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03 Nov, 2023 News Image Standards should not act as non-tariff barriers: Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.
New Delhi Standards for goods and services should help in promoting global trade and not act as non-tariff barriers, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Thursday. He said that standards should not be considered as non-tariff barriers but as some kind of non-tariff measures which can help in optimal results for both consumers as well as producers.
 
'If this becomes the right oil for the trade system, I think a lot of trade restrictions will come down in trade and it will help us take the world trade to USD 30 trillion by 2025 and USD 2 trillion by 2030 for India,' Barthwal said here at a G20 standards conclave organised by Bureau of Indian Standards.
 
Calling for harmonization in the standards ecosystem, he said that different countries are setting their own standards and that has a cost for global trade.
 
Many times producers and exporters also face difficulty not because of the standards but 'because of how they get implemented,' he said adding there is an important need to have coherence in the workings of standard-setting bodies and collaboration in the compliance ecosystem.
 
'Therefore the task before us is how to improve not only standard setting of different products but also how to set up testing ecosystem, how to set up conformity ecosystem and how to see that trade does not suffer because of these standards,' the secretary said.
 
In bilateral treaties, India is touching upon these issues because it feels that there should be a conformity assessment of standards-setting bodies.
 
'Another impression being created in the field of trade...is that if you look at the Global north and global south, you will find that although tariff barriers have come down, trade flows are much easier these days but there is a rise in non-tariff barriers,' he said.
 
He added that standards are supposed to be non-tariff measures and should look at the interest of consumers so that they get the right kind of products.
 
'But gradually what we are seeing is that non-tariff measures are becoming non-tariff barriers...we need to discuss among ourselves that how standards should not be seen as non-tariff barriers but some kind of non-tariff measures perhaps which can result in optimal output or results for both consumers as well as producers,' Barthwal said.
 

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Sustainability to enhance agro-commercial opportunities between Brazil and India.
Brazil can be a great partner for India by supplying proteins to supplement the population's dietary needs, whether in the form of vegetable or animal protein.
 
On an official mission to India, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, seeks to strengthen diplomatic relations and enhance ties of friendship between the countries through commercial and cooperation opportunities in the agricultural sector.
 
With the new government of President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil has regained credibility in the international agribusiness market.
 
In 10 months, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), under the leadership of Minister Carlos Fávaro, obtained access to 55 new markets for the export of Brazilian agribusiness products.
 
These new open markets include products such as beef, pork and poultry, bivalve molluscs and crustaceans, fertile eggs and day-old birds, cattle and buffalo embryos, poultry, pork and fish meal, chewable pet food, cotton, açaí juice, among others.
 
The new market accesses, include a diversified portfolio of countries such as China, India, Mexico, Chile, Dominican Republic, Canada, Russia, Indonesia, Egypt, Singapore, Angola, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Malaysia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan , Algeria, South Africa, Belarus, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
 
'The good diplomatic relations between countries have reinforced international confidence in the quality and health of the Brazilian product. We are strengthening ties based on the quality of our production and this has been demonstrated in the diversification of Brazilian agricultural exports to the world', noted Fávaro.
 
In regards to sustainable practices, Fávaro has presented the largest sustainable food production program in the world, which foresees the recovery and conversion of 40 million hectares of low-productivity pastures into arable areas in ten years in order to double the area for food production in Brazil without deforestation.
 
'Brazil can grow and increase 40 million hectares with agriculture, livestock and forestry in a sustainable way, being an example for the world', according to Fávaro.
 
Regarding trade, the two countries seek to intensify sanitary and phytosanitary negotiations with a focus on expanding trade by increasing market access from Brazilian products to India and Indian products to Brazil.
 
The Brazilian side is interested in exporting to India fresh avocado and citrus fruits; Brazil nuts and macadamia nuts; yerba mate powder; among other products. The Indian side shows interest in exporting to Brazil sorghum and millet; Coconut Water; milk and dairy products; meat and meat products; and others.
 
Brazilian agribusiness exports to India totaled US$2.95 billion in 2022, according to the Brazilian Agribusiness Foreign Trade Statistics System (AgroStat). The main exported products were soybean oil and sugar.
 
In the same year, imports of Indian agribusiness products totaled US$ 177.55 million, with purchases mainly of cotton textile products; cotton threads, threads and fabrics; onions; essential oils; chocolate; and cumin seeds.
 
