The country's onion production is estimated to increase by 16.81 per cent to 31.12 million tonne in the crop year beginning July 2022 on likely increase in acreage, as per the agriculture ministry data released on Monday.

 

The country had harvested 26.64 million tonne of onion in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June), the ministry said in a statement. As per the ministry's first advance estimate, area sown for onion cultivation is estimated to be higher at 1.91 million hectare in the 2022-23 crop year from 1.62 million hectare in 2021-22.

 

Among other key vegetables, the production of potato and tomato is estimated to decline in 2022-23. Potato output is likely to fall to 53.60 million tonne in the ensuing 2022-23 crop year from 56.17 million tonne in 2021-22, while that of tomato is pegged to be lower at 20.30 million tonne as against 21.18 million tonne in the said period.

 

Total vegetable production is pegged slightly lower at 199.88 million tonne in the 2022-23 crop year as against 200.44 million tonne a year ago, despite likely marginal increase in the acreage.

 

'Increase in production of fruits, while decrease in vegetables, spices, flowers aromatic and medicinal plants and plantation crops over previous year is envisaged,' the statement said.

 

Among fruits, mango production is estimated to remain flat at 20.33 million tonne in 2022-23 compared to 20.38 million tonne in 2021-22. In case of plantation crops like coconut and cashew nut, total production is likely to decline to 15.85 million tonne in 2022-23 as against 16.62 million tonne in 2021-22.

Spice production is also expected to fall to 10.81 million tonne from 11.11 million tonne recorded during the same period a year ago.

 

Total horticulture production of the country is estimated to be 333.25 million tonne during 2022-23, marginally lower by 0.4 per cent from 334.60 million tonne in the 2021-22 crop year.

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The Centre has procured 741.62 lakh tonne of paddy in the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year so far at the minimum support price (MSP), Union Food Ministry said on Monday. "Till now about 105.14 lakh farmers have been benefitted with MSP value of Rs 1,45,358.13 crore," the ministry said in a statement.

 

A quantity of 741.62 lakh tonne of paddy has been procured till March 27 of the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year, it said.

 

Out of the total procurement undertaken so far, maximum of 187.28 lakh tonne of paddy has been procured from Punjab, followed by 92.01 lakh tonne from Chhattisgarh, 70.22 lakh tonne from Telangana, 55.30 lakh tonne from Haryana and 66.53 lakh tonne from Uttar Pradesh till March 27 of the ongoing marketing year.

 

The paddy marketing season normally begins from October and runs through September.

 

During the 2020-21 marketing season, the government had procured 895.83 lakh tonne of paddy at a MSP value of Rs 1,69,133.26 crore.

 

The government undertakes procurement operations through state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) as well as state agencies.

 

The government buys largely paddy and wheat to protect farmers with MSP as well as use the procured grains for distribution through ration shops for the poor beneficiaries registered under the National Food Security Act at highly subsidized rates.

In a major boost to export, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated Season’s first consignment of fresh Mangoes export from Mumbai to Japan on last Saturday (March 26, 2022). Alphonso and Kesar varieties of Mangoes was exported by M/s.Berrydale Foods (OPC) Pvt. Ltd., a registered exporter of APEDA to M/s. Lawson Retail Chain, Japan. These mangoes were treated and packed at APEDA-approved Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board ( MSAMB)’s facility.

 

A mango festival is being organised in Tokyo, Japan as a part of Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav, in collaboration with Embassy of India, Japan & Invest India today (March 28, 2022), wherein Mango exhibition & tasting will be done at various outlets of Lawson super markets.

 

APEDA has taken number of export promotion activities and initiatives, by way of development of virtual portals for organizing Virtual Trade Fairs, Farmer Connect Portal, e-office, Hortinet Traceability system, Buyer Seller Meets, Reverse Buyer Seller Meets, product specific campaigns etc. APEDA has been closely working with state government for creating infrastructure and promotion of export from the state.

 

APEDA, a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is the nodal agency for promoting Indian agro and processed food exports and is responsible for facilitating and promoting export of horticulture, floriculture, processed food, poultry products, dairy and other agro products.

 

APEDA provides assistance to the exporters under various components of its schemes such as Infrastructure Development, Quality Development and Market Development. In addition, APEDA also conducts international Buyer Seller Meets(BSM), Virtual trade fairs with importing countries to promote agricultural & processed food products.

 

Apart from this the Department of Commerce(DOC) also support exports through various schemes like Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme(TIES), Market Access Initiative(MAI) etc.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today called for practical climate funding programs by the developed world.

