In the current year, exporters have reported greater demand for Alphonso mangoes, compared to the traditional Kesar, in American markets. This is the first time American markets have a greater demand for Alphonso, said exporters.

 

Mango export to US markets has increased steadily, from 80 tonnes in 2007-08 to 1,300 tonnes before the pandemic hit.

 

This year, however, exporters say they are pleasantly surprised by the reception Indian mangoes have received. At the start of the season, most exporters said they were wary about the market given the pandemic-induced break and the high freight charges. Air freight charges are currently as high as Rs 520-550/kg, compared to the earlier Rs 200-225/kg.

 

Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Kay Bee exporters, the largest fruits and vegetables exporter of the country, confirmed that demand from the US market was robust. 'At the start of the season, we were apprehensive and so export volumes were lower than usual. However, US consumers lapped up the mangoes which went from India, and we have increased exports now,' he said.

 

This year, Alphonso seems to be a bigger hit with end consumers. 'We are also surprised, given Alphonso is the hardest to treat. Mostly, it is the sturdy Kesar which finds favour with exporters and consumers,' he said. Kesar is a favourite for exporters, given its longer shelf life and sturdy nature.

 

Alphonso has a thinner peel, thus making it more difficult to treat. Of the nearly 1.5 crore mangoes harvested annually, India ships out around 1 lakh mangoes. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are the major mango exporting states.

The Himalayan state of Sikkim has started exploring ways to market its agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry products as well as looking at ways to creating facilities and infrastructure for processing and marketing of organic commodities from the state.

 

Sikkim’s Agriculture Minister Lok Nath Sharma is currently in New York and meeting with importers and business houses there to discuss furtherance of ‘Organic Sikkim’. The minister is accompanied by senior officers of the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim.

 

Another purpose of the visit is to obtain the NOP (National Organic Program) certificate from the US which is the final document needed for export of organic produce of Sikkim to the international market. A conference will be held on April 29 where the process of certification would be deliberated upon and finalized.

 

The minister held a series of meetings individually with a few importers at the office of Consulate General of India, New York. In the meetings, possible areas of cooperation and collaboration in the marketing of agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry products from Sikkim as well as creating facilities and infrastructure for processing and marketing of organic commodities were discussed.

 

Sharma met Avi Basu, CEO & Chairman, Wingsure, a digital insurance solution enterprise, aiming to leverage next-generation technologies in the protection of the lives and livelihoods of farmers.

 

The minister also met Barry Schiffman, Senior Advisor & Board members, Mandala Capital, a private equity firm focused on long-term and sustainable investments across the food value chain in India and South East Asia.

 

Schiffman shared that the company has been investing in India since 2011 in core infrastructure development such as dairy project in West Bengal, irrigation system in Maharashtra and farm fresh business in spices.

 

'The total investment to this date is 500 million USD. Investment was required in the state for not only creating infrastructure for post harvest management but also for partnership for developing these sectors,' he added.

 

Minister Lok Nath Sharma said, 'The dairy sector needs immediate attention and the government would seek intervention as the area of priority.'

 

The minister also met with Kushal Choksi, Co-founder, Element Truffles, an ayurveda inspired food startup that makes chocolates with infused herbs, and Bhavani Parameswar, President, Indivate, (An ITC group company).

 

Bhavani shared, 'We are diversifying business activities into the organic sector and are looking for crops such as millets, spices, seeds of flax and pumpkin. We are also interested in medicinal plants.'

 

The minister suggested the ITC to invest in creating a world class testing facility for organic/food products to which the CEO said a team from India would visit Sikkim to understand and present the opportunities available to take it further.

 

Another meeting was held with Deepak Amin, President & CEO, Deep Foods, a food manufacturer based in Union Township, New Jersey.

 

The company is launching an an organic beverage and is looking to source herbs and spices. It was decided that meetings should happen between the Government of Sikkim and the company’s team in Gujarat.

 

The delegation from Sikkim also met Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General, and Varun Jeph, Deputy Consulate General, at the Consulate General of India in New York. The Consulate General assured of all possible help for the marketing of various products from Sikkim.

 

Jaiswal suggested, 'The Government of Sikkim should aggressively market the various commodities in the US market and the Consulate will extend all possible help in this regard.'

Governments of Bangladesh and Mizoram on Monday said they will take steps to build infrastructure, including integrated check posts and road connectivity, to realise the potential of border trade between India and the neighbouring country.  

