National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in Cuttack has taken up a project to help farmers produce and export aromatic rice.

 

NRRI director Amaresh Kumar Nayak said the institute has supplied high-yielding varieties of aromatic rice to members of farmer producer organisations (FPO)s of four selected districts — Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput — for cultivation.

 

'The institute will not only promote aromatic rice cultivation in these districts, but also connect with firms which can export the produce. The NRRI has signed a tripartite agreement with an export firm and the FPOs for better production and marketing of the product,' Nayak said.

 

'We will provide technical backup with respect to variety, package and practices and developing the standards. The procuring firm has a buyback agreement with the FPOs so that farmers will not face any problem of procurement and get a fair price for their produce,' Nayak added.

 

He said they are exploring the possibilities of exporting a consignment of aromatic rice within a few months. 'As the international markets look for both long and short grain aromatic rice, we should produce, package and market the product to meet the export quality,' Nayak said.

 

Cooperative export body NCEL gets nod to export 14.92 lakh tones non-basmati rice, 50k tonnes sugar: Amit Shah

NCEL, the cooperative export body, has received permission to export 14,92,800 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonnes of sugar to two countries. It aims to double its revenue by 2025. NCEL has received 2,581 membership applications from 22 states and Union Territories. The society will promote exports of agricultural commodities, provide a complete export ecosystem, and help cooperatives access wider markets. It will focus on procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, and trading of cooperative products.

 

Chhattisgarh: Congress fails to rice to the occasion

 

The Congress government in Chhattisgarh hoped to benefit from higher paddy procurement prices, but the BJP set the narrative and outperformed them. The Baghel government fulfilled its promise of paying Rs 2,500 per quintal to farmers and offered an additional agriculture input subsidy. They pledged Rs 3,200 per quintal this time, Rs 100 more than the BJP's manifesto. However, the BJP promised to purchase every grain produced by farmers under MSP and offered to procure 1 quintal more per acre than the Congress. The Congress failed to recognize the changing tides in the paddy fields.

 

Karnataka IT exports jump 27% to Rs 3.2 lakh crore, contributes 42% to India's IT exports

 

Karnataka's IT exports grew 27% to Rs 3.2 lakh crore in 2022-23, contributing 42% to India's IT exports.

 

The Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2023 showcased tech leaders, startups, and investors from over 30 countries. Karnataka is the most sought-after destination for GCCs, hosting 40% of GCCs in India. The state has added 20 new GCCs every year since 2000. Karnataka is home to over 5,500 IT/ITeS companies, generating both direct and indirect employment. It also has a significant share in electronics design, machine tools manufacturing, aerospace & defense manufacturing, and biotechnology exports. Additionally, 63% of the state's renewable energy comes from renewable sources.

Share to Twitter

Members of Bahadoli Jambhul Utpadak Shetkari Gat claimed that the fruit, which has been grown for decades and is a major source of income for thousands of farmers, would sell more as a result of the new identification.

 

Five years after a farmers' group started making efforts towards it, Bahadoli village in Palghar taluka, also referred to as "Jambulgaon," has been granted a geographical indication (GI) tag for its distinctive oblong-shaped fruit.

 

Members of Bahadoli Jambhul Utpadak Shetkari Gat claimed that the fruit, which has been grown for decades and is a major source of income for thousands of farmers, would sell more as a result of the new identification.

 

“The GI tag will help increase the price. This is the second such tag for a fruit in Palghar district after the chickoo of Bordi and Dahanu. Efforts of various government officials, including the district collector, Govind Bodke, are appreciated, " Prakash Kini, a jamun cultivator was quoted as saying by HT.

 

 

In 2018, a resident of Bahadoli named Jagdish Patil took the initiative to organize a group of farmers cultivating jamun and then went ahead and completed the paperwork to obtain a GI tag for the fruit. The next step after the creation of the Gat was to speak with Tarun Vaity, the agriculture officer for the Palghar taluka.

 

About Bahadoli Jamun

 

Bahadoli jamun weighs 18.32 grams and measures about 3.10 cm in length and 2.87 cm in width. According to the Geographical Indications Journal issue that was published on November 29, this is one of the nine fruits, pulses, vegetables, and other items in Maharashtra that have been given a designated identification.

India has extended restrictions on the outbound shipments of onions until the end of this fiscal year or March 31, 2024, as the government seeks to ensure ample supply in the country and keep a lid on prices of this key political crop that in the past was associated with toppling governments.

 

The government had introduced a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne on onion exports from October 28 until December 31 this year. This measure aims to boost the availability of onions in the domestic market and control their prices.

 

The government today extended the same restriction on onion exports, Reuters reported citing a government order.

