The Custom authority does not need to send an imported food item for clearance to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) if it is meant for re-export or production of value-added items, which are only for exports, the authority has clarified.

 

The clarification came after several business groups and industry associations approached the regulator in the view of objections raised in some quarters.

 

The advisory should also facilitate ease of doing business. The FSSAI stated that consignments don’t need clearance if they are imported for use in a company’s sister concerns or wholly-owned subsidiaries, meant for 100 per cent export production. 

 

However, this is subject to a defined relationship agreement between the two entities and accompanied with a sanitary or health certificate issued by the competent authority of an exporting country.

 

The food importers may take a self-declaration to the Customs authority, following which the concerned official may issue a ‘not in scope’ certificate to facilitate the import. 

The pace of tur imports from Mozambique has slowed down significantly, resulting in slower correction in domestic tur prices. Indian importers alleged that more than 1.5 lakh tonnes of tur have been lying at the ports in Mozambique for more than a month as the exporters of that country are 'holding the tur cargo to ransom.'

 

India has been facing shortages of pulses like tur, urad and masur. Although retail inflation eased to 5.02% in September, prices of pulses rose from 13% in August to 16.4% in September.

 

Tur prices have stabilised following the recent government measure of tightening the stock limit on traders and processors. 'However, the prices of African tur, which have declined by 5%, could have reduced by another 10% if the imports had been smooth,' said a pulse importer from Maharashtra.

 

'Tur dal prices have been stable for some time. However, the prices of the African whole tur with skin, which were expected to decrease to Rs.75-80/kg, have only declined to Rs.90/kg from a high of Rs.95-96/kg due to slower pace of imports from Mozambique,' the importer added.

 

'Some the traders from Mozambique are trying to artificially increase the prices and block supplies to India.'

In a significant development that would open up new opportunities for Indian poultry in the global market, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved the country's self-declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in specific poultry compartments (approved farms) in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

 

India is currently the third-largest producer of eggs (130 billion) and the fifth-largest producer of poultry meat (4.5 million tonnes) in the world. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, India exported poultry and poultry products to 64 countries, generating revenue of 134 million USD.

 

Zoning and compartmentalization are strategic tools used to establish and maintain groups of animals with specific health statuses for the purposes of international trade and disease prevention or control. It involves defining a sub-population of animals with a specified health status within the national territory.

 

'The maintenance of this status relies on stringent management and husbandry practices that adhere to the standards outlined in the WOAH terrestrial code and recommendations related to specific disease chapters,' said a statement from the ministry of fisheries and animal husbandry that had submitted a self-declaration of freedom from (HPAI) in 26 poultry compartments in four states to the (WOAH).

 

Referring to the approval that came on Friday, coinciding with World Egg Day, the ministry a day after said, 'This recognition by WOAH signifies India's commitment to international biosecurity standards and will contribute to enhancing the export potential of Indian poultry and poultry products, including meat and eggs.'

 

Bird flu was first detected in India in Maharashtra in February 2006. Since then, the country has experienced its annual outbreaks in different regions, leading to substantial economic losses. The disease had been reported in 24 states and union territories, resulting in the culling of over 9 million birds to control its spread, in the past.

The state government will felicitate the progressive farmers, primarily those engaged in cultivation of millets, during a three-day workshop scheduled to be organised in Lucknow’s Indira Gandhi Pratishthan between October 27 and 29.

 

According to a state government spokesperson, farmers from six divisions -- Lucknow, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Basti, Azamgarh and Devipatan -- will participate on the first day of the convention titled Sri Anna Mahotsav and state level millets workshop. The event will be inaugurated by CM Yogi Adityanath.

 

The second day will see participation by farmers from Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Agra and Moradabad. On the final day (29 October) farmers from Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Varanasi, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj and Mirzapur division will participate in the convention.

 

The state government aims to bring in at least 50 progressive farmers from every district to the workshop. Besides this 10 representatives of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and 10 technical assistants will participate in the conference.

 

This comes ahead of the scheduled Krishi Kumbh scheduled in December. 'The government is encouraging farmers under Millets Year,' the spokesperson said.