 

The two governments (Mizoram and Bangladesh) on Monday issued a joint statement as an outcome of the meeting between the visiting Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi and Mizoram commerce and industry minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana on April 23 over border trade between the north-eastern state and the neighbouring country.  

 

'After careful examination of the possibility and viability for setting up of border haat at Silsury (India) – Sajek (Bangladesh), the Government of Bangladesh may convey formal approval through diplomatic channel,' the joint statement signed by Munshi on behalf of Bangladesh government and Lalthangliana  on Mizoram government’s behalf said. 

 

During the meeting of the two ministers, the Mizoram government proposed that the government of Bangladesh may explore possibility and viability of setting up of matching infrastructure in the form of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Thegamukh in Bangladesh side, adjacent to the ICP being developed at Kawrpuichhuah in south Mizoram Lunglei district, in order to synchronize efforts to formalize trade on both sides, the joint statement said. 

 

It said that the Mizoram government also proposed that in order to upgrade connectivity, the government of Bangladesh may consider the possibility of constructing a road of 17 km from Chhota Horin to Thegamukh in Bangladesh. 

 

The Mizoram government urged the Bangladesh government to include Khawthlangtuipui (Karnaphuli) river in one of the routes on India – Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, it said. 

 

The six points joint statement further said that the Mizoram government stated that the efforts will be made from its side to expedite the work on the proposed 660m concrete bridge over Khawthlangtuipui river in south Mizoram Lunglei district to connect Kawrpuichhuah with Bangladesh.  

 

The relevant ministry of Bangladesh may communicate, upon receiving communication from the Union Ministry of Commerce (India), its position regarding the construction of such a bridge. 

 

During the meeting of the two ministers, both sides agreed to make an endeavour to capitalize on the potentiality of a thriving border trade regime through establishment of critical trade infrastructure at viable locations, it said.  

 

As regards the corresponding ICP on the Bangladesh side, the Mizoram government will forward the proposal to the Centre upon receipt of a written request from the Bangladesh government through diplomatic channel, the statement said. 

 

It also said that all requests made by the Mizoram government during the meetings would be formally placed to the ministry concerned at the Centre.  

 

Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi official told reporters on Monday that efforts are being made to set up a land custom station in Bangladesh near the Mizoram border.

India’s food security approach and innovations that reflect the Government of India’s concern and sensitivity towards poor and vulnerable sections of society were widely appreciated by participants in the WTO seminar from across the globe.

 

The WTO high-level seminar on Food Security was held in Geneva on 26th April 2022 to facilitate dialogue on trade and food security among Geneva-based trade officials, policymakers, experts from international organizations and think tanks, etc.

 

Joint Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, S. Jagannathan, who represented India in the WTO Seminar, highlighted India’s outstanding experience in successfully ensuring dignified & foolproof access to adequate food grains to the most vulnerable people in the country, especially during COVID, through a series of bold technology-based reforms and landmark innovations in the Public Distribution System.   He made a detailed presentation on the Indian perspective in the panel on ‘National and Regional Experiences’ at the ‘WTO high-level seminar.

 

He also highlighted the Government’s efforts to forge inter-departmental data sharing to deepen the outreach of mass citizen-centric government programmes across the country.

 

In recent times, as India’s food security response to the COVID-19 crisis is being hailed as a shining example for its unparalleled speed, scale & transparency, and rightful targeting, S. Jagannathan explained these successful strategies adopted by the Government of India for ensuring the Availability, Affordability, and Accessibility of both normal and free food grains at all times.

 

He highlighted the crucial role played by Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) in ensuring additional food security for around 800 million beneficiaries in the country during the COVID period and how the scheme continues to cushion them against supply shocks and rising inflation during the period of recovery, with an additional food subsidy outlay of nearly USD 45 billion apart from the regular food subsidy of nearly USD 22 billion.

 

Further, he highlighted how India’s food security measures in the PDS, ICDS and PM Poshan, and PMGKAY directly contribute to the attainment of some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the field of Women and Child nutrition, health, education, and food security, being the foundational indicators of Human Development as well.

 

He highlighted the landmark technology-based innovation One Nation One Ration Card Plan that allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any of the 0.5 million Fair Price Shops (FPS) in the country through existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. The system also allows their family members back home, if any, to claim the balance of food grains on same the ration card. Speedy implementation of ONORC during COVID has enabled beneficiaries to avail of nearly USD 5 billion of food subsidy through nearly 580 million portable transactions and around 650 million portable transactions since the beginning.

