07 Mar, 2024 News Image Riyawan garlic from Madhya Pradesh receives GI tag.
In Madhya Pradesh, Riyawan garlic, renowned for its distinctive bold flavors and higher oil content, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag as of March 2. This recognition marks the second GI tag for the region's agricultural produce. The initiative, led by the Riyawan Farm Fresh Producer Company, began in January 2022, culminating in this significant achievement. Cultivated in the Riyawan village of Ratlam district, this variety stands out for its robust flavor, pungent taste, and medicinal properties, making it a preferred choice for culinary uses such as pickles and chutneys.
 
The successful acquisition of the GI tag was propelled by the efforts of MLA Rajendra Pandey, with support from the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing. Riyawan garlic, characterized by 5-6 cloves per bulb, not only enhances the taste of dishes but also boasts long-term storage capabilities. Its cultivation spans approximately 200 hectares in Riyawan and extends to around 1300 hectares in neighboring areas, involving over 700 farmers in its production.

 Source:  freshplaza.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image Shift to natural farming can turn out to be revolutionary change, says ICRIER study.
A shift to natural farming can turn out to be a revolutionary change, policy advocacy group ICRIER  (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) said in a report citing instances of Andhra Pradesh where yields ‘seemed’ to have improved. However, to balance the findings, it also warned that 'if the yield and production plummet' the implications for food security can be severe.
 
In a report titled 'Zero Budget Natural Farming — Implications for Sustainability, Profitability, and Food Security', commissioned by NABARD and released last week, ICRIER said: 'The sheer disparity in the outcomes of the two experiments conducted by CESS-IDSAP and ICAR-IIFSR suggests the importance of long-term experimentation before declaring this as a nationwide agriculture practice. If the yield and production plummet, as the ICAR and IIFSR findings advocate, the implications for food security can be severe.
 
'Naturally obtained inputs like cow dung, cow urine, leaves, etc. are without any reservation sustainable alternatives to the chemical inputs which have destroyed nature’s inherent ability to rejuvenate the soil. If the yields improve as they seem to have in Andhra Pradesh, then a shift to natural farming can turn out to be a revolutionary change,' the study said.
 
Financial aid
According to NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, natural farming can cover in 25-30 per cent of the total area of 140 million hectares under cultivation as there are several places where there is hardly any use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The government has never proposed natural farming to replace current practices in every land, but its emphasis is only in an overall reduction to save soil.
 
Authored by Sandip Das, Mahima Khurana and Ashok Gulati, the report said farmers be given financial support directly into their bank accounts on per hectare basis and the prices of chemical fertilizers be determined by free play of markets. 'Let farmers choose the crops and farming practices that suit them most. That way, those who want to practice ZBNF will not be discriminated against,' it said.
 
Currently, chemical fertilizers are excessively subsidised leading to their imbalanced use, and therefore adverse impact on environment. 'Much of this can be reduced/eliminated by creating crop-neutral incentive structures,' it said.
 
'While organic farming and related practices like natural farming are successful in niche markets where a premium price can compensate for the returns from lower yields, a complete switch to organic approaches can hamper national food production. Resilient supply chain networks for the farm inputs required in natural farming are a prerequisite to transitioning towards natural farming,' the authors concluded.

 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image Majority of India-U.K. FTA issues either closed or at advanced stage of talks: official.
Majority of the issues in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the U.K. are either finalised or at an advanced stage of talks, a government official said on January 15.
 
Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce L. Satya Srinivas said that the 14th round of negotiations between the officials of the two countries is underway in New Delhi.
 
'The majority of the chapters are either closed or at an advanced stage of negotiation. Discussions are being held at the higher level as well as at the team level to iron out differences,' he told reporters.
 
The talks for the pact began in January 2022. The current round of talks is expected to be the final one.
 
Talks are also progressing on the proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
 
There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights.
 
Issues from both goods and services are pending for conclusion.
 
The bilateral trade between India and the U.K. increased to $20.36 billion in 2022-23 from $17.5 billion in 2021-22.
 