 

Besides, teachers and children of agricultural universities and two colleges will also participate in the workshop.

 

The government will also create awareness about the production, consumption, marketing, export etc. of millets. As many as thirty five FPOs will be given certificates for seed money, the spokesperson said.

 

India represents enormous opportunities for Georgia’s Ports.  The Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) overall trade with India grew faster than its trade with any other country among the top 20 over the past fiscal year.

 

No other U.S. port expanded India trade by more containers than the Port of Savannah, by a margin of 14,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units, according to PIERS-Enterprise loaded cargo data.

 

'Our growth trajectory with India is extremely strong and we are actively taking steps to increase our presence in the market,' said Griff Lynch, GPA president and CEO.  'As production shifts to India and as demand in its economy rises, that trade increasingly favors the Port of Savannah’s strategic location over West Coast ports, due to time and cost.'

 

Import-export volumes between Savannah and India totaled 279,149 TEUs last fiscal year, for an increase of 18 percent or 43,333 TEUs.

 

Facts

 

GPA exports to India grew by 50% in FY23 vs FY22 and by nearly 80% in the past five years.

Overall GPA trade with the South Asian nation grew by 18% in the past fiscal year and 61% over the past five years.

Savannah handles more India trade than any other U.S. port except NY/NJ.

GPA imports from India over the past five years were up 52%. In FY23, imports constituted 63% of GPA’s total India volumes, signaling well-balanced trade.

GPA has weekly container services with India’s major ports of Nhava Sheva (India’s commercial and financial hub – and largest port), Mundra and Pipavav.

Quick stats on India

 

India is the world’s fastest growing major economy and is expected to become the third largest economy by 2027.

The median age is 28 in India vs. 38 in China.

India’s global exports were one-tenth of China’s in 2021, but now exceed all other emerging markets except Mexico’s and Vietnam’s, according to World Bank data.

India’s infrastructure is getting sweeping upgrades and the nation plans to invest $82 billion in port projects by 2035.

 

Georgia’s ports and inland terminals support more than 561,000 jobs throughout the state annually, and contribute $33 billion in income, $140 billion in revenue and $3.8 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. CNBC ranked Georgia #1 in the U.S. for infrastructure in America’s Top States for Business in 2023. 

 

GPA is investing in future supply chains with a $1.9 billion port master plan and a $6 million workforce housing initiative. The Port of Savannah is grateful and fortunate to have one of the most extensive, industry-leading supply chain ecosystems through our business partners operating near the port that serve the logistics needs of thousands of customers and ensure long-term competitiveness, business resiliency and future growth capabilities. For more information, visit gaports.com or contact Tom Boyd at tboyd@gaports.com or call (912) 964-3855.

The two-day Congress of the International Association of Agricultural Museums (CIMA), organised in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation, commenced at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Monday.

 

World Food Prize winner Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, praised the university for hosting Asia’s first agricultural museums conference and underlined the tireless efforts of Punjab’s farmers and scientists in ensuring food security and reviving agriculture.

 

Dr Khush highlighted PAU’s museums as tributes to the state’s agricultural heritage and culture, encapsulating the wisdom and efforts of the farming community. He traced the transformative impact of agriculture on human history, connecting societies and fostering the growth of civilisation.

 

'Museums serve as ideal platforms for preserving and showcasing diverse agricultural practices, tools, irrigation techniques, and crop cultivation methods through generations. Additionally, they facilitate research and collaboration, paving the way for revolutionary farming practices in the future,' he said.

 

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal lauded the event as a significant milestone in promoting the cultural fabric of agriculture and underscored the vital role of agriculture in Punjab’s culture, emphasising how the university’s museums condense the intricate relationship between ecosystems, land, water, seeds, fertilizers, and sustainability.

 

Professor Debra Reid, curator of Agriculture and Environment at the Henry Ford Museum, USA, discussed the significance of bringing the congress to India and highlighted the country’s growing importance in agriculture. She also noted the shift in the congress’s focus from primarily European to an increasingly Indian perspective.

 

A book on the museums of PAU was also released during the event.

Mayiladuthurai district is now part of the Protected Agricultural Zone. The state Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill to amend the TN Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020 for this purpose.

