International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Tuesday, raised India's GDP projection marginally by 0.2 per cent to 6.3 per cent even as it slashed the global growth forecast to 3 per cent.

 

IMF in July had estimated India's GDP forecast at 6.1 per cent for 2023-24. However, this is lower than the RBI's latest estimate of 6.5 per cent for the current financial year.

 

However, India's growth is projected to be higher than China's, the third-largest economy in the world.

 

IMF's 'World Economic Outlook' revised China's growth forecast downward by 0.2 percentage points for 2023 and by 0.3 percentage points for 2024 to 5 per cent and 4.2 per cent, respectively.

 

With the property market crisis in that country, lower investment is the main contributor to the revision, it said.

 

'Growth in India is projected to remain strong, at 6.3 per cent in both 2023 and 2024, with an upward revision of 0.2 percentage point for 2023, reflecting stronger-than-expected consumption during April-June,' the 'World Economic Outlook' said.

 

Monetary policy projections are consistent with achieving the Reserve Bank of India's inflation target over the medium term, it noted.

 

The government has mandated the RBI to keep CPI inflation at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side.

 

Observing that the food security concerns prompted recent export restrictions in the world's largest rice exporter India, it said, risks to prices are tilted to the upside, stemming mostly from the ramifications of the end of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and uncertain effects of El Nino, possibly exacerbated by the proliferation of food export restrictions.

 

On the oil import, it said about 35 to 40 per cent of India's crude oil imports came from Russia during April-June 2023, a stark rise from less than 5 per cent before the war in Ukraine.

 

'While India's oil exports (mostly petroleum products) are small relative to its oil imports (mostly crude oil), India increased its oil exports to the European Union substantially,' it said.

 

Last week, the World Bank retained India's growth forecast at 6.3 per cent for the current financial year on the back of robust service activities despite global headwinds.

 

In India, which accounts for the bulk of the South Asia region, growth is expected to remain robust at 6.3 per cent in 2023-24, India Development Update of the World Bank said.

 

The World Bank had projected 6.3 per cent GDP growth in its April report as well. India recorded 7.2 per cent growth in 2022-23.

 

Last month, Asian Development Bank (ADB) marginally lowered India's growth forecast to 6.3 per cent for the current financial year.

 

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in its latest report upped the GDP growth projection for India to 6.3 per cent from the previous estimate of 6 per cent.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Small Farmers Agri-Business Association (SFAC), and CSC jointly organized a Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) Mela today at INA Market, Delhi Haat.

 

Major FPOs from across the country participated in the fair, displaying a wide range of products from more than 20 FPOs.

 

Visitors had the opportunity to taste and experience the essence of natural products at the fair.

 

FPOs are groups of farmers that run commercial activities related to farming and crop production in their area.

 

They provide farmers with discounts on wholesale prices of agricultural inputs, such as manure, seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, and also help farmers sell their finished crops and produce in the market. FPOs are playing a vital role in boosting the rural economy.

 

To make it easier for farmers to access markets, the government has either formed or is in the process of forming an FPO in every block in the country. Today, more than 2,165 FPOs of 8 lakh farmers are doing business through the online platform ONDC.

 

Speaking at the event, Managing Director & CEO, CSC SPV,  Shri Sanjay Rakesh said that CSC has always strived to improve the lives of citizens in rural areas through various initiatives. Farmers and agriculture are an integral part of our initiative.

 

 Thanks to the vast network of CSCs present in remote areas of the country, we are already providing various services to the farmers through tele-consultation, crop insurance, e-veterinary, Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan schemes.

 

In this context, we are working with full enthusiasm in the formation of FPOs across the country. Our VLEs through FPOs are playing a big role in the empowerment of farmers across the country.

 

CSCs provide rural citizens with access to a variety of government services at their doorstep, such as caste, income, domicile, character certificates, and employment registration.

 

 Through these services, CSCs have played a remarkable role in helping the people of India in the field of e-governance. More than 5.5 lakh CSCs located in remote areas of the country have changed the lives of the citizens.

 

According to an estimate, there are more than 12 crore small and marginal farmers in India, with an average land holding size of less than 1.1 hectares. Most small and marginal farmers need access to both production and post-production functions, such as technology, quality inputs at reasonable prices, seed production, units of farming machinery, value added products, processing, credit, investment, and most importantly, markets.

 

 Collectivization of such producers through formation of FPOs is crucial to address these challenges and increase farmers' income.