On the progress on the proposed trade deal between India and the European Union (EU), he said the seventh round of talks will be held from February 19-23 here.
 
The track and chief negotiator level discussions on modalities for the services and investments chapter are scheduled this week.
 
Similarly, the sixth round of negotiations for a proposed trade agreement between India and the South American nation Peru is scheduled from February 12-15.
 
The ministry has held stakeholder consultations with the line ministries, export promotion councils, and industry chambers on the pact.
 
On the progress of talks for the India-Oman free trade agreement, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Amardeep Singh Bhatia said that substantial progress has been made on the deal and the next round of talks will start from January 16.

 Source:  thehindu.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image India-Oman free trade deal likely to be signed soon, say officials.
The legal vetting for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman is nearly complete, with the deal likely to be signed in either the coming days or after the general election, two people aware of the matter said.
 
'The government hopes to sign the pact before the announcement of dates for general elections, and in case it cannot be signed before the announcement, the government may nevertheless seek permission from the election commission to announce it as the FTA is in the interest of economy,' said the first person mentioned above, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

 Source:  livemint.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image The other European FTA that India is close to signing.
The four nations making up the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have offered duty-free market access for India’s animal products, fish, processed food and vegetable oils in a trade pact that is expected to be signed next week, two people aware of the matter said.
 
The EFTA nations—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland—have also proposed $100 billion of investment in India by their companies over 15 years, which could create about a million jobs, the people said on the condition of anonymity. The two sides began negotiations for a trade treaty in 2008.

 Source:  livemint.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image India allows onion export to Bahrain, Mauritius, Bhutan.
The government Wednesday notified allowing the exports of 3,000 MT of onions to Bahrain, 1,200 MT to Mauritius and 550 MT to Bhutan through National Cooperative Exports Limited.
 
The government last year, imposed a ban on onion exports till March 31 to meet domestic demand and stabilise its wholesale prices but it allows a specified quantity to be exported to friendly nations.
 
In a separate notification, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also amended the timelines and procedures for registration of import of yellow peas under the Import Monitoring System (IMS) for consignments which will arrive at the Indian ports after March 31, 2024.
 
As per the notification, Bill of Lading details need to be declared in the IMS registration and multiple Bills of Lading details may be specified under a single registration.
All copies of Bills of Lading(Shipped on Board) should be mandatorily uploaded during the registration process.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image India records big jump in agricultural exports to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, UK.
India’s exports of agricultural products to major markets like Iraq, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, surged by 110 per cent, 46 per cent, 18 per cent, and 47 per cent, respectively, during April-November 2023, compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data released by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on Wednesday.APEDA said its forward-looking strategy involves a shift towards expanding India’s export basket with a focused initiative on priority products like fresh fruits, vegetables, processed foods and animal products to reduce reliance on a few products and move up the value chain.
 
In response to feedback from exporters, APEDA is also spearheading the initiation of participation in new fairs across emerging markets such as Turkey, South Korea, Kenya, South Africa, and Japan. This proactive approach aims to facilitate greater market access and foster sustainable growth opportunities for Indian exporters.
 
With a focus on expanding into key markets such as Europe, Latin America, and Asia, APEDA aims to forge small partnerships with global supermarkets to showcase its products on an international arena.
 
Moreover, the organisation is working on to reducing transport costs of exports by establishing sea protocols through collaborations with research institutions.
 
According to an APEDA statement, concerted efforts are also being undertaken to promote Shree Anna-Millets in tune with the government's vision for cultivating a healthier and more diversified food landscape. Over the past year, with a particular focus during the International Year of Millets-2023, APEDA has worked towards the development and integration of a wide variety of value-added products under the Shree Anna brand.
 
This strategic initiative has led to the creation and mainstreaming of various value-added products, including pasta, noodles, breakfast cereals, ice cream, biscuits, energy bars, and snacks. These products have been integrated with the export value chain.