 

Addressing the plenary session of ‘Investopia- Emerging Markets: From frontiers to Frontlines’ in Dubai today, the Minister said that even though the emerging markets of the world have been strengthening themselves consistently, if they are to meet climate goals, they would have to be supported by developed nations through practical funding solutions. Flagging the disparity in intention and action when it comes to climate change, he said that responsible governments would find success in tiding over the climate crisis.

 

Shri Goyal said that since 2014, India had been focussing on structural reforms and on strengthening processes and taking steps like accumulating greater forex reserves and stabilizing economy for a more secular growth. Various programs for the last 6-7 years have been focussed on improving the lives of the masses by securing elementary utilities like drinking water, electricity, cooking gas, healthcare etc., he said.

 

The Minister said that on one hand the government was striving to improve the lives of people and on the other hand, improving economic stability, including energy security. India has the world’s fastest growing renewable energy program and has helped bring down the cost of renewable energy with sheer scale.

 

Shri Goyal said that India has been able to recognize crisis in time and convert it into an opportunity. The Minister observed that during pandemics, those states which focussed on saving lives, saved their economies as well. He opined that the bold step taken by India of a complete lockdown, even though made things difficult for a quarter, have been beneficial in the long run with quick economic recovery and stabilization.

 

Speaking of India’s success with homegrown vaccines, Shri Goyal said that during covid, India announced a self-reliance program which did not close its doors but made way for more meaning international engagement.

 

He added that during Covd, India had seen the highest ever foreign investment, highest ever merchandise exports and a sharp recovery in our service exports which stands at 250 billion which is nearly 20 percent more than highest ever figure so far. Highlighting India’s relentless focus on public investment, the Minister said that the Budget 2022 announced large scale infrastructure projects.

 

Shri Goyal said that India was working with partners like UAE, with which it signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in a very short span of 88 days from start to finish of negotiations. He added that the India-UAE CEPA was not an interim agreement but a comprehensive one, which was truly fair, equitable and balanced. The Minister also asserted that India was seeking to expand partnerships, encourage two-way trade and fast-track technology adoption with nations who believe in rules-based system, equity and transparency.

 

The Minister said that in the first 2 months of this year, 13 startups had become unicorns and said that it was a sign that the youth of the nation was rising to meet challenges. 

 

Responding to a query, Shri Goyal said that world economies were much more resilient today and partnerships had been created between nations through which they supported each other. He observed that new technology helped nations by bringing down costs while saving people’s lives.

 

Speaking of India’s accomplishments in improving ease of living of its citizens, the Minister said that by 2019, within a span of 4 years, the government succeeded in taking electricity to each one of the 600,000 odd villages in India. India’s food grain production has been on the rise and is enough, not only to feed every Indian but sufficient to feed other nation during their times of need too, he added.

On Thursday 17 March 2022, the Republic of India and the United Kingdom concluded the second round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

 

A delegation of Indian officials undertook technical talks in London. The negotiations were conducted in a hybrid fashion, with some negotiators in a dedicated UK negotiations facility, and others attending virtually. 

 

For this round of negotiations, draft treaty text was shared and discussed across most chapters that will make up the agreement.  Technical experts from both sides came together for discussions in 64 separate sessions covering 26 policy areas.

 

The third round of negotiations is due to be hosted by India in April 2022.

The government is continuously monitoring the opportunities that the Russia-Ukraine war has opened up for India and is in dialogue with traders to ensure more exports of wheat and other commodities, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said Indian wheat exports are set to cross 70 lakh metric tonnes this year from merely 2 lakh metric tonnes two years ago.

 

Goyal said many ships and containers have been blocked in several European countries following the Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis has only deepened, especially after the Covid-19 crisis.

 

'The government has maintained dialogue with shipping companies and those who operate containers. The government is keeping a close watch on the situation and whatever steps are required to be taken it will take action,' he told the members in the upper house.

 

He also said that the government is in dialogue with exporters and importers and those involved in business and various measures are being taken to ensure that payments come on time and businesses do not suffer.

 

'India, despite the constraints due to Covid, has achieved exports of USD 400 billion, which is historic as India has never achieved this figure,' he also said.

 

The minister said India has been continuously monitoring the opportunities this opens up for India and Indian exporters.

 

'We have produced good quality wheat and our exports have grown. From 2 lakh metric tonnes two years ago, our exporters have exported 10 times more than 21 lakh metric tonnes last year and in the current year, we will close the year with over 70 lakh metric tonnes in a year.

 

'We are working in coordination among various ministries for a smooth shift. Because Ukraine and Russia were large exporters of wheat, we are on track to increase our wheat exports to current importers. Agriculture department is in dialogue with various countries for the process to be speeded up and expedited so that newer markets for wheat can be sought,' Goyal said.