 

The all-India retail price of onions increased 94.39% to Rs 57.85 a kilogram on November 29 from Rs 29.76 per kg a year ago, according to the government data.

 

There was an increase of 58% and 35% in prices of onions and tomatoes respectively in November over October, prompted by festive demand and lower output in Kharif season due to erratic rainfall conditions, according to a report by CRISIL.

 

A steep rise in prices of food essentials – wheat, rice, pulses, sugar, onions - in India in the past few months is a major concern for the Narendra Modi-led government, which will face voters in the general elections in April-May 2024.

 

The government had imposed an export duty of 40% on onions in August. However, that did not help in curtailing their exports substantially. Rampant under-invoicing of exports undermined the duty, prompting the government to scrap it and impose a minimum export price of $800 per metric tonne on onions.

 

This year, key onion exporters such as Egypt and Turkey had banned onion exports. Onion production in Pakistan is lower, while Holland has also resorted to imports.

 

Owing to recurring onion export bans enforced by the Indian government previously, India's portion in several significant export markets has dwindled drastically, dropping from 80% to as minimal as 30% in certain nations.

India on Thursday allowed export of non-Basmati white rice to five African nations despite a ban on its outbound shipments since July.

 

In a separate notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also announced a one-time exemption to the Indian Rice Exporters Federation for the export of 20 MT of non-basmati rice to Nepal. The exemption has been granted as a donation to Nepal's National Disaster Risk and Management Authority (NDRMA) to provide relief to earthquake victims in the Himalayan nation.

 

The government allowed export of 240,000 tonne non-basmati rice to Comoros, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Egypt through National Cooperatives Exports Limited (NCEL). Comoros will get 20,000 tonne of non-basmati rice, Madagascar (50,000 tonne), Equatorial Guinea (10,000 tonne), Kenya (1 lakh tonne) and Egypt (60,000 tonne), according to the DGFT notification.

 

Though exports of non-basmati white rice were banned on July 20 to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs and on request.

 

“One-time exemption from prohibition is granted to Indian Rice Exporters Federation for exports of 20 MT of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)…as a donation to Nepal earthquake victims,” the DGFT said in a notification.

 

India has allocated export quotas of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius, the UAE, Singapore, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles.

The newly set up cooperative export body National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) has got permission to export 14,92,800 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonnes of sugar to two countries, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha.

 

The NCEL was registered in January this year under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.

 

It covers agriculture and allied activities as well as handloom and handicraft items by enrolling a large number of co-operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 from the current level of about Rs 2,160 crore.

 

Shah, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said NCEL has so far received 2,581 applications for membership under different classes from 22 states and Union Territories.

 

'NCEL has so far got permission for exports of 14,92,800 tonne non-Basmati white rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonne sugar to two countries,' Shah said.

 

NCEL will provide a complete ecosystem for promotion of exports mainly of agricultural commodities for the benefits of our farmers, in which India has a comparative advantage, he said.

 

All cooperative societies, from the level of primary to apex, who are interested in exports, are eligible to become its members, he added.

 

The minister further said NCEL will focus on exporting the surpluses available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country, thereby, increasing the demand of Indian cooperative products/services across the globe and fetch best possible prices for such products/services.

 

It will promote exports through various activities including procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, labelling, packaging, certification, research and development, etc. and trading of all types of goods and services produced by cooperative societies, he said.

 

This society will also help cooperatives in getting benefits of various export related schemes and policies of different ministries in a focussed manner, he added.

In a partial modification in the order related to applications for licences/registration, FSSAI has revised the options for selecting the validity period during application for FSSAI licence and registration wherein the food businesses can now choose a period between 1 to 5 years.

 

This decision shall be applicable to both new and renewing applications.

 

'Henceforth, Food Business Operators applying for new licence/registration or applying for renewal shall be able to select the validity period of 1 to 5 years in their applications with effect from 08 th November 2023, with fee as applicable for the selected period as per Schedule 3 of FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011,' reads the order issued by the FSSAI.

 

The other conditions will remain unchanged, the order added.

 

Earlier, the FSSAI in January this year had issued a detailed order for renewal of licence/registration wherein it had decided to grant instant approval for renewal of licences/ registration of food businesses without requiring the scrutiny of the concerned authority aimed at streamlining the process of licensing/registration.

 

The conditions for such ‘grant of approval’ to the food businesses for renewal of licences/registration include ‘No change in the existing details of the licence/registration shall be allowed, and the FBOs whose licence/registration was cancelled or suspended, will not be allowed to renew.'

 

These conditions along with a declaration was also sought from the FBO regarding permissions from Central Ground Water Authority, if applicable, along with declaration that the FBO does not hold more than one active licence/registration to any other food business(s) at the same premises.

