tonnes, nearly triple average monthly imports as top exporters Russia and Ukraine seek to reduce stockpiles,' the SEA said.
 
India's monthly sunflower oil imports averaged around 1,61,000 tonnes in 2021-22 oil year ended in October last year.
 
'The surge in sunflower oil and soyabean oil imports could dampen India's palm oil imports and weigh on palm oil prices,' the association said.
 
SEA also expressed concern over the sharp increase in import of RBD (refined) palmolein in the first quarter of 2022-23 oil year at 6.30 lakh tonnes, nearly 20 per cent of total palm oil import, affecting domestic refineries.
 
'India's palm refining industry is heavily suffering from very low capacity utilization due to excessive import of RBD Palmolein and getting transformed into mere packers,' the association said.
 
The duty difference between CPO (crude palm oil) and refined palmolein/palm oil needs to be increased from the current 7.5 per cent to at least 15 per cent by increasing RBD palmolein duty from current 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent without any change in CPO duty, it demanded.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
16 Feb, 2023 News Image In spite of strong global headwinds, with two months remaining in the current financial year, India s overall exports is projected to grow at 17.33 percent during April-January 2022-23 over same period last year (April-January 2021-22).

India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in January 2023* are estimated to be USD 65.15 Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 14.58 per cent over the same period last year. Overall imports in January 2023* are estimated to be USD 66.42 Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 0.94 per cent over the same period last year.

Table 1: Trade during January 2023*

 

 

January 2023

(USD Billion)

January 2022

(USD Billion)

Merchandise

Exports

32.91

35.23

Imports

50.66

52.57

Services*

Exports

32.24

21.63

Imports

15.76

13.24

Overall Trade

(Merchandise +Services) *

Exports

65.15

56.86

Imports

66.42

65.80

Trade Balance

-1.27

-8.95

* Note: The latest data for services sector released by RBI is for December 2022. The data for January 2023 is an estimation, which will be revised based on RBI’s subsequent release. (ii) Data for April-January 2021-22 and April-September 2022 has been revised on pro-rata basis using quarterly balance of payments data.

Fig 1: Overall Trade during January 2023*

  • India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-January 2022-23 is estimated to exhibit a positive growth of 17.33 per cent over the same period last year (April-January 2021-22). As India’s domestic demand has remained steady amidst the global slump, overall imports in April-January 2022-23 is estimated to exhibit a growth of 22.92 per cent over the same period last year.

Table 2: Trade during April-January 2022-23*

 

 

April-January 2022-23

(USD Billion)

April-January 2021-22

(USD Billion)

Merchandise

Exports

369.25

340.28

Imports

602.20

494.06

Services*

Exports

pib.gov.in