 

The bill also provides for including ‘animal husbandry and inland fishery’ within the ambit of the term ‘Agriculture’. Besides, the water resources minister and food minister, water resources secretary, and food secretary have been included as members of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Zone Development Authority.  

 

The decision to include Mayiladuthurai district in the Protected Agricultural Zone was taken at the first meeting of the authority chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin on May 12, 2022. The previous AIADMK regime, in February 2020, had formed the Protected Agricultural Zone by including Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, certain blocks of Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts. 

 

Welcoming the decision, Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan said the government should come forward to include the entire Cuddalore district as part of the zone. M Sinthanai Chelvan of Congress too welcomed the move and said originally, Kattumannarkovil taluk was under the zone. After this taluk was bifurcated, the Srimushnam area was not covered under the zone.  

 

10 bills passed

On the concluding day of the short-duration winter session of the state Assembly, 10 bills were passed. When Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill came up for consideration, Velmurugan welcomed it but proposed an amendment to be made in future. He said the private universities have refused to admit students on a merit basis despite receiving huge funds from the state government. The government should bring in an amendment in future to check this trend.

The Africa Agri Expo (AAE) - Africa’s largest agriculture gathering is a well-known event among agriculture enthusiasts — especially those who are targeting the African agriculture sector.

 

The show after the conclusion of its previous six editions has now started inviting participation for its successor —  the 7th edition, scheduled for 19th and 20th Feb 2024 in Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

 

The two-day exhibition cum conference will witness participation from more than 35 countries and TAB group (the organizers) are confident of surpassing all previous records. The anticipated footfall will be 5000+ with thousands of global agriculture companies taking the lead.

 

The show is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Kenya and companies that will be here at the show will get tremendous exposure in terms of new markets, insights, prospects and captivating deals.

 

New technologies and solutions that can aid and uplift Africa’s rich agribusiness market will be the centre of attraction when displayed in front of the attendees. Top companies from agrochemicals, agriculture machinery, equipment, technologies, fertilizers and irrigation and many more will be present, and it will be a boon to watch new offerings first-hand.

 

The conference, having 500+ senior delegates, ministry officials, key associations’ representatives, decision-makers and highly designated persons will run parallel to the exhibition.

 

With more than 10 sessions comprising technical, knowledge and panel discussions – the expert speakers will talk about how to strengthen the agriculture sector, make food more resilient and at the same time figure out ways towards achieving sustainability targets — incorporating new technologies and solutions.

 

Top companies and organisations like Rokosan, Natural Storage Solutions, DVA, Draminski, A & S Thai Works, Navbharat Seeds, Borregaard, Agrex Do Brasil, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), National Irrigation Authority Kenya (NIA), Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), aak/CropLife Kenya, Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Society of Crop Agribusiness Advisors of Kenya, Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) and many others who are already coming to the show to engage and talk business with people that matter most to their business.

 

7th AAE is running an Early Bird Offer till 31st Oct 2023 wherein interested companies can book their booths or buy conference tickets at significantly discounted rates.

Maharashtra, the second largest producer of chana and sixth largest for wheat in the country, plans to cut area under chana and wheat by 27% and 20% respectively during the rabi season. Instead, it plans to increase area of crops like jowar and maize, which need comparatively less water.

 

Above-normal temperatures in October, low reservoir levels and chances of El Nino impacting the ensuing winter season have increased worries of farmers from rain-fed areas.

 

Increasing area under jowar and maize would also help increase availability of fodder in rain-fed areas, where farmers have already started using sugarcane as fodder, said officials of the agriculture department.

 

In its plan for the rabi season, Maharashtra's agriculture department has planned to reduce area planted under rabi chana to 21.52 lakh hectares, down from last year's chana acreage of 29.66 lakh hectares.

 

The state government plans to reduce the area under wheat from 12.28 lakh hectares last year to 10 lakh hectares in 2023-24 rabi season.

 

'Instead of crops, which need more water, we plan to bring more area under millets like jowar and fodder crops like maize. Wheat needs around 4-5 rounds of irrigation, which may not be feasible in some areas,' said a high-level official of the state's agriculture department, requesting not to be quoted.