 Source:  in.investing.com
07 Mar, 2024 News Image APEDA facilitates agriculture exports to new markets, focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, Shree Anna.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is undertaking various initiatives to promote agricultural exports from India. APEDA's forward-looking strategy involves a paradigm shift towards expanding the export basket with focused initiative on priority products like fresh fruits, vegetables, processed foods and animal products to reduce the reliance on a few products and to move up the value chain. With a focus on expanding into key markets such as Europe, Latin America, and Asia, APEDA aims to forge small partnerships with global supermarkets to showcase its products on an international arena. Moreover, the organization is working on to reducing logistical expenses by establishing sea protocols through collaborations with research institutions. These strategic initiatives reiterate APEDA's commitment to boost India's agricultural exports by enhancing competitiveness and driving sustainable growth.
 
Further, APEDA's concerted efforts to promote Shree Anna-Millets resonate with the government's vision for cultivating a healthier and more diversified food landscape. Over the past year, with a particular focus during the International Year of Millets-2023, APEDA has diligently worked towards the development and integration of a wide array of value-added products under the Shree Anna brand.
 
This strategic initiative has led to the creation and mainstreaming of various value-added products, including pasta, noodles, breakfast cereals, ice cream, biscuits, energy bars, and snacks, among others. By diversifying the Shree Anna product line, APEDA has not only infused innovation but has also seamlessly connected these products to the export value chain. Through these endeavours APEDA continues to play a pivotal role in elevating the profile of Shree Anna Millets, thereby contributing to the government's overarching agenda of promoting healthier dietary choices and facilitating the expansion of India's agricultural export portfolio.
 
During April-November 2023, APEDA facilitated exports to major markets like Iraq, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and the UK experienced substantial growth compared to the previous year. Surging by 110%, 46%, 18%, and 47%, respectively, this remarkable expansion underscores the increasing global demand for Indian agricultural products in key markets.
 
As part of its goal to foster inclusivity, APEDA is extending support to startups, women entrepreneurs, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs/FPCs) by enabling their participation in global events.
 
In response to feedback from exporters, APEDA is spearheading the initiation of participation in new fairs across emerging markets such as Turkey, South Korea, Kenya, South Africa, and Japan. This proactive approach aims to facilitate greater market access and foster sustainable growth opportunities for Indian exporters.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
07 Mar, 2024 News Image APEDA facilitates exposure visit of Farmer Producer Organizations to UAE; aim to unlock region's vast agricultural and food product export opportunities.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is actively driving initiatives to enhance the contribution and share of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) / Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in the exports of Agri and processed food products and has till date registered more than 1000 FPO/FPC’s as APEDA Members.
 
With a dual aim to unlock export opportunities for agricultural and processed food products from the region and to enhance the contribution of FPO’s/FPC’s in the Agri and Processed food products, APEDA organized an exposure visit for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to the UAE. The delegation comprised 47 members, representing FPOs from UP, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
 
During the visit, FPO's visited the Al-Aweer fruit and vegetable market to explore the possibilities and opportunities for Indian agri products specially grown in UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Further the delegation of FPOs visited LuLu Hypermarket to understand the requirements and pattern of purchase at Dubai market. During the visit, the FPO representatives also met with a good number of buyers and pitched their produce for export. As an immediate outcome, an FPO among the delegation finalized an order of fresh turmeric which was also flagged off to the UAE market. The other FPO's have also been able to get promising leads and are currently in negotiation with the buyers. Thus more orders are expected in the near future.
 
To evaluate the benefits of the visit and disseminate its outcomes among farmers, APEDA conducted a capacity-building and experience-sharing program in Varanasi on 5th March 2024. In the program, the representatives of FPOs who undertook the visit to the UAE, shared their experiences and learnings of the visit among other member farmers. They briefed them about the requirements/regulations to be followed for exporting agri commodities to the UAE market. They also briefly highlighted the potential products which have a significant untapped demand in the UAE market namely Mango, Green Chilly, Okra etc. which could be tapped by the farmers of the region. They also encouraged the farmers to implement good Agricultural practices (GAP), while farming so as to enable their produce to meet the regulatory requirements of the Importing countries.
 
Notably, the event also marked the flag-off of a consignment of fresh turmeric to Sharjah, UAE, showcasing the region's potential for export. Additionally, fresh fruits were exported from Varanasi's LBSI Airport to the international market, highlighting the region's expanding export capabilities.
 