 

Under the conditions, there shall also be no late fee of Rs 100 per day levied if the renewal application is filed in the last 30 days prior to expiry. However, the penalties levied for applying renewal of expired licence/ registration upto 180 days after the date of expiry shall continue.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a landmark decree on Monday regarding measures to increase the efficiency of attracting investment into Kazakhstan and accelerating economic growth. India is one the countries from where Kazakhstan is seeking FDI.

 

As stipulated in the decree, the Investment Promotion Council will have the power to make binding decisions on both central and local government bodies and entities in the quasi-public sector. Additionally, the Council is empowered to develop temporary regulatory legal acts with the force of law, supplementing the government’s efforts to create a conducive environment for investment.

 

Tokayev has consistently demonstrated a proactive approach to attracting foreign investment and strengthening economic ties globally. He often engages in meetings with investors, both domestic and foreign, particularly during official visits abroad. A recent example of such diplomatic engagement occurred during the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

In UAE, Tokayev met with UAE Minister of Investment, Mohammed Al-Suwaidi. During their discussion, they explored potential collaboration on joint projects between UAE’s Presight AI Holding and Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, as well as strategic agreements involving QazaqGaz and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy focusing on artificial intelligence. Overall, Kazakhstan signed 20 agreements with foreign companies worth $4.85 billion in green energy, infrastructure, and digitization on the sidelines of COP28. The enhancement of the investment policy reflects a key component of Tokayev’s broader economic strategy.

 

According to the World Investment Report 2023, published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Kazakhstan saw an 83% increase in net foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, reaching $6.1 billion, despite a sharp decrease in global investment flows in 2022. Kazakhstan is leading in attracting FDI among post-Soviet Central Asian countries, securing a 61% share.

 

The Kazakh President’s decree aims to redirect investment into key sectors, particularly manufacturing, to ensure the sustainable development of the economy. The measures outlined in the decree are expected to streamline decision-making processes, promote accountability, and create a more favorable investment environment for both domestic and foreign investors.

Gujarat will host an event on agro and food processing at Anand on Thursday as part of the pre-Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, providing an opportunity for investors and business community to explore the benefits the state provides in the sector, Cabinet Minister Raghavji Patel said here on Tuesday.

 

A pre-Vibrant seminar on 'Leveraging Logistic Strength of Gujarat for Agro and Food Processing Sector' will be organised at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Auditorium at Amul in Anand on December 7, Patel told reporters.

 

'The event will serve as a platform for the government and the private sector to collaborate and discuss the infrastructural and logistical strengths of the state,' the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in the Gujarat government said.

 

More than 30,000 food processing units have been set up in the state, expanding the scope for value-addition to surplus produce, thanks to improved connectivity for exports, stated a government release.

 

The summit will consist of three sessions featuring panelists from both the industry and academia. The discussion will cover topics such as 'Vibrant Gujarat: Where Growth is Natural,' 'Food Supply Chain Management for 'One Earth, One Family, One Future,' and 'Gujarat Fortifying Global Food Platter with Greens, White, and Blue,' stated the release.

 

Bahadoli village in Palghar taluka, which is popularly known as ‘Jambulgaon’, has obtained a geographical indication (GI) tag for its unique oblong-shaped fruit, five years after a farmers’ outfit initiated efforts in this direction.

 

The new identification, members of Bahadoli Jambhul Utpadak Shetkari Gat said, would give a boost to the sales of the fruit which has been cultivated for decades and a primary source of livelihood for thousands of farmers.

 

Prakash Kini, a jamun cultivator, said, 'The GI tag will help increase the price. This is the second such tag for a fruit in Palghar district after the chickoo of Bordi and Dahanu. Efforts of various government officials, including the district collector, Govind Bodke, are appreciated.'

 

It was in 2018 that one Jagdish Patil, a resident of Bahadoli, took the initiative to form an organisation of farmers growing jamun and then proceeded with the documentation for securing a GI tag for the fruit. After the Gat came into being, the next effort was to approach Palghar taluka agriculture officer, Tarun Vaity.

 

Bahadoli jamun has an approximate length of 3.10 cm and width of 2.87 cm, and weighs 18.32 grams. This is one of the nine fruits, pulses, vegetables and others in Maharashtra to have got a special identification, as per the issue of Geographical Indications Journal published on Nov 29.

 

'Also on the list is Badalapur jamun but the two varieties have different characteristics,' said Ganesh Hingmire, who has taken the initiative to get GI tag for various fruits in the state.

 

Jamun cultivation is spread over 55 hectares at Bahadoli. Two of the trees are more than 100 years old while several others are between 50 and 80 years, farmers said. The cultivators get an average rate of Rs.250 per kg during the season which is of two months and starts in April.