 

National experiences from different countries and world regions were shared & discussed in the Seminar with a focus on the relationship between trade and the multiple dimensions of food security, including access, availability, stability, and use, in the light of existing and future challenges.

Five districts in the state will soon have common service centres to facilitate artisans and businessmen engaged in the one district one product (ODOP) scheme.

 

Additional chief secretary, MSME and export promotion, Navneet Sehgal said that the centres will be coming up in Azamgarh, Sitapur, Siddhartnagar, Ambedkarnagar and Agra. 'Built at an expenditure of Rs 18.93 crore, the common service centres will be dedicated to people by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath soon,' an official statement said, adding that the work for the centres is in progress in 18 other cities as well. Sehgal stated that the centre in Siddhartnagar had been developed to facilitate Kala Namak rice growers. This centre will provide raw material and automatic shuttle loom, wrapping to the rice growers. He added that the common service centre in Sitapur will facilitate carpet manufactures.

 

The officer further said that despite the pandemic, export from UP has increased by 30% while the government is eying to take it to 1.5 lakh crore mark.

As part of the campaign, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries organized an ODOP-based workshop on the Processing and Value addition of Walnuts in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

 

To commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, a Government of India initiative to celebrate 75 glorious years of progressive India, its rich history, culture, and great achievements, the 'Kisan Bhagidari Prathmikta Hamari' Campaign will run from April 25 to April 30.

 

As part of the campaign, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries organized an ODOP-based workshop on the Processing and Value addition of Walnuts in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

 

Ashok Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, officiated at the event. The ODOP workshop aimed to set the stage for all food-tech stakeholders to impart, discuss, and acquaint stakeholders with new emerging trends in food processing and technological innovation in the Kishtwar district.

 

The inaugural speech was delivered by Vishesh Paul Mahajan, Director, Horticulture (Planning and Marketing), Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the importance of the micro food processing sector as a growth driver for the Indian economy, as well as the government's efforts to encourage food processing in India through the PMFME Scheme. Sunil Singh, District Nodal Officer, Kishtwar, moderated the event.

 

The workshop featured eminent industry speakers who shared their insights for micro-enterprises and farmers looking to scale walnut-based products on a domestic and global scale.

 

Ashok Kumar Sharma, Dy. Commissioner, Kishtwar, was one of the distinguished speakers. Dr Brij Paul SMS (PP), Dept. of Horticulture, Kishtwar, spoke about the ODOP's relevance to the district. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar appealed to orchardists/farmers to come forward and play a proactive role in the implementation of the departments' rolled-out schemes in order to increase the income of these farmers.

 

The district administration is also working on the establishment of a Model 'Mandi' in the district, according to Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar. He also stated that 50 Kanals of land along the national highway in the district have been identified for the establishment of the mandi, which will provide a common platform for the display, sale, and marketing of the product, as well as provide farmers with national-level access.

 

Khalid Malik General Manager, DIC, Kishtwar conducted a session on 'Potential Opportunities and Technologies for Micro-Entrepreneurs'

 

Dr. Syed Zameer Hussain, Head, Division of Food Sc. & Technology, SKUAST-K, conducted a session on 'Scope and future strategies for Processing and value addition of Walnuts in J&K, particularly in District Kishtwar'.

 

The ODOP Workshop, part of the Kisan Bhagidari Prathmikta Hamari Campaign, is a one-of-a-kind initiative by M/o Food Processing Industries, with the support of distinguished industry experts, to educate and guide farmers in the Kishtwar District of Jammu and Kashmir in making informed decisions in order to scale up their food business in walnut processing in the current scenario.

 

In addition to the various eminent guest speakers, the event drew around 300 farmers, orchardists, and government officials from across the UT, as well as food processing micro-enterprises. It was also successfully streamed live, with a large turnout from all stakeholders.

For the first season in over a decade, Indian farmer Rajensingh Pawar is selling his new wheat crop to private traders instead of the state stockpiler, as a global wheat price rally gives India's suppliers a rare profitable export window.

 

Strong demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine means growers are receiving the highest prices ever for their crops, while also easing pressure on the state's grain procurement agency which racks up huge debts as a buyer of last resort.

