India, the second largest exporter of cashew products in the world, is looking at new geographies such as Japan, the European Union,South Korea, Taiwan and Australia to develop new export markets.

 

'Due its use in cosmetics and health industry, India can tap new markets like South Korea and Australia with whom we are looking at ‘organic equivalence’ agreements. We have already signed such an agreement for the promotion of exports,' a senior official of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) has said.

 

APEDA also plans to modernize cashew processing units to international levels after the Kerala High Court vacated the stay on the 2020 order of the government, transferring the export promotion activities of cashews to APEDA from the Cashew Export Promotion Council (CEPC).

 

The Government is looking at an increase of 10 per cent in exports in the current financial year.

 

Rich in unsaturated fats, copper, magnesium, mnganese, zinc, phosphorus, and iron, cashews are a key ingredient of several recipes of both regular and exotic dishes, adding flavour and taste. They are a great source of fiber and antioxidants and contain almost the same amount of protein as an equivalent quantity of cooked meat.

 

The country grew cashew in 11.84 lakh hectares in 2021-22, producing 7.52 lakh tonnes. 'Advance estimates suggest that the area is going to be marginally up at 11.92 lakh hectares with a production of 7.82 lakh tonnes,' he said.

 

Andhra Pradesh is one of the major cashew producing States with about one-sixth of the total area and production.

 

The country’s exports (cashew kernels, cashewnut shell Liquid, cardanol) fell a bit in 2022-23 from 80,366 tonnes in 2021-22 to 76.825 tonnes, dragging the export revenues down to ?2,982 crore from ?3,410 crore.

 

International Cashew Day

To mark the International Cashew Day on November 23, the APEDA is organising a workshop-cum-buyer-seller meeting, involving cashew growers, farmer producer organisations, traders and exporters in Visakhapatnam on November 23.

 

The workshop will be attended by the officials from the State Government, Nabard, Indian Institute of Packaging, SIDBI and FSSA.

The government may revoke the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that it had with Mozambique for import of 200,000 tonnes of tur dal, after the industry raised the issue with the Prime Minister’s office.

 

'The supply of tur from Mozambique is not steady yet as they are grappling with some corruption issues within their own country,' said a senior official who did not want to be named.

 

'This has left us with no other option but to consider cancelling the MoU,' he added.

 

The Indian government has issued several warnings to the representatives of the Mozambique government, however, the issue has not been resolved.

 

After waiting for months to import tur from Mozambique, trade body Indian Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) had sought help from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to look into the matter.

 

'We had written a letter to the PMO about how some corrupt officials in the Mozambique government have colluded with ‘one favourite’ exporter allowing only him to control all the export of tur from Mozambique to India. These corrupt officials and this one particular exporter have been keeping the tur prices artificially high,' said Bimal Kothari, president, IPGA, said.

 

Mozambique cultivates tur dal mainly for shipping it to India to cover the shortfall in the domestic production and has no other major buyers. Hence, large quantities of tur have been lying on ports of Africa, claim Indian importers.

 

Meanwhile tur prices have started to soften in the domestic market on account of harvest which has started in places like Koppal and Gulbarga in Karnataka.

 

This year, prices of tur have been elevated because of a patchy monsoon in 2022-23 in rain-fed growing belts in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana and some disease infestations keeping food inflation high.

 

The retail inflation in pulses as a category rose to 18.79% year-on-year in October mainly due to sharp spike in prices of tur, chana and moong.

India has launched a five-day Millets Festival here in the Indonesian capital to raise awareness for millets as a farmer-friendly and sustainable food choice and create a market for millets-based products among the 10-member ASEAN bloc.

 

The Indian Mission to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare have jointly organised the ‘ASEAN-India Millets Festival’ starting November 22 during which a Millet-centric exhibition is being held featuring participation from Millet-based FPOs, start-ups and Indian chefs.  

 

'The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) participated in the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit on September 7. During the ASEAN-India summit, one of the joint statements adopted was about food security,' India's Ambassador to ASEAN Jayant Khobragade said.