 

The FPO Mela held in Delhi Haat was a successful event that showcased the wide range of products and services offered by FPOs. It also provided a platform for farmers to learn about the benefits of joining FPOs and how to access FPO services. The government's focus on promoting FPOs is a welcome step that will help to empower farmers and boost the rural ECONOMIC 

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said that in view of the increasing food demand, environmental degradation and the challenges posed by climate change, there is an urgent need to transform agri-food systems into sustainable enterprises through scientific innovations. He was speaking after inaugurating the 16th Agricultural Science Congress (ASC) in Kochi today.

 

Shri Rupala added that the agricultural scientists should strive to infuse greater mechanisation in the agriculture production process and develop and popularise specialised farm implements for women in agriculture.

 

Union Minister shared his observation during the Sagar Parkirama drive that marine and inland water pollution has seriously affected aquatic life and coastal ecology. He exhorted the scientists to find lasting and sustainable solutions to address this perilous threat.

 

Sharing his enthusiasm, Shri Rupala highlighted that traditional farm products such as pokkali rice needs to be promoted and measures are to be taken to ensure profitability for the pokkali farmers. He suggested that minimising post-harvest losses is equivalent to boosting production and this can be achieved by focusing attention on advanced technological interventions.

 

Union Minister further added that the future of India’s agriculture depends a lot on how the accumulated scientific knowledge can be translated to commercial success.

 

Shri Rupala also inaugurated the Agri Expo being held on the side-line of the event which showcases innovative agricultural technologies of public and private sector research institutes, universities, agro-industries, extension agencies and NGOs. The Union Minister gave away Dr. B.P. Pal Award for Excellence in Agricultural Sciences, Dr. A.B. Joshi Memorial Lecture Award and several other NAAS awards to the recipients.

 

Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) delivered the presidential address. He read out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the Congress. Dr Pathak said that India’s food grain demand will rise to 340-355 metric tonne by 2033. Research on genomics and genome editing would be the core focus for technological breakthroughs in agriculture and commodities where traditional breeding cannot yield the desired results, he added.

 

Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad stressed on ensuring food and nutritional security for all the citizen of the country, while maintaining the health of the ecosystem and environment intact. He was emphatic that the ‘Poshaka Samrudhi’ scheme recently launched by the government of Kerala will contribute towards this goal.

 

The minister also said that it is the time to turn to carbon neutral development pathways, and focus on newer technologies to augment production, adding that post-harvest sector also needs urgent attention.

 

Shri Hibi Eden MP and Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General of ICAR were the guests of honour at the inauguration of the Agricultural Science Congress (ASC). Following this, Prof. Panjab Singh delivered the Dr A B Joshi Memorial Lecture. NAAS Secretary Dr W S Lakra and CMFRI Director Dr A Goplakrishnan spoke on the occasion.

 

Background:

 

Organised by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), the ASC will come out with recommendations that facilitate the agriculture sector for moving towards a path of greater sustainability. Leading agricultural economists, scientists,entreprenuers and other stakeholders will involve in discussions on applications of modern scientific tools and practices,  climate action, advances in genomics, IPR policy, etc.  Over 1500 delegates from India and abroad are attending the four-day event, which is taking place for the first time in Kerala and hosted by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Welcoming the President of Tanzania Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan at the India Tanzania Investment Forum in New Delhi today, Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles said that the friendship between the two countries has been elevated to the level of strategic partnership and the wonderful people-to-people and business relationship that exists between the two countries will only get stronger in the years to come.

 

Shri Goyal noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a big advocate of bringing the Global South on one platform. The India Africa partnership has flourished under his leadership and the effort that Prime Minister Modi put in to create convergence on making the African Union a full member of the G20 has finally happened, he added.

 

Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks at this partnership between two modern, vibrant nations as a very defining and substantial relationship that will work for the good of two billion people of Africa and India for inclusive and sustainable growth.

 

Shri Goyal pointed out that the two countries share a rich history and our ties go back decades and noting that Mahatma Gandi learnt his first lesson in Africa, Shri Goyal said that there is a lot of similarity in our freedom struggle, we have worked together as non-aligned nations and that we have successfully decolonized our economies. He said that we now have important engagements with each other and are working from investments to startups, from the healthcare sector to business and trade. He added that there is huge potential and our business persons will truly make both countries proud with their commitment to make this relationship grow, expand and really provide opportunities for jobs and for entrepreneurs in both countries.

 

India will partner with Tanzania in different sectors like education, skill development, capacity building, culture, energy, climate action, trade settlement in local currencies and in technology, Shri Goyal said. He noted that India has offered lines of credit to ensure infrastructure development and ensure creation of utilities in Tanzania.