 

The boom times have come as Pawar and his peers harvest a record Indian wheat crop, giving growers a rare opportunity to sell the grain just as global prices hold near all-time highs.

 

'After a long time, traders are ready to pay more than the MSP,' Pawar, 55, said, referring to the minimum support price at which the Food Corporation of India (FCI) buys grain from farmers.

 

'India's rising wheat exports have helped farmers like us who are getting a far better return,' he said, as he unloaded wheat at a grain market in Madhya Pradesh state, known for its top-quality wheat.

 

Before the nearly 50% surge in global wheat prices, India struggled to export the grain due to annual increases in the MSP to placate the politically powerful farm lobby that made Indian wheat more expensive than world prices.

 

But a rare confluence of high international prices, consecutive record crops, a weaker rupee against the dollar and improved internal logistics have made shipments from India attractive.

 

'This is a golden opportunity for India to export its surpluses,' said Nitin Gupta, a vice president at food and agri-business Olam Agro India.

 

For international wheat markets, India's sales are helping offset a supply shortfall resulting from Ukraine-driven disruptions in the Black Sea region, crop cuts in Canada and quality downgrades in Australia.

 

For Indian authorities, brisk demand from private grain handlers at prices above the MSP of 20,150 rupees ($262.88) a tonne means FCI's wheat purchases are expected to fall drastically for the first time in decades.

 

Lower state purchases in turn mean big budget savings. Last year, India spent 856 billion rupees ($11.2 billion) buying a record 43.34 million tonnes of wheat from farmers, filling state granaries to the brim and boosting national debt.

 

This year's FCI purchases could fall below 30 million tonnes, trade and government officials said, meaning less government capital will be tied up buying and storing crops.

 

Indian traders have signed wheat export deals at between $330 and $335 a tonne free on board, said Rajesh Paharia Jain, a New Delhi-based trader. This is nearly $50 a tonne cheaper than rival suppliers as the rally in global prices and large surplus stocks at home have made it easier for Indian suppliers to offer a discount, but still well above local prices.

 

Following a flurry of export deals signed in February and March, India's wheat shipments touched a record 7.85 million tonnes in the fiscal year to March - up 275% from the previous year.

 

Exports could jump to 12 million tonnes in the 2022-23 fiscal year, traders said, making it a serious player in global markets.

 

India's exports have also been helped by a sharp jump in crop quality. Previously limited to cost-sensitive markets that accepted lower quality product, exporters have recently made sales to some of the world's most discerning wheat consumers.

 

For the first time, top global wheat importer Egypt has purchased the grain from India, which sources say has helped India establish a reputation as a top tier supplier.

 

Rapid and widespread adoption of higher quality seeds has underpinned the quality climb. Introduced over the past decade, the top 10 wheat seed varieties accounted for more than 70% of the roughly 31.5 million hectares planted with wheat last season, said Gyanendra Pratap Singh, chief of the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research.

 

'Earlier, India was not known for its quality wheat, but India's wheat is now as good as any high-quality wheat from other major global suppliers, and that's because of new seed varieties,' Singh said.

 

Alongside improved farm practises and greater mechanisation, better seeds have transformed India's wheat market from mainly low-quality feed varieties to one abundant in superior grades such as Durum, Lokwan and Sharbati used in pizza, pasta and premium bakery products.

 

'Newer varieties have helped farmers get higher yields with better protein content,' said Amit Takkar, chief of brokerage Conifer Commodities.

 

'Indian wheat with 12% to 13% protein is pretty common now and that compares favourably with APW's (Australia Premium White) 11.5% to 12% protein.'

 

Lauding farmers and scientists for helping India emerge as a new force in wheat markets, Sudhanshu Pandey, the top official at the food ministry, said the government was determined to help India become a regular exporter of high-quality wheat.

 

The only impediment to that rosy outlook could be a drop in crop yields this year due to a sudden rise in temperatures in mid-March, traders said.

 

The government has forecast this year's wheat output at a record 111.32 million tonnes, but may revise that estimate if the recent hot spell saps crops still trickling into wholesale grain markets.

 

In the grains market of Madhya Pradesh, farmers are jubilant about exports.

 

'Prompt payments and higher prices for better grades of wheat are something of a rarity for us,' farmer Narendra Pariyar said. 'The wheat export boom has truly been a gold mine for farmers.'