 

'In two months, we are having the Millet Festival which also covers food security. That is how effectively our comprehensive strategic partnership is working,' he said.

Describing millets as one of the important elements for ensuring food security, he said this was very well in the overall framework of the ASEAN-India relationship.

 

'There is a lot of interest. For this millet festival, we have representation not only from Indian farmers and industrialists but also from ASEAN member states,' he added.

 

Khobragade also highlighted the crucial role of millet in addressing global hunger and nutrient deficiencies.

 

Arief Prasetyo Adi, Head of the National Food Agency (Badan Pangan Nasional (BPN)) Indonesia, underscored millets as a farmer-friendly and sustainable food choice for the future in the face of climate change.

 

He said that the ASEAN -India Millet Festival has an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of millet, from nutritional status and environmental sustainability to economic development.

 

The ‘ASEAN-India Millets Festival’, at the Kota Kasablanka Mall, a prominent shopping destination in south Jakarta, aims to create a market for millets and millets-based products among the ASEAN Member states.

 

The 10 member countries of ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

 

Millets can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. They are, therefore, an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains.

 

India spearheaded the UN General Assembly Resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets', a move aimed at addressing food security challenges.

 

The Year will also promote the sustainable production of millets while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

 

India’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is leading a delegation at the event, representing a diverse set of professionals from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), industry leaders and more.

 

A Millet-centric exhibition is being held as part of the festival featuring participation from Millet-based FPOs, start-ups and Indian chefs.

 

The exhibition also aims to foster collaboration between ASEAN countries, celebrate cultural and culinary diversity and promote sustainable millet practices for a healthier future.

 

The exhibition features five Indian FPOs, namely Citi Block FPC, Jewargi Taluka Millets FPC, Bhumitrajalalpur, Vaam Agro, and Lambasingi Tribal Products FPC, and two start-ups namely Taru Naturals and Sattva Millets and Food Products (Mibbles) exhibiting unique millet-added products such as millet cookies, namkeen, khakhra, cakes, and more.

 

Ankit Patel, who represented Ahmedabad-based Vaam Agro company that deals in spices, said that he started manufacturing the millets-based products just four months ago and till now the company has sold products worth Rs 50 lakhs.

 

'We have started with six Millets products, including Dhokla and Khakhra. Our products have got a great response,' Patel said.

 

Indonesia-based Rizal Satria said that he started manufacturing millet-based products three years ago when very few people in his country knew about such products.

 

'Now more people know about it and we expect a steady growth in our Millets business of Millets,' he said.

 

A major highlight of the festival is the live cooking workshop, where celebrity chefs from India and Indonesia will showcase the culinary potential of millets.

The FSSAI has issued an order setting the revised application fees for 'vegan logo endorsement' at Rs 10,000 excluding GST.

 

The fee has been reduced from the previously announced Rs 25,000 excluding GST per product.

 

Now the application fee is set at Rs 10,000 excluding GST per application irrespective of number of products.

 

The food authority has issued an order, in this regard, and the revised application fee for vegan logo endorsement shall come into force with immediate effect.

 

'In continuation of the revised guidelines dated 24th February 2023 regarding submission of applications for endorsement of vegan logo and formats thereof, it is stated that FSSAI has

revised the application fees for vegan logo endorsement for applied products from Rs 25,000 excluding GST per product to Rs 10,000 per application irrespective of number of products,' reads the order of the FSSAI.

 

Previously, the FSSAI has issued a FAQ on vegan logo endorsement to help the food businesses, which clearly says that vegan endorsement is only applicable for products that are not of animal origin (like milk and milk products /meat and meat products/fish and fish products/poultry & egg products/cheese analogues/dairy analogues) and in which, at no stage of production and processing, ingredients (like honey), including additives (like gelatine), flavourings, enzymes and carriers, or processing aids (like bone char filter) that are of animal origin has been used.

The government on Thursday clarified onion consignments that have been handed over to the customs authorities and are registered in their systems before October 29 can be exported till November 30. On October 28, the government imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 800 per tonne on onion exports till December 31 this year with a view to increase availability of the vegetable in the domestic market and to contain prices.