In May 2023, India opened the market for the import of Brazilian açaí juice, a non-fermented drink, obtained by diluting açaí, clarified açaí or dehydrated açaí in drinking water, with or without added sugar.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Overseas ministerial, official delegations from many countries to participate in World Food India 2023: Pashupati Paras.
Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras on Wednesday said that people from about 88 countries from all over the world will participate in the second edition of the global mega food event, World Food India 2023, that will be held from November 3-5.
Speaking to ANI, Pashupati Paras also said that ministers from six countries are also coming to the event.
 
He further said that the event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 3, and President Droupadi Murmu will present the valedictory address on November 5.
'People from about 88 countries from all over the world will come to World Food India 2023. Ministers of 6 countries are also coming to it. It will be held from November 3-5. Before this, it was organized in 2017. At that time also its date was fixed from 3rd to 5th November. The event will be inaugurated by PM Modi on 3rd at 10 AM. It will conclude with the President's speech,' he said.
He further said that this is a very important event on a global level.
The event will be held from November 3-5 at Pragati Maidan in the national capital.
 
World Food India is an effort towards projecting the potential of the sector before global stakeholders. The event is a unique example of the whole of Government collaborative approach, as 11 central Ministries/ Departments & their associated autonomous bodies are participating in it, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries said in a release.
Earlier, Union Minister Prahlad Patel apprised of the wide international representation in the event and about 10 overseas Ministerial and official delegations from many countries are participating in the event.
 
'A Reverse Buyer Seller Meet is also being organized in association with the Department of Commerce and its associated commodity boards as part of the event and it is likely to have the participation of about 1000 overseas buyers from more than 75 countries. In all the event is likely to witness participation of more than 900 exhibitors,' he said.
The Netherlands will be the Partner Country in this edition of World Food India, while Japan and Vietnam are the Focus Countries.
The event is expected to attract over 900 exhibitors and 75,000 visitors over the three days. It will feature a wide range of activities, including exhibitions, B2B, B2G, and G2G meetings, and cultural programs.
One of the highlights of the event will be an attempt at setting a Guinness Record for the longest dosa in the world. 60 to 80 chefs will be working together to create a millet dosa over 100 feet long.
 
The event will also celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023 with a monumental installation of 50,000 tetra-pack containers of millet beverages, which will be distributed to underprivileged children.

 Source:  aninews.in
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Many large buyers from Turkey land in India to buy basmati rice; prices surge.
After India reduced the minimum export price (MEP) of basmati rice to $950 from $1200 per tonne last week, many large buyers from Turkey have landed in India to buy basmati rice resulting in prices surging to $975-$1000 per tonne in the export markets.
 
Farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and western UP are now getting Rs 3900 per quintal for their basmati paddy crop (1509 variety), a Rs 700 per quintal rise within a week's time fuelled by heavy demand from the global markets for basmati rice.
 
'The old contracts that were kept in abeyance because of sub-$1200 price per tonne are being shipped now. New orders are pouring in with large buyers from Turkey visiting India to pick up good volumes of basmati rice,' said Vijay Setia, a basmati exporter and past president of All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA).
 
On August 25, the government prohibited the export of basmati rice below $1,200 per tonne to prevent potential instances of 'illicit' shipment of regular white non-basmati rice disguised as high-quality basmati rice. It also kept the sub-$1,200 per tonne rice contracts in abeyance and asked the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to set up a committee to evaluate the contracts.
 
After several representations by the AIREA to reduce the MEP, the Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal agreed to bring down the MEP to $950 per tonne last week.

 Source:  economictimes.indiatimes.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Seminar, exhibition on agricultural product export development held in Salem.
A seminar and exhibition on agricultural product export development for farmers of three districts were held on Thursday.
 
The one-day events were held at a marriage hall at Neikarapatti, in which more than 250 farmers from Salem, Namakkal, and Erode districts participated.
 
Speaking at the seminar, Salem MP S.R. Parthiban said that it was conducted to explain the opportunities for farmers to export their produce. The agriculture products produced in these districts are getting a good response across the world.
 
Experts explained various topics like getting food licence, rules for export, issues to face in export, and insurance. Farmers were told to utilise their advice, Mr. Parthiban added.
 