Operating through its regional wing in Varanasi, and taking forward the above vision,  APEDA has identified the Purvanchal region as a model Agri Export Hub, recognizing its significance in agricultural trade and has enrolled more than 120 FPO’s from the region as its members. Special focus is being given towards enrolment of FPO’s/FPO’s dealing in ODOP/GI products, those which are Women & SC/ST led and those from the NER/Himalayan States and landlocked areas.Taking this theme forward,  APEDA officers along with departmental subject experts from the GOI and the State Government sensitized the farmers and other FPOs with the requirements of agri-export supply chain.
 
Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi Division, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Kaushal Raj Sharma praised APEDA's significant efforts in the Purvanchal region, emphasizing the exposure visit for FPOs as an invaluable opportunity facilitated by APEDA. He highlighted APEDA's role in guiding FPOs towards meeting agricultural export requirements and international standards. He also noted the remarkable progress in agricultural exports, citing an increase from 151 MT in FY 2021-22 to 702 MT in FY 2023-24 (April to December), reflecting the positive outcomes of APEDA's initiatives since 2020.
 
Chairman APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev, emphasized the significance of exposure visits in exploring agricultural export opportunities, underlining their potential to boost national foreign exchange earnings and improve farmer incomes. He remarked on the keen interest shown by FPOs in agricultural export, recognizing it as a positive indicator of the region's capacity to meet international market demands. He highlighted Uttar Pradesh's rise as the third-largest agricultural exporting state in India (APEDA Basket), attributing this achievement to the region's deep potential and APEDA’s sustained efforts in enhancing the contribution of land-locked areas in exports.
 
APEDA's interventions are positively transforming the agri-export landscape in the Purvanchal region, with significant advancements in infrastructure, market linkages, and export promotion activities. This has resulted in growth in agri-exports, positioning UP as the third-largest agri- exporting state in the country (APEDA Basket).
 
Through targeted capacity-building programs and international buyer-seller meets, APEDA has empowered FPOs and exporters, enabling them to tap into global markets and showcase the region's diverse agricultural products. The success stories of agricultural exports, ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to rice, demonstrate the region's ability to meet global demand and establish itself as a key player in the agricultural export market.

 Source:  pib.gov.in
06 Mar, 2024 News Image FTA talks: India begins hard bargain on non-tariff barriers with EU.
In an effort to get non-tariff barriers eliminated in the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union, Indian negotiators have prepared an elaborate list of such roadblocks in key sectors such as pharma, engineering, electrical and agri items and have begun taking it up with their European counterparts, two people aware of the developed told The Indian Express.
 
This comes as India-EU concluded their seventh round of negotiations last month dealing with goods, services, market access, investment protection agreement (IPA) and a separate proposed pact on geographical indications (GIs). India and the EU had relaunched the negotiations in May 2021 after a gap of over nine years, at a time when western firms are looking at India as an alternate supply chain source to China.
 
The talks on non-tariff barriers (NTB) come in a backdrop of multiple environment and labour regulations brough by EU such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) which is threatening to obstruct about 8 to 10 per cent of the Indian agri, steel and aluminum exports going into the 27-bloc union.
 
Barring Indian petroleum exports, India’s exports to EU- a key trading partner – have seen little gain over the last five years largely due to a slew of non-tariffs barriers in tea, agriculture, engineering and electronic items. While India has brought up the issues in negotiations, both parties continue to disagree on the definition of non-tariff barrier causing friction in the negotiations.
 
'The problem is that what we call the non-tariff barriers are referred to by them as non-tariff measures. They say that as a society we have high standards. Sometimes these standards are at par with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and sometimes they are WTO plus. They say that it’s an internal lookout that EU manufacturers are subjected to those high standards and are not meant to target India,' a senior government official said.
 
'We are not able to meet those standards and it is becoming a barrier to us. So the prism is changing. All that is required is standards and quality consciousness that needs to be there in India. But then comes the challenge of affordability. We are a developing nation with a large population and there is a cost associated with conformity to those high standards.That is the fundamental difference where per capita GDP comes into play. That is where they are able to use the deep pockets and insulate themselves, build and maintain those standards,' the official added.
 