 

'Where onion consignment has been handed over to the customs before October 29, 2023... and is registered in their system/ where onions consignment has entered the customs station for exportation before this notification and is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned custodian of the customs station with verifiable evidence of date and time stamping of these commodities having entered the station prior to October 29.

 

'The period of export shall be up to November 30 this year,' the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said.

 

It added that the export duty paid before issuance of this notification would not be refunded.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority -APEDA (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India) celebrated the National Cashew Day on 23rd November 2023 at Hotel Green Park, Visakhapatnam in association with Andhra Pradesh Cashew Manufacturer’s Association, Andhra Pradesh.

 

The programme was graced by Chief Guest of Sri. M. Venkateshwarlu, Additional Director of Horticulture, Dept. of Horticulture, Govt. of AP, emphasized on Cashew cultivation technologies, Cashew production, value addition, mechanisation in processing, exports of cashew from Andhra Pradesh and government supported schemes to cashew FPOs, processors etc.

 

Sri K. Polaiah, APEDA Authority Member addressed on cashew exports and APEDA contribution in exports.

 

Mr. Phani Raghavulu, President, Andhra Pradesh Cashew Manufacturer’s Association, AP highlighted cashew industry growth in India, issues faced by industry and intervention of state and central government for sustaining cashew industry.

 

The officials from various departments i.e. Dept. of Horticulture, Indian Institute of Packaging, Plant Quarantine Station, EIA, Visakhapatnam Port Authority, FSSAI, DMI, SIDBI, NABARD, AP Food Processing Society and Cashewnut Research Station have participated and given presentation on their role in cashew production, marketing and promotion. 

 

Mr. RP Naidu, AGM have deliberated role of APEDA in Cashew exports and its promotion in global level and financial assistance schemes to exporters.

 

Around 160 members were attended event which includes Officials, farmers, FPOs, processors, exporters and members from APCMA (Andhra Pradesh Cashew Manufacturer’s Association).

 

The exporters have displayed various cashew based products. 10 CEO’s of Cashew FPOs from six districts have participated and connected with processors and exporters. This event is helpful for FPOs to linkage with cashew processors and exporters to market their produce.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said the proposed free trade agreements with the European Union and four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) group are doable, but they should keep in mind India’s concerns as the level of economic development is different.

 

'We are in active dialogue with the EU and EFTA for a free trade agreement... I do believe that both of these are eminently doable and will significantly help us expand our engagement not only in trade in goods services, but also in investments, technology, tourism, innovation, and clean energy,' Goyal said at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) India-Nordic Baltic Business Conclave.

 

The Nordic Region nations include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Greenland, while Baltic states include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

 

He said the EU and EFTA countries need to understand certain 'very important and significant' differences between the two set of regions.

 

EFTA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

 

India and EFTA are negotiating a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.

 

Goyal said Nordic and Baltic nations can act as India’s ambassadors in the EU and the EFTA to help them understand certain very important and significant differences between the two set of regions engaging with each other.

 

'Unless this is understood by the member countries of the EU and the EFTA, it will be very difficult to look at really concluding a high quality but fair, balanced, and equitable arrangement between them,' Goyal said.

 

Citing the example of Norway, Goyal said Norway has about 6,000 fishermen as compared to about 4 million in India, who are small and marginalised. While Indian fishermen are engaged in basic fishing near the shores, as compared to developed nations where fishermen go deep into the sea for fishing, he said.

 

The amount of investment in subsidising Norway's fishermen is multi-fold as compared to India.

 

'It is not an equal competition,' he said, adding that free trade has to have enough opportunity to catch up 'when you are staring from two different levels'.

 

He said the Nordic-Baltic region has come close to India in recent years and Indian cuisine, Bollywood, yoga, ayurveda, and textiles are popular in that region, and that these nations have the best of innovation, green tech, AI, and blockchain-led transformation, supply chain logistics and fintech and these are the areas where there is a huge scope for collaboration with India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a consultation with senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and envoys on strengthening India's commitment to BIMSTEC.

