In order to address the shortage of food grain storage capacity in the country, Government has approved the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector, which is being rolled out as a Pilot Project in different States/UTs of the country.

 

The Plan entails creation of various agri infrastructure at PACS level, including setting up decentralised godowns, custom hiring centre, processing units, fair price shops, through convergence of various existing schemes of Government of India (GoI), such as, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME).

 

Under these schemes, PACS can avail subsidies and interest subvention benefits for construction of godowns/storage facilities and setting up of other agri infrastructure. Further, NABARD is also extending financial support to PACS by refinancing them at highly subsidised rates of around 1%, after incorporating the benefits of 3% interest subvention under AIF scheme for projects up to Rs 2 crore.  

 

Therefore, the plan aims to strengthen the economic condition of PACS by diversifying their business activities and giving them additional sources of revenue thus improving their financial sustainability.

 

The Pilot project is being implemented by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) with the support of NABARD, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), etc. in different States/ UTs. Consultancy support is also being extended to PACS through these agencies under the project.

 

In order to ensure accountability and smooth, effective and transparent implementation of the plan, Ministry of Cooperation has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), which is authorised to modify guidelines/ implementation methodologies of the schemes identified for convergence, as and when need arises. A National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC) has also been constituted having members from Ministry/ Departments, Central Government agencies concerned to steer the overall implementation of the Plan and reviewing the progress of implementation.

India's agriculture exports this fiscal are expected to reach the last year's level of USD 53 billion despite restrictions imposed on shipments of certain key commodities, including rice, wheat and sugar, according to a senior government official. In 2022-23, the country's agri exports stood at USD 53 billion.

 

'We expect that we would reach that level in spite of USD 4.5 billion-USD 5 billion impact due to the restrictions,' Additional Secretary in the commerce ministry Rajesh Agrawal told reporters here on Thursday.

 

The government has prohibited exports of wheat and non-basmati white rice and has imposed curbs on sugar exports.

 

He said the government is promoting exports of new products like bananas and value-added millet products to new global destinations.

 

'In the next three years, we are hoping to increase banana exports to USD 1 billion,' he said.

 

Exports of fruits and vegetables, cereals, meat, dairy and poultry products registered a healthy growth rate during April-November.

 

Rice exports, however, declined 7.65 per cent to USD 6.5 billion during the same period.

 

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has been implementing a Central sector scheme ‘Operation Greens’, under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana since 2018-19, with the objective of enhancing the value realisation of farmers and minimising post-harvest losses. Under the scheme, 53 projects have been approved across the country for eligible crops in identified production clusters with grants in aid of Rs 634.59 crore for total project cost of Rs 2457.49 crore.  

 

The scope of OG Scheme has been expanded from three crops namely tomato, onion and potato to 22 perishable crops namely mango, banana, apple, pineapple, orange, grapes, aonla/amla, pomegranate, guava, litchi, tomato, onion, potato, green peas, carrot, cauliflower, beans, gourd family {bottle gourd (loki), bitter gourd (karela), ridge/sponge gourd (torai) pointed gourd (parval) and ash gourd (petha)}, okra, garlic, ginger and shrimp, during the 15th Financial Commission Cycle (2021-26).

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), has approved One District One Product programme for 713 districts in 35 States / UTs under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), Scheme on recommendations from the States/ UTs and in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. New One District One Product programme products are also added from time to time on the recommendations from the States / UTs.

 

In the State of Jharkhand, ODOP have been approved for 24 districts, credit linked subsidy approved to 999 micro food processing enterprises and Seed Capital of Rs 13.20 crore has been released for 3849 Self Help Group (SHG), members under PMFME scheme.

 

The Scheme adopts One District One Product approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. ODOP for the scheme provides the framework for value chain development and alignment of support infrastructure.

 

Under ODOP, credit linked subsidy has been sanctioned for 12,024 micro food processing enterprises, 76 incubation centres have been approved and 14 brands launched for marketing and branding support to Micro food processing units in the country.

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal and his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay discussed measures to reduce trade barriers and promote a more investor-friendly environment to boost economic ties. 

 

The bilateral discussion was aimed at strengthening the trade relations between both countries by exploring opportunities for mutual growth and cooperation, the commerce ministry said in an official statement on Wednesday.  

 

The meeting between both the ministers was held on 19 December in New Delhi. The dialogue between both the leaders is seen as a move to improve trade relations as India is New Zealand’s 11th largest trading partner. 

 

Education and tourism are other two sectors in which New Zealand wants to make a significant growth.   

 

Both the ministers recognized the importance of trade facilitation and discussed measures to streamline trade processes, reduce trade barriers, and promote a more conducive environment for businesses and investors from both nations, the ministry statement said.  

 

The New Zealand’s trade minister hailed the efforts made by India to sort out the issue related to export of wooden logs to India. 

 

'They highlighted the need to deepen engagement in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, pharma, connectivity, education and tourism,' the statement said.  