Salem North MLA R. Rajendran said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is taking steps to improve the economic development of farmers and to explain the opportunities available for farmers from local level to global markets. Farmers may use modern technologies and earn more profit by exporting their produce.
 
From the three districts, turmeric, eggs, tapioca, chicken, and rice are exported. Turmeric from Erode is exported to Malaysia, America, Bangladesh, Germany, and Japan. Likewise, eggs from Namakkal are exported to Gulf countries; tapioca from Salem and Namakkal is exported to Australia, America, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, and Brazil; and mangoes are exported to Germany, Netherlands, and Europe. Similarly, corn is exported to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, Mr. Rajendran added.
 
Urging the farmers to utilise the export opportunities, Mr. Rajendran said that the Agri Business Department provides assistance to farmers to start a firm, bank accounts, pan cards, get export and import code numbers, select markets, send samples, and fix the price of the produce.

 Source:  thehindu.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Kochi hosts two-day horticulture workshop.
A two-day regional workshop focused on addressing issues related to the horticulture sector is underway in Kochi, attended by representatives from Southern states, Union Territories, and central agencies.
 
In his inaugural address, Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, outlined the objectives of the workshop and the need to step up the adoption of various schemes under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
 
He stressed on the need for innovation and modern technologies for the sustained development of the horticulture sector, besides addressing issues related to climate change, availability of quality planting material, and ensuring remunerative returns for farmers.
 
He invited project proposals from states for enhancing the scalability of various schemes with the participation of progressive farmers.
 
Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner and CEO CDB, stressed on the need for integrating food security with nutritional security in the efforts to achieve sustainable development. Horticultural crops have immense potential for carbon sequestration and are more adaptable to climate change, he said. The potential for the utilisation of products and by-products of horticultural crops and the scope for natural farming must be explored, he added.
 
The discussions and deliberations at the workshop are expected to help devise strategies for the sustained development of the horticulture sector.

 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Coffee prices may ease in 2024 on higher supplies, says World Bank.
Global coffee prices will likely ease further in 2024 on a projected increase in supplies from key producing countries such as Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia, according to the World Bank’s commodity markets outlook.
 
Prices of Arabica coffee declined by 14 per cent during the third quarter of 2023 over the previous quarter. Following this decline, Arabica prices are down by about 30 per cent compared with the year ago period. They are expected to ease going into 2024 as production is likely to increase by around 14 per cent during the upcoming 2023–24 season in Brazil and Colombia, the World Bank said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2023. Brazil and Colombia account for about 60 per cent of the global output of Arabica coffee.
 
Robusta prices, on the other hand, gained marginally by some 2 per cent during the September quarter. Robusta prices are currently over 17 per cent higher than the year-ago period. 'The robusta market is expected to remain tight as a decline in Indonesia and Uganda production of around 2.1 million bags outweighs the increase in Vietnam’s output of 1.4 million bags,' the Bank said. Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uganda account for more than two-thirds of global robusta production.
 
El Nino risk
'Following an estimated decline of more than 20 per cent during 2023, arabica prices are expected to soften marginally in 2024 and remain broadly stable in 2025. In contrast, robusta prices are expected to decline nearly 8 per cent in 2024, followed by a small decrease in 2025 after gaining almost 14 per cent in 2023. The intensification of El Niño and a more severe downturn of the global economy present key upside and downside price risks, respectively,' the Bank said.
 
In India, arabica prices have declined by over a third from their peak levels, tracking the global trend. Currently, farmgate prices of arabica parchment are hovering around Rs.10,900-11,200 per 50 kg bag, while the arabica cherry prices are ruling around Rs.6,450-6,650 levels. Robusta parchment prices are ruling firm around Rs.10,000-10,400 levels, while robusta cherry prices are hovering around Rs.5,900-6,200 levels. Growers will be harvesting the arabica coffee in the coming weeks.
 

 


 Source:  thehindubusinessline.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Bangladesh greenlights import of 19,400 tons of potatoes.
Bangladesh’ Agriculture Ministry has started issuing permits to importers, hoping to bring potato prices under control. Until now, the Department of Agricultural Extension gave clearance to import 19,400 tons of potatoes against 28 applications, said Md Kamrul Islam Buyan, senior information officer of the agriculture ministry.
 