 

'A productive consultation on strengthening India's commitment to BIMSTEC. Joined by senior MEA officials, our Ambassadors in BIMSTEC countries and our incoming Secretary General,' Jaishankar posted on X on Thursday.

 

BIMSTEC: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation -- is an international organisation of seven countries; Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

 

It is a regional multilateral organisation and its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.

 

BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia but also the ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

 

It mainly aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development; accelerate social progress; and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region.

 

Earlier in July, Jaishankar attended the inaugural BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand which saw the participation by foreign ministers of all the seven BIMSTEC members.

 

During the meeting, EAM took forward New Delhi's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, which are part of India's foreign policy focussing on its extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Meanwhile, the virtual G20 Summit was held under the chairmanship of PM Modi on Wednesday. The 18th G20 Leaders' Summit was held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.

 

It saw the unanimous adoption of the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, which demonstrated the commitment of the G20 leaders to address global challenges in an inclusive, decisive and action-oriented manner.

 

During his remarks after the summit, Jaishankar revealed that G20 members welcomed the understanding reached on critical issues, including the release of hostages, the flow of relief material to Gaza, and a temporary pause in the fighting. The leaders conveyed a strong sentiment towards ensuring the implementation of the agreed-upon commitments.

 

He also underlined the summit's significance as the first gathering of world leaders following the outbreak of conflict in West Asia. 

India is developing sea protocols for various fresh fruits and vegetables like bananas, mangoes, pomegranates and jackfruit to promote their exports through ocean routes, a senior government official said on Tuesday.  

At present, most of these exports are happening by air route because of lower volumes and different ripening periods.  

 

The protocol includes understanding voyage time, scientifically understanding the ripening of these commodities, harvesting at a particular time and training of farmers. These protocols will be different for different fruits and vegetables.  

Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry Rajesh Agrawal said shipments through sea route have two advantages - cost and volume.  

 

The exercise would help boost exports of fruits and vegetables as shipments through air cargo have a positive impact on the price competitiveness of these commodities.  

'So far, we are using air routes to export these perishable goods. But now, we are trying to see how we can use the sea route to send these agri products. Now, we have started developing sea protocols,' he said.  

One of the challenges in agri exports in India has been that the majority of these goods use air cargo, and because freights are high, it reduces the competitiveness of those products, he added.  

 

To start with, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), along with other stakeholders, has developed these protocols for bananas.  

'We did dummy testing in a container, and now, for actual testing, the first container has been shipped to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.  

'We are confident that it will be successful, and once this is done and importers start accepting it, the volumes will increase in a substantial way,' he added.  

Importing countries will also have to come on board to accept those consignments.  

An increase in exports of fresh fruits and vegetables can help push shipments of agri products at a time when India has prohibited exports of non-basmati white rice and wheat.  

 

For the trial shipment of bananas, APEDA has enlisted the support of ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow, for technical assistance, while InI Farms has partnered with Del Monte for marketing and distribution in Europe and Maersk for logistics.  

Despite being the world's largest banana producer, India's export share is currently just one per cent in the global market, even though the country accounts for 26.45 per cent of the world's banana production at 35.36 million metric tonnes.  

In 2022-23, India exported bananas worth  $176 million, equivalent to 0.36 MMT.  

During April-August this year, mangoe exports rose by 19 per cent to $47.98 million.  

 

Besides the US, the major destinations include Japan, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.  

During April-October this fiscal, exports of fruits and vegetables grew by about 13 per cent to about $2 billion.

The 46th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission will be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy starting from November 27.

 

The plenary discussions will take place from 10am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm on November 27 to 30, 2023. Three side events will be held on December 1, 2023, to discuss: implementation of Codex standards, reducing foodborne antimicrobial resistance and the Codex Trust Fund. Report adoption will take place on December 2, 2023 from 10am.

 

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the session will open with three moderated panel discussions looking back on Codex achievements and toward the future.

 

Ten technical and commodity Codex committees and two FAO/WHO coordinating committees met since last year’s Codex Alimentarius Commission in November 2022, to complete work on a range of standards which have been proposed for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.