 

Tanzania is the biggest export destination of India in Africa and we look forward to making this another fast growing story, Shri Goyal said adding that we can work together to ensure mutual food security, and in pharma sector and the new and emerging space sector.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has launched a Food Tech Valley to transform the Gulf nation into an international hub for agriculture and food technology, says its project head. 'We are uniting the food ecosystem all in one place with first-class infrastructure, business support and community programming. Our goal is to empower farmers, academics, business owners and entrepreneurs to address global food security challenges and pioneer sustainable food production that will reimagine the way the world produces and consumes food,' said Ahmed Al Shaibani, Project Lead, Food Tech Valley.

 

Launched in 2021 by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Food Tech Valley aims to be a hub for future cleantech-based food and agricultural products. It will also be an incubator for researchers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and industry experts involved in developing solutions that have the potential to shape the future of the food industry.

 

Awareness

Over the past two years, the Valley has created awareness within the food and agriculture sector by taking part in exhibitions and building a strong ecosystem for its investors. It has helped them to forge partnerships with companies such as PepsiCo, FlyDubai, Tradeline and Emirates Development Bank. 

 

The Food Tech Valley is made up of different zones that encompass all areas within the value chain including production, logistics and processing zone, R&D & innovation centre, business park, academy and residential zone. This covers all aspects from food pre-production all the way to logistics and then food surplus and waste management, he said. 'We have also started site construction with the infrastructure being close to completion in order to accommodate early tenants to the project,' said Shaibani on its progress. 

 

The Food Valley Project has attracted the attention of many countries. It shows the importance of the sector and it has added to 'the success of the Dubai Expo'. The effect has been amplified and it enabled the project officials to begin dialogue and start collaborating (with other countries), he said.

 

Benefits

On the advantages of being part of the Valley, the project lead said it includes many benefits. 'Along with being part of a one-stop-shop which includes all areas of the supply chain, there will also be competitive leasing rates and up to 25-year lease agreements which gives companies more security for them to prosper,' said Shaibani.

 

UAE feels Dubai can be a gateway for Indian companies in the agri and food-processing sector to take its products and services global.

 

The untapped potential of the food sector in bilateral business has strengthened the UAE-India partnership in food trade and can strengthen food security in the entire West Asian and North African (WANA) region.

 

The development assumes significance on the heels of companies such as Waycool and Produze disrupting the market across the WANA region.

Amid egg shortages caused by the outbreak of avian flu, the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) said table eggs are being diverted from 'industrial' customers and bakeries to store shelves.

 

It also said that it was not expecting to import table eggs, but instead looking to liquid and powder eggs to ensure that more table eggs are available on store shelves. The liquid and powder eggs will be used for industrial use, such as large-scale bakeries.

 

'We have reduced our cross border exports and we will fast track the importation of liquid and powder eggs for industrial purposes and then channel back those table eggs that were meant for industrial purposes to the shelves for the consumers,' said Abongile Balarane, spokesperson for Sapa.

 

According to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, the total loss due to the outbreaks was around 1.4 million chickens by 21 September.

 

A total of 50 outbreaks – of two strains of avian flu (HPAI H7 and 10 HPAI H5) – were reported.

 

What are liquid and powder eggs?

Balarane said table eggs are the fresh eggs that you buy at the stores. Liquid and powder eggs are processed forms of the food that are usually used in bakeries. They are eggs that come without shells.

 

The liquid eggs are separated from their shells, chilled and then pasteurised. To get the powdered form, the liquid egg is dried and then converted into a powder.

 

Are SA’s poultry products safe to eat?

Although the avian flu has led to shortages in poultry products, the chicken and eggs that are available to South African consumers is safe to eat.

 

'Consumers can also rest assured that any eggs and poultry that they may find at their local

grocers are safe to eat. There are many strict guidelines for safety measures in an outbreak like this

where we can with certainty be comfortable that the eggs that are sold are safe to eat.

 

'In fact, avoiding eggs can do more harm than good for our health as eggs are a cost-effective and nutritious food for any time of the day,' said Balarane.

 

Empty shelves at stores

Meanwhile, at some grocery stores, shelves that usually have eggs remain bare. Some retailers, such as Woolworths, are rationing the number of eggs that can be bought by each customer.

 

'As a temporary measure, we therefore have to limit whole egg purchases to one pack of six eggs per customer,' Woolworths said last week.

 

Government looking to import

Last month, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development said it was looking to import broiler eggs to address the egg shortage in South Africa. Broiler chickens are usually raised for meat rather than eggs.