The official further said that Indian chemicals and fertilizers face major disruption in exports because the domestic industry cannot match it and Indian consumers will not bear the high cost.
 
'Quality unfortunately [is a concern]..that is the reason why China was able to penetrate the Indian market because …their compliance level is high. So what you call an NTB is a major sticking point. It differs from one economy to another. That is a challenge that we are facing,' the official further added.
 
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in its report released last year said that the chemical exports from India were met with stringent regulations in the form of Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), implemented by the European Union (EU) in 2007. The regulation resulted in approximately 40 per cent of exporters withdrawing from the market.
 
Moreover, India’s rice exports have suffered due to the imposition of maximum residue level (MRL) limits, which is the highest level of pesticide residue that is legally acceptable in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied following good agricultural practices. In 2017, the European Commission (EC) reduced the MRL limit for a fungicide used in rice cultivation, which led to a sharp drop in rice exports from India. India’s agriculture exports to the EU have declined in the last five years to $3.12 billion in FY23 from $3.36 billion in FY18.
 
'The European Union has got completely paranoid about maximum residue level (MRL). And they are actually using in the name of food safety, they are using pesticides and MRL laws as a non tariff trade barrier. So, they are setting laws for pesticide, but in the category of pesticide they are including naturally occurring pollutants and hydrocarbons which are in the environment, which are not being sprayed by anyone and they are putting limits for that under the pesticides category,' Chairman of Indian Tea Exporters Association (ITEA) Anshuman Kanoria told The Indian Express.
 
Notably, Indian tea export to Europe has slid to $166.08 million in FY23, down nearly 6 per cent from $176.47 million in FY18. Indian tea exports already face stiff competition from Sri Lanka and Africa who have been gaining market share globally.
 
'The other most important thing is they [European Union] has put Indian organic tea in a high risk category, because of which they are requiring a lot of testing and certification. The government is very keen to promote organic cultivation and export but the EU with its tough laws towards India is actually placing roadblocks to the cultivation and export of organic tea. We are losing the market because a lot of people are reluctant to export due to these laws. Lots of tea we know doesn’t pass the laws of tea anymore. Africa and Sri Lanka are exporting but India has its own market in the EU. And what these laws are doing is damaging the market of Indian tea in the EU completely,' Kanoria added.
 
'There are different kinds of market access barriers for example, the pharmaceutical sector faces the barrier of registration. The registration of drugs is taking enormous time in the European Union because of the huge influence the multinational drug companies have. Secondly, we have challenges in the electrical field, where standards different from what is globally followed is imposed. In agriculture, phytosanitary standards issue and traceability is an issue,' Ajay Sahai, Director General & CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said.
 
Sahai stressed that unless the issue of market access is addressed, the FTA will not make much headway because if the items are not freely allowed to be accessed in the country, there’s no point in having a tariff advantage. Globally, Indian exporters are also seeing that non trade issues are emerging and we feel that the environment and labor are the two non trade issues which are going to be extremely vital for global trade in this decade, Sahai added.
 
'Non trade issues are definitely emerging because probably the advanced economy feels that they have not much to restrict, either through the tariff or through the licensing and they want to regulate it through these non trade issues only,' he further said.
 
Indian textile exporters said that the problem with textile exports are not only the standards sought by the EU but also the private standards which differ from one multinational company to another. Notably, India’s textile exports to the EU have remained stagnant over the years. India’s textile exports in FY18 stood at $10.84 billion while in FY23 it fell to $10.48 billion.
 
'The problem in textile is the private standard issues which cannot be brought in negotiations. Each company in the EU has different standards that we need to meet. There are a slew of reporting requirements that are coming in which is becoming a market access issue for us,' Chandrima Chatterjee, Secretary General of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) said.
 
Chatterjee added that the EU has increased reporting norms which are detailed in nature and are not easy to comply with without divulging sensitive information. She added that the government should bring in one reporting standard which the EU accepts.

 Source:  indianexpress.com