 

He said when the entire government is involved in this, efforts are there to provide high-quality wheat, just as Indian rice has become a premium product in the world.

 

To another supplementary, the minister said as regards trade is concerned, trade stands on its own legs and diplomacy and geo-politics stands on its own legs.

 

'It is important that the two should not be mixed up, while one may have an impact on the other.'

 

Due to our excellent relations with many countries, Goyal said, we are able to expand our trade and there is excitement and interest among many countries to have economic partnerships.

 

'However, our national interests and strategic interests will always be supreme over any bilateral relations that we may have with any country,' he noted.

 

In his written reply on the impact of the Ukraine crisis on Indian industry and commerce, Goyal said, 'The impact can be assessed only after the situation stabilizes. However, the Department of Commerce is holding regular consultation with all stakeholders to ensure availability of essential imports and to find alternate destinations for our exports.'

 

Sunflower oil imports have been affected as it largely came from Ukraine, it has a smaller proportion in our edible oils basket.

 

But, whenever there is a situation like this it obviously has an impact all over the world and almost all edible oil prices in the entire world have shot up today because of the Russia-Ukraine war, he said.

 

'Therefore, this is an impact that we are also facing. Fortunately, our farmers are doing a good job and we are looking at a much more robust mustard crop this year. This is also a good opportunity for us to diversify to oilseeds and other crops,' he said.

 

To another supplementary on the MSME sector, the minister said it is an extremely important sector and the mainstay of the nation's economy and directly and indirectly they continue to contribute in a very big measure to our economy and to the export that India does.

 

In the years to come, their role is going to become increasingly more important, he quipped.

 

'Engineering has seen a growth of nearly 50 per cent. Auto components and some other small engineering items are actually highly job-creating and there is a major thrust on them. Technology and the adoption of new-age requirements of the world have also been our mainstay,' he said.

 

With mobiles being one of the biggest success stories that India has and large mobile manufacturers have set up shop in India, he said the new policy that Rs 76,000 crore is being offered as support from the Government of India to promote the semi-conductor industry to come in India is another massive initiative.

 

Never before has India come out with such a robust and futuristic technology-oriented policy and I am confident that India will soon become a global player in the semiconductor industry, he noted.

'India should look at expanding its footprint to the developed world, that is where the future growth story is', remarked Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal in Mumbai today.

 

The crossing of 650 billion dollars in terms of India’s outward export goods & services, coupled with an overall international trade volume of around 1.350 trillion dollars will take the country into the big league, said the Union Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Public Distribution and Food and Textiles Minister. He was addressing the FE CFO of the Year Awards 2022, of Financial Express, in Mumbai today.

 

'We will probably top $ 250 billion in service exports'

 

Thanking industry members and media for acknowledging the $400 billion export achievement, the Minister said that he hoped to close the year with $ 410 billion or thereabouts.

 

On agricultural exports, he said, 'We have had over $ 40 billion agricultural exports in the last 12 months. By the time we close the year, we had expected to touch $ 50 billion. It is a remarkable achievement for our farmers and the entire ecosystem associated with it.'

 

'Our engineering exports will cross $ 100 billion. Gem & Jewellery, Textiles, Leather- all of them are coming back on track. Petroleum exports also shown remarkable increase. Steel sector has also done extremely well'.

 

'We will reach wonderful targets on service exports; we will probably top $ 250 billion of service exports', said the Minister.

 

Self-Reliant India and International Trade

 

'When PM Modi talks of a self-reliant India, he is certainly not talking about an India which closes its doors to international engagements. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat is about self-confidence, self-sufficiency, it is about engaging with the world from a position of strength', said the Minister.

 

'No country in the world has grown without significant international engagement. Towards that end, we should look at some critical elements in our journey to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Every Ministry and Department of the government along with states is working on this goal'.

 

Free Trade Agreements

 

'We are negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia, UK, Canada, EU, Israel and, very soon, we hope to launch it with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC- Middle-Eastern countries)'.

 

Speaking about the recently concluded India-UAE FTA, the Minister said, 'Our own estimate is that the trade which is at about $ 60-65 billion will go up to $ 100 billion very rapidly'.

 

The Minister pointed out the need to look at various geographies and see how we can expand especially to developed countries. He said India is ready to do this.

 

'India is cost-competitive, has talent, is trusted, other countries look up to us for robust and resilient supply chains. India is looked upon as a reliable partner. Our industry is ready to work with the rest of a world which works on rule-based and transparent systems'.