 

According to spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo, the government is exploring various markets across the world to purchase eggs as a short-term solution to the shortage of eggs on retail shelves. It is considering markets from Africa, Europe, and South America.

 

South Africa already has an import relationship with countries like Brazil, the US, and Argentina. These markets play a significant role in supplying bone-in chicken imports to the local market.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow has shared with Indian exporters a priority sourcing list of consumer goods that Russia is keen on importing, in yet another attempt to increase exports from India in the face of a whopping increase in Russian oil imports following imposition of Western sanctions last year against Moscow.

 

'Various export bodies in India have received communication from the Indian Embassy in Moscow sharing information on priority sourcing list of Grand Trade JSC, one of the leading suppliers in food and non-food consumer goods imported from across the world to Russian retailers. This would give exporters an idea of the items for which there is demand in the country,' a source tracking the matter told BusinessLine.

 

In 2022-23, India’s imports from Russia increased 368 per cent (year-on-year) to $46.2 billion, primarily due to an increase in oil purchase. Its exports in the same year were at $3.14 billion, down 3.3 per cent. Trade deficit was at $43 billion in 2022-23.

 

Tepid exports

Despite Russia’s interest in importing more from India to partly use the rupee balance that has been piling up in the special vostro accounts that Russian banks have opened in India to circumvent West’s sanctions, the figures remain low. 'One of the reasons for India’s exports to Russia not increasing is the fact that Indian exporters are hesitant about exporting items such as electronics and machinery, for which there is a demand, fearing third country sanctions as they may also be dealing with advanced economies that have imposed sanctions on Russia,' an industry official said.

 

'The priority list of items shared by the Indian Embassy mostly includes goods that are unlikely to attract sanctions as food and pharmaceutical items are outside its ambit,' the source pointed out. The food items in the list include onion, grapes, bananas, spices, dried fruits and some other vegetables.

 

Non-food list

The non-food items on the list include home textiles items such as kitchen towels, bath towels, bedding sets, pillowcases, pillows, sheets, bedspreads and blankets. It also has cosmetics and body care products including  shampoos, shower gels, cream, tonics, cleansers.

 

'For items related to natural skin care, hair, bath and body cosmetics, the Russian company is interested in the low and medium price segments  and would give priority to well-known brands,' the source said.

 

Russian importers will have to be less jittery about imports of food and essentials from India as in the past they have been raising quality issues, the industry official said.

In a bid to tame the overheated market, the government on Sunday gave five more companies permission to import 50 million eggs.

 

With the latest move, a total of 15 companies have so far got permission for bringing 150 million eggs from foreign sources.

 

The five companies that got the permission are M/S Lucky Enterprise, Union Venture, JFJ Paradise Connection, M/S Pinki Traders, and Layek Enterprise.

 

Earlier on September 17, four private companies- Mim Enterprise, Tiger Trading, Prime Energy, and Arnab Trading - got permission to import 40 million eggs.

 

Later on September 21, six more companies including BDS Corporation, SM Corporation, M/S Ripa Enterprise, Popular Trade Syndicate, Joynur Traders, and Cheese Gallery received permission to import eggs, according to a commerce ministry official.

 

Each of these companies could bring 10 million eggs provided they meet five conditions, including sourcing eggs from countries free from avian influenza and bird flu.

 

However, the companies that obtained permission in September are yet to bring eggs.

 

Cheese Gallery proprietor Zakir Hosain said they got IP from the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports last week and completed all formalities of LCs.

 

'We are expecting that Indian eggs will enter within this week,' he said.

 

Meanwhile, the retail price of egg declined to Tk11.70-Tk12.5 a piece in October which was Tk12.5-13.5 in September thanks to the announcement for import, said market insiders.

 

The government fixed maximum price of egg at Tk12 on September 14 last.

 

Bangladesh has a daily demand for 40 million eggs, according to the commerce ministry estimate.

India’s trade ties with Israel have only strengthened in the years after 2019.

 

The total value of trade rose to $10.5 billion on a rolling four-quarter basis in June 2023

President Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated an International Research Conference on ‘From research to impact: Towards Just and Resilient Agri-Food Systems’, hosted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform today in New Delhi.  Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Secretary for Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary for Department of Agriculture Research and Education, and Director General for Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr Himanshu Pathak, Executive Managing Director for CGIAR Prof. Andrew Campbell, Director for CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Dr.Nicoline de Haan, Director, and South Asia Regional Director for CGIAR Temina Lalani-Shariff also graced the inaugural program.