 

Both ministers expressed the need to increase engagement between the two countries under a collaborative approach that engages officials from across relevant departments and the private sector to strengthen the trade and economic relationship, the statement said.  

 

The importance of the annual meeting of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), established under the 1986 India-New Zealand Trade Agreement, and regular engagement at a senior level was also appreciated and they agreed to meet on a regular basis for bilateral discussions on trade, investment issues and co-operative activities, it said.  

 

The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $1 billion in 2022-23. 

 

India New Zealand trade trade facilitation trade barriers Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal New Zealand's trade minister Todd McClay

 

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has told Parliament that it has approved 76 Incubation Centres with an outlay of Rs. 205.95 crore in 25 States/UTs under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme until December 2023.

 

MoFPI informed that out of these 76, 4 Incubation Centres have been commissioned.

 

Further, the ministry stated that till date, 54,767 beneficiaries including individuals and enterprises,526 Master Trainer, 1058 District Level Trainers and 1941 District Resource Persons have participated in capacity building programmes.

 

Also, under Branding and Marketing component of PMFME Scheme, support was provided to FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations)/ Self-Help Groups (SHGs) / Cooperatives or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of micro food processing enterprises for Market Study and Product Standardisation, Packaging Material, Quality Control and food safety adherence for consumer retail sales, Warehousing and Storage Rentals, Marketing, and Promotion.

Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) on 13th October2021 for providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan provides a comprehensive database of the trunk & utility infrastructure, ongoing & future projects of various Infra structure and Economic Ministries/Departments of Central Government and States/UTs. This data is integrated with the GIS-enabled PM Gati Shakti platform, there by facilitating the integrated planning, designing, and monitoring of the Next Generation infrastructure projects on a single portal.

 

Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, ?shing clusters, agri zones etc. are being mapped for integrated infrastructure planning andmake Indian businesses more cost-competitive. This will boost economic growth, attract foreign investments while de-risking investments by visualizing the connectivity, and enhance the country’s global competitiveness in export markets.

 

While the development of integrated infrastructure development is addressed through the PM Gati Shakti NMP, e?ciency in services (like processes, digital systems, and regulatory frame work) and human resources is addressed by the National Logistics Policy, 2022 through its Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP). NMP and National Logistics Policy together provide a framework for creating a data-driven decision support mechanism for an e?cient logistics ecosystem aimed at reducing logistics costs and enhancing logistics efficiency in the country.

 

PM Gati Shakti is a Whole-of-Government approach adopted to facilitate integrated planning of multimodal infrastructure through collaboration among the concerned Ministries. So far, the  Logistics Division of DPIIT has conducted 62 Network Planning Group (NPG) meetings to assess the comprehensive area-based socio-economic development of infrastructure projects.

 

The feedback from various Ministries has been received; inter-alia Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is using PM  Gati Shakti  for ground surveys, land records, and  highway  alignments  resulting  insaving time and costs in the planning of projects; Ministry of Petroleumand Natural Gas utilizes NMP's electronic Detail Route Survey (eDRS) to generate reports in a shorter span of time; Ministry of Railways has ?nalised Final Location Survey (FLS) in FY2021-22 at a much faster rate as compared toFY2020-21,to cite a few examples.

 

Further, the PM Gati Shakti institutional mechanism has been adopted by States/UTs and NPG meetings are also being organized at State/UT level to assess last and ?rst-mile connectivity gaps and ensure seamless movement of people, goods &services.

 

This information has been provided by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

A high-level business delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) is visiting Türkiye's business hub Istanbul and the third largest city Izmir between Dec. 18-20 to explore trade ties and conduct meetings with business bodies in the country.

 

The delegation comprises representatives of sectors such as health care, information and communication technology (ICT), food, electric vehicles, defense, drones and engineering. This is a reciprocal visit by FICCI following a visit of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) delegation to multiple cities in India in November 2022.

 

The business delegation participated in the India-Türkiye Business Council meeting organized by DEIK at its headquarters in Istanbul on Monday.

 

Chairperson of the Indian Business Council and Gedik Holding CEO Hülya Gedik welcomed the delegation and highlighted the need for more robust business exchanges between India and Türkiye.

 

Leader of the Indian delegation, Navil Prasad, the CEO of Kirloskar Technologies, urged that bilateral trade had the potential to more than double the current level and that more investment in both countries must be the way forward.

 

He stated that India was open for business with Türkiye and that this visit to Istanbul was a signal of the openness of India for Türkish businesses.

 

Trade volume between the pair reached $12.3 billion in 2022, according to the Trade Ministry's data.

 

Consul General of India Mijito Vinito said that India presented a growth opportunity and partnership, and challenged the private sector on both sides to increase the frequency of focused business exchanges.

 

Çagtay Özden, head of the Department of Asia Pacific Countries of the Trade Ministry presented a detailed overview of the current trade and investment status between India and Türkiye and suggested steps ahead that could be taken.

 

The FICCI delegation also had fruitful meetings with the leadership of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSIAD) and paid a visit to Yildiz Technopark.