According to asianews.network, the DAE began to issue permits for the import of the root vegetable a day after the commerce ministry decided to allow imports in an effort to contain prices that went up to Tk 65 per kg at retail, the highest on record, in Dhaka. Government agencies estimated the production of potatoes at 10 mln tons in the last harvesting season, higher than the previous one. The estimated annual consumption requirement is around 8 mln tons.
 
The relentless surge in potato prices in Bangladesh has shifted from being a cause for concern to setting unprecedented records. Potatoes are currently fetching prices ranging from Tk 65 to Tk 70 per kilogram in Dhaka's retail market. Despite various attempts to control this price surge, the government has resorted to importing potatoes. This deregulation of the potato market has persisted for the past two months.
 
The decision to import potatoes has raised questions, especially since the Ministry of Agriculture ceased potato exports, citing a surplus in production compared to domestic demand. This leaves us pondering why the prices of this agricultural product have reached historic highs in the local market.
 

 Source:  freshplaza.com
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Russia introduces mechanism for national currency payments for agricultural export.
Russia is introducing a mechanism for payments for agribusiness exports in national currencies as of November 1 under a presidential decree, Azernews reports, citing Interfax.
 
The decree 'On the special procedure for conducting settlements on foreign trade contracts for delivery of Russian agricultural products' was signed and published on August 8, 2023 and went into effect on the date of its official publication, with the exception of provisions for opening special accounts and the settlements mechanism, which went into effect on November 1.
 
The decree provides for the use of special Z-type ruble accounts and special Z-type foreign currency accounts for settlements on foreign trade contracts for deliveries of Russian agricultural products signed by resident exporters with foreign buyers in organized trading. These accounts will be opened at the request of foreign buyers by credit institutions that are authorized banks under the law on currency regulation and control. Banks will be able to open such accounts without the presence of a representative of the foreign buyer.
 
Foreign buyers will transfer funds to the 'Z' accounts in foreign currency, after which they will sell the forex to the authorized bank or instruct it to sell the forex in organized trading. The bank, in turn will deposit funds in rubles to the foreign buyer's 'Z' account and, based on their instructions and entries from the registry of contracts signed in organized trading, transfer the funds in rubles to the account of the resident exporter.
 
The decree prohibits the suspension of transactions on 'Z' accounts and the freezing or debiting of funds in them for the fulfillment of a foreign buyer's obligations that are not related to settlements on the foreign trade contract for the delivery of Russian agricultural products. An exception is made for cases stipulated in the Russian Tax Code and the August 3, 2018 law 'On customs regulation in the Russian Federation and amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation.'
 
The president has given the board of directors of Russia's Central Bank the authority to establish the rules for both types of 'Z' accounts. The government was instructed to approve a list of agricultural products that will be sold under this arrangement.
 
Under a government resolution signed on October 24, the list includes pork, poultry meat and edible by-products, milk and cream, barley, corn, wheat and meslin, soybeans, flax seeds, sunflower, soybean and rapeseed oils and sugar, as well as cake and other solid residue from extraction of fats.

 Source:  azernews.az
03 Nov, 2023 News Image Matabari Peda & Tripura Honey to be showcased at national level food fiesta in New Delhi.
In a bid to promote tourism and nurture the state’s culinary heritage on a global platform, Matabari Peda that holds a great religious and economic significance along with state produced honey will be showcased at the ‘World Food India 2023' festival in New Delhi.
 
‘World Food India 2023’ is a global event to be organized by the central government from November 03- 05 with an initiative to showcase, connect and collaborate.
 
To be held at Pragati Maidan at the national capital, the food fiesta will also help in introducing the world to rich Indian food culture as well as promoting investments in the diverse food processing sector of the country.
 
It is a matter of extreme pride for the entire state as for the first time in history, Matabari peda and state produced honey will find a place in the national arena.
 
A delegation of two owing allegiance to Udaipur’s Farmers Producer Organization including Chairman Jayanta Dutta and member Pradip Das will fly to Delhi to take part in the food festival.
 
Speaking in this context, Chairman of Udaipur Farmers Producer Organization hailed the present government in both State and Centre for such a call.
 
'15 kg each of Matabari peda and natural honey produced in the state will be taken to New Delhi. This will help both the products gain name and fame in the global platform', he said.

 Source:  tripuratimes.com