 

'When India walked out of RCEP, we got unanimous support from across industry, farmers, everybody. Everyone was concerned about the presence of China since their economy is not very open, doesn't welcome Indian industry and has non-transparent pricing'.

 

PLI Scheme and PM Gati Shakti will be the game changers

 

'Production Linked Incentive Program, which emerged from an industry-led committee under the facilitation of the Government, was conceived after a careful analysis of 24 sectors, leading to a selection of 14 sectors to help them achieve scale and global competitiveness', informed the Commerce Minister. PLI scheme has identified sectors that have huge global opportunities but where India has remained a marginal player, he added.

 

'As regards textiles, we have often been focused on one element of the market, ignoring sectoral areas such as technical textiles & geo-textiles where majority of the global trade lies but where we remained a marginal player. PLI scheme seeks to redress the imbalance'.

 

'Speciality steel is another area with low domestic demand and no price competitiveness where PLI scheme has been brought in. Food processing and drone manufacturing are other sectors where PLI has been brought in'.

 

For the first time, the Government has come out with a scheme for semi-conductor sector alone, providing Rs. 76,000 crore PLI support to attract domestic manufacturing, stated the Minister.

 

PM Gati Shakti

 

Highlighting importance of the innovative initiative called PM Gati Shakti, Shri Goyal said, 'It will help India develop infrastructure in a much more thoughtful, organized & intelligent manner.  It will also help better monitoring and achieve faster rollout of infrastructure at stated costs, helping bring down logistics costs'.  He urged the media to study and demystify this scheme for the common man.

 

FE CFO Awards

 

Shri Goyal handed over the FE CFO Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 to JSW Group’s CFO and Joint MD Shri Seshagiri Rao. He also handed the awards to twenty eight winners from industry across three categories.

 

The Editor of The Financial Express Shri Shyamal Majumdar, Executive Director of Indian Express Shri Anant Goenka and Chairman and MD, Hindustan Unilever Limited Shri Sanjiv Mehta and chief financial officers and industry leaders were present on the occasion. 

Notwithstanding Covid-19 challenges, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has scripted a new success story by achieving 90 per cent of the export target fixed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for the financial year 2021-22.

 

The APEDA has successfully exported agricultural and processed food products worth USD 21.5 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal and is all set to achieve the annual export target of USD 23.71 billion for 2021-22.

 

This comes at a time when the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lauded the farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers and exporters after India has achieved the ambitious target of USD 400 Billion of goods exports nine days ahead of the schedule in the current fiscal.

 

APEDA has a share of more than 5 per cent in achieving this target of USD 400 billion of mercantile exports in the current fiscal.

 

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “India set an ambitious target of USD 400 Billion of goods exports and achieved this target for the first time ever. I congratulate our farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers, exporters for this success. This is a key milestone in our Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey.”

 

Being the highest foreign exchange earner, 91 per cent of rice export target of USD 8.67 billion has been achieved by APEDA so far. Rice exports has crossed USD 8.67 billion from April-February in the current fiscal, India has exported rice worth USD 8.62 billion, while the export of other cereals has jumped to 105 per cent of the export target of USD 847 million.

 

In the fruits and vegetables category, against the export target of USD 3048 million till February, APEDA has exported F&V worth of USD 2506 million, which is 75 per cent of the total target.

 

The cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items have been exported to the tune of USD 2036 million which is 89 per cent of the export target of USD 2102 million till February in the current fiscal year, while the export of meat, dairy and products has been recorded at USD 3771 million, which is 82 per cent of the USD 4205 million export target fixed till February 2022.

 

The export of wheat recorded a huge surge at USD 1742 million during April-January 2021-22, growing 387 per cent over the corresponding period in 2020-21 when it touched USD 358 million, while other cereals registered a growth of 66 per cent by fetching USD 869 million during April-January 2021-22 over the corresponding period in 2020-21 when it touched USD 527 million.

 

Meat, dairy and poultry products exports grew over 13 per cent standing at USD 3408 million in April-January 2021-22 compared to USD 3005 million in the corresponding ten-month period of 2020-21. Fruits and vegetables exports were up by 16 per cent to touch USD 1207 million during April-January 2021-22 against USD 1037 million in April-January 2020-21, while processed fruits and vegetables exports were up by 11 per cent to reach USD 1269 million during first ten months of 2021-22 against USD 1143 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

 

For promoting exports of unique products during the year, APEDA organized series of flag off events where Geographical Identification (GI) certified Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo, Jalgaon Banana and Marathwada Kesar sourced from farmers in Maharashtra were exported for the first time. APEDA facilitated the first consignment of Leteku (Burmese Grape), a fruit rich in vitamin C and Iron, from Guwahati airport to