 

India's high quality labour-intensive goods such as apparel, footwear, carpets and cars will benefit from the removal of import duties by the UK, under the proposed free trade agreement between the two countries, according to think tank GTRI. However, the overall gains for India will be limited because most of the goods from here are already entering the UK at low or zero tariffs (import or customs duties), the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said.

 

In 2022-23, India's merchandise exports to the UK were valued at USD 11.41 billion and out of this, USD 6 billion worth of goods such as petroleum products, medicines, diamonds, machine parts, airplanes, and wooden furniture entered Britain at zero levy, it said.

 

'The FTA is expected to have a limited impact on increasing these exports because over half of Indian products already enter the UK with low or no tariffs. The average duty on goods imported from India into the UK is 4.2 per cent,' GTRI Co-Founder Ajay Srivastava said.

 

However, there will be gains from reducing duties for Indian exports worth USD 5 billion and those items include textiles, apparel (shirts, trousers, women's dresses, bed linen), footwear, carpets, cars, marine products, grapes, and mangoes.

 

'These products face relatively low to moderate tariffs in the UK,' he said.

 

Citing examples, the think tank said that duties on yarn and fabric are 4 per cent, while tariffs on shirts, trousers, women's dresses, and bed linen range from 10 per cent to 12 per cent.

 

Similarly, handbags and trunk cases attract 8 per cent tariffs, levies on footwear vary from 4 per cent to 16 per cent.

 

These products will benefit from the FTA's tariff reductions by the UK.

 

Chief negotiators of both the countries are negotiating the pact in the national capital and talks are at a crucial stage, as the negotiations are expected to close by end of this month.

 

GTRI added that while the duty elimination in the UK can help Indian exports, significant growth requires improvements in product quality and signing an FTA alone may not lead to a substantial increase in India's labour-intensive goods exports.

 

For instance, India's textiles and apparel exports to Japan did not see significant gains from the free trade agreement, Srivastava said.

 

From 2007-09 to 2019-21, India's exports to Japan grew from USD 257.7 million to USD 368.6 million, a cumulative growth of 43.1 per cent, while India's global exports grew by about 67.9 per cent during the same period.

 

Therefore, the modest increase in exports to Japan may be attributed to natural growth factors rather than the FTA, he added.

 

Further, UK exporters would gain immediately after India eliminates high tariffs on most British products, it said.

 

India's merchandise imports from the UK were USD 8.96 billion in 2022-23. Out of this, it said, 91 per cent of total merchandise imports from the UK enter India on payment of average to high tariffs duties.

 

For example, the tariff on cars is 100 per cent and on Scotch whisky and wines are 150 per cent.

 

The simple average tariff in India on goods imported from the UK is 14.6 per cent, it added.

 

According to GTRI, British products which will gain from the FTA (free trade agreement)-led tariff reductions include precious metals (silver, unwrought platinum and gold, diamonds); metal scrap (aluminium, copper waste); petroleum products; scotch and other alcohol; machinery (turbojet, taps, valves); medicine; and make up items.

 

The UK exported USD 2.7 billion worth of precious metals; and USD 374 million worth of Scotch and other alcohol into India during 2022-23.

 

On automobiles, it said: 'for luxury cars like those from JLR, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin, the UK might want zero tariffs, but India could reduce them from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. India might also consider allowing a few thousand units at a 25 per cent tariff'.

 

It added that India could reduce tariffs from 150 per cent to 50 per cent over a few years, similar to what it did for Australian wines.

 

These sectors in India have had high tariff protection, even more than agricultural products. Significant tariff cuts, especially for wines, will help the Indian market grow.

 

On Rules of Origin, an important issue in the agreement, GTRI said India tends to prefer more conservative rules compared to most developed countries, leading to extended discussions and negotiations in its FTA talks, including with the UK.

 

'However, India may need to be more flexible in its Rules of Origin framework, especially as its firms in sectors like chemicals, electronics, and synthetic textiles are increasingly using imported inputs,' it said.

 

Rules of Origin ensure that products from third countries do not receive FTA benefits unless they undergo significant transformation in the exporting country.