 

In her address, Smt Droupadi Murmu highlighted the importance of empowering women engaged in agriculture to advance the vision of women-led development. She said that women are indispensable in making every grain reach from farm to plate as they sow, grow, harvest, process, and market our food. 'For ecologically sustainable, ethically desirable, economically affordable, and socially justifiable production, we need research which can enable conditions to reach these goals. She further said that 'We need systematic understanding of how to transform the agri-food systems. I hope this conference and this community will take all the measures and steps to achieve these milestones,' said Smt Murmu.

 

Smt Murmu emphasised that even though the world enters the modern age,the world is still grappling with the challenge of attaining just and resilient agri-food systems. 'Still across the world women are held back and are stopped by discriminatory social norms and barriers to knowledge, ownership, assets, resources, and social networks. Their contribution is not recognized, their role is marginalized, and their agency is denied in the whole chain of the agri-food systems. Their story needs to change,' she added.

 

While appreciating the gathered researchers, the President added, 'I am elated to know that the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform is working on putting equality and inclusion at the heart of food systems research by focusing on women, not as the objects of transformation, but as the agents and drivers of the transformation.'

 

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that women have played critical roles in agriculture in India, and give as much time as men on the field. Additionally, they put in about 30 hours per week of unpaid care work. I am of the firm opinion that equality in agri-food systems will not only lead to a reduction in poverty, but will also give women better nutrition and health access. This is especially significant in view of the G20 Declaration which puts special emphasis on food security, nutrition and health of women as it recognized the critical role of women in holistic societal growth. This conference gains added significance as it follows on the heels of the highly successful G20 Summit under the Indian Presidency. G20 heads in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration called upon the world to embrace women-led development. In this context, research serves as a cornerstone for charting inclusive development pathways by proven innovations and priorities.

 

Shri Tomar said that we have a long legacy of investment and success in excellent research, development and innovation. The Union Minister said there are 86 percent small and medium farmers in the country, who, despite facing challenges, have continuously contributed to the sustenance of the nation and have been able to supply food to other countries as well. He added that despite the challenges, new dimensions aimed at the welfare of small farmers have been established in agriculture under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and policiy innovations have been successfully implemented. The minister said Along with climate-friendly varieties developed by ICAR, India is becoming a knowledge partner and role model in the world through agricultural innovation and intensive research. Shri Tomar said ' there is a need to continue investing in research and innovation to boost the production of healthy and affordable food, while also jointly addressing the challenges of climate change and other food system stresses. There is also a need to ensure that innovations to increase the productivity and adaptation of food systems as a whole integrate the Global Goals to strengthen gender equality and further social inclusion into policies.'

 

Dr Himanshu Pathak said that the conference is bringing together some of the top researchers, thought leaders and practitioners who are collectively deliberating how to make stronger and faster progress towards resilient, equitable and just food systems. He added that CGIAR and ICAR play pivotal roles in guiding research, policies and investments towards better and resilient agri-food systems. 'Mainstreaming women in agriculture can bring about a paradigm shift in economic growth through technical knowledge and greater access to resources,' Dr Pathak added.

 

Prof Campbell underscored that CGIAR research shows that when women have equity in access to knowledge, resources and decision-making, the whole community benefits, and food and nutrition security improve for all, further transforming food systems to be more resilient and sustainable. He further said that gender matters in bringing about inclusive agricultural transformation.

 

Recalling how the legendary late Prof.MS. Swaminathan stood firmly as a champion of agricultural research and steered the Green Revolution when humanity faced one of its worst crises, Dr de Haan said that we are in dire need of a new wave of research-backed innovation that can catapult women into the centre of food systems. Let’s ask if we can use research for the next revolution—one that includes women and that gives them the opportunity to contribute, benefit and lead. The gains—for farmers, food systems and nations—would be immense, and that is why we have to get started now.

 

The conference inauguration was followed by a keynote delivered by Mr Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, who shared his perspectives on what is at stake for gender equality in agri-food systems. He said, 'The research by CGIAR and its partners along with ICAR underscores the importance to focus on areas like food security and nutrition, climate smart approaches, inclusive agricultural value chains and digitisation to bring about gender inclusive agricultural transformation.'

 

The four-day conference (October 9-12) is welcoming gender researchers from 68 countries to share cutting-edge knowledge on gender and inclusion in food systems. The event is designed to catalyse scientific exchanges and dialogues among researchers from diverse types of organizations, and will create opportunities to engage with policymakers, practitioners, private sector actors, and others working toward the shared goal of equitable food systems transformation. Its goal is to bridge the gap between research and practice and foster gender-equal and socially inclusive, resilient food systems.