 

The delegation will head to Izmir for business meetings with the Izmir Chamber of Commerce and the Aegean Exporters Association.

The Maharashtra government has announced that it will establish onion storage banks across the State and use nuclear technology for irradiation to extend the freshness and shelf life of the bulb crop. 

 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced in the State legislature that the government has initiated this step to ensure that onion farmers don’t suffer loss due to price fluctuation and have well-equipped storage.

 

Nuclear technology for onion irradiation involves using controlled doses of ionising radiation to make onions safer to eat by killing harmful microorganisms and extending their shelf life. It’s a way to improve food safety and reduce spoilage without making the food radioactive.

 

Ionising radiation has enough energy to alter the structure of atoms. In the case of onion irradiation, the goal is not to make the onions radioactive but to use the energy to affect certain components in the onions. Irradiation can slow down the natural process of ripening and decay, which extends the freshness and shelf life of the onions. 

 

Shinde said nuclear scientist Anil Kokadkar will guide the State government in this project. 'Farmers are facing losses due to unavailability of storage space. The onion bank concept based on nuclear technology will ensure that onion crop is not damaged when it is stored. This project will boost onion production and also help farmers to fetch good price for their produce,' said Shinde.   

 

Maharashtra contributes approximately 43 per cent of India’s onion production and majority of farmers store their produce in traditional chawls. Despite housing Asia’s biggest onion market in Lasalgaon, Nashik farmers rue that they have to struggle to keep their onions safe from rains and humidity due to the unavailability of quality storage facilities.

 

How it will be done?  

 

Onions will exposed to controlled doses of ionising radiation. This is usually done in a special facility where the process is carefully monitored. The onions are not heated, and they don’t become radioactive. 

 

Regulatory agencies set standards and guidelines to ensure that irradiated food, including onions, is safe to eat. These guidelines ensure that the radiation levels used are effective for the intended purpose but do not pose a risk to consumers.

India's ban on the export of onions has driven up prices of the vegetable for Asian buyers, who are scrambling for cheaper alternatives, particularly as New Delhi is unlikely to lift the curbs before general elections next year.

 

The world's biggest exporter of onions banned shipments on Dec. 8 after domestic prices more than doubled in three months following a drop in production.

 

Now retail shoppers from Kathmandu to Colombo are struggling with high prices, since traditional Asian buyers, such as Bangladesh, Malaysia and Nepal, and even the United Arab Emirates, rely on imports from India to bridge domestic gaps.

 

'Onions are needed for almost everything we cook,' said Mousumi Akhtar, who works in the private sector in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. 'This sudden price hike is tough to swallow. I've had to cut back on how much I buy.'

 

From the belacan shrimp paste of Malaysia and Bangladeshi biryani to chicken chillies in Nepal or Sri Lankan fish curry, Asian consumers have built up a serious dependence on Indian supplies of onions to lend spice to their favourite dishes.

 

Traders estimate that India accounts for more than half of all imports of onions by Asian countries. Its shorter shipment times against those from rival exporters such as China or Egypt, are key to preserving the taste of the perishable commodity.

 

India exported a record 2.5 million metric tons of onions in the financial year that ended on March 31, with 671,125 tons going to neighbouring Bangladesh, its biggest buyer of the vegetable.

 

To overcome the shortage, Bangladesh is trying to source more from China, Egypt and Turkey, said commerce ministry official Tapan Kanti Ghosh.

 

As general elections approach next month in Bangladesh, the government has begun selling onions at subsidised prices to the poor, hoping to offset a surge of more than 50% in prices after India's ban.

 

Even worse is the situation in landlocked Nepal, which imports most of its onions.

 

'Since the ban by India, we have monitored the supply situation at different places. There are no onions on sale,' said Tirtharaj Chiluwal, an official of the Himalayan nation's commerce ministry.

 

Nepal is considering imports from China and may ask India to make an exception and allow exports, said ministry spokesperson Gajendra Kumar Thakur.

 

LIMITED OPTIONS

 

Importing nations have to contend with more expensive supplies from China, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, which have all hiked prices since India is out of the market, said Ajit Shah, an Indian exporter.

 

All would run out of supplies if India's ban lasted for an extended period, said one exporter based in Mumbai, the financial capital.

 

Within a week after the ban, onions became 20% cheaper in India as supplies from the new season's crop came in, traders said.

 

Now, with domestic supplies more than adequate to satisfy demand at home, Shah, the exporter, said India should allow exports to maintain its global market position.

 

But the curbs are unlikely to go before next year's general elections, as the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is to hold down food prices, the Mumbai-based exporter said.

 

New Delhi has also reined in exports of rice, sugar and wheat.

 

Since India's ban, onion prices have nearly doubled in Sri Lanka, which is slowly emerging from its worst financial crisis in nearly seven decades.

 

Malaysia, like other importers, is also trying to secure supplies from China and Pakistan, said Seri Mohamad Sabu, its agriculture minister.