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has called for B2B and B2G engagement during the 36th edition of Aahar, the international food and hospitality fair, currently going on at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

 

The spokesperson for the MoFPI said that the Ministry is actively participating in the event along with the two National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEMs) and its Investment Facilitation Desk (Invest India).

 

'The stalls of MoFPI, NIFTEMs and promoters of Ministry assisted projects will be situated in Hall No. 3. In this regard, all the relevant stakeholders are invited to visit the Ministry's space to engage with participating promoters for generating business leads,' reads the MoFPI statement.

 

A total of 36 companies, institutions are participating alongside MoFPI, at Aahar.

 

Aahar, an international trade fair focussing on food, beverage and hospitality industries started on April 26 at Pragati Maidan.  Nearly 1150 exhibitors and 12 foreign countries are participating this year.

As a partof the ongoing 'Kisan Bhagidari Prathmikta Hamari Campaign' under Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare participated in a special ‘Fasal Bima Pathshala’ drive under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) today. The special programme was attended by more than 1 crore farmers from various locations across the country.

 

Addressing farmers across the country on the Fasal Bima Pathshala Union Agriculture Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that farmers have benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and a large number of farmers are connected with this scheme. He informed that under the Fasal Bima Yojana from Kharif 2016 till Kharif 2021 every year about 5.5 crore farmers applied for crop insurance and till now around Rs. 21000 crore premium has been collected and farmers have got more than 1.15 lakh crore payment as insurance claim. He emphasized that the Pradhan Mantri FasalBima Yojana can play a very important role in providing financial security to the farmers of the country against the crop losses arising due to various natural calamities. He urged farmers and states to come under the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Those who have benefitted can convince others to come under the protective shield of the PMFBY.

 

Emphasing that Central Government is committed to increasing the income of farmers, the Minister outlined various schemes of the central government for the benefit of farmers attending the Pathshala and urged them to register under PM-Kisan and take advantage of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) which will free them from the clutches of money lenders. The Minister also urged the farmers to join Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and join the  e-NAM for marketing of their produce. The Minister also explained how infrastructure developed at the farm gate with the help of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) can benefit small farmers. He motivated farmers to take up integrated farming and include fisheries and dairying to augment their income.

 

Shri Tomar said that farmers who have benefitted from government schemes should become 'Ambassador' farmers and help other farmers to gain and thereby strengthen Indian Agriculture.

 

Along with the Union Agriculture Minister, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sushree Shobha Karandlaje interacted with the farmers of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam and Himachal Pradesh virtually.

 

Followed by the central event, the Agriculture Ministers of various States interacted with the farmers of their respective States and addressed the farmers on importance of Crop Insurance and Fasal Bima Pathshala. The special programme, which will be extended for a week by PMFBY implementing insurance companies, will focus on educating farmers on importance of PMFBY/ Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in participation with State Agriculture Departments, Banks, CSC and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Arrivals from Karnataka, however, are yet to pick up, with traders hopeful that this will happen after May first week.

 

Since the beginning of the mango export season, nearly 65 tonnes of the fruit have left for the United States, and exporters are hoping for a good season ahead. In the domestic market, arrival of mangoes from Konkan coast has increased in Pune, leading to price correction by nearly 30 per cent in the last few days. Arrivals from Karnataka, however, are yet to pick up, with traders hopeful that this will happen after May first week.

 

After a gap of two years, a phyto-sanitary inspector from the US has arrived in India to oversee the process of exports. Exports to USA are crucial as Indian traders want to capture the growing market. Fruits designated for the US markets have to be irradiated while those for Japan, Europe or Australia have to be treated with hot water or vapour treated before exports.

 

Conflicting signals about the availability of the fruit has seen prices and arrivals being hit. While some traders are hopeful about a bumper harvest, others are doubtful about it. In Pune’s markets, arrivals from both Konkan coast and Karnataka started on a good note but have dipped since then. Tra-ders had blamed this on the sudden rains which had hit the region.

 

But arrivals have picked up, with Rohan Ursal, a commission agent operating in Pune’s market, saying price of the fruit has also dipped by 30 per cent. Price of mangoes from Karnataka has also dipped by 20 per cent as arrivals are low.

 

Ursal said arrivals from Konkan currently dominate the market but sales have been slow. “We feel people have stocked up on mangoes for Akshaya Tritiya and that’s why retail sales are slow,” he said. As Akshaya Tritiya this year falls on May 3, Ursal and other trades feel that the weekend may see some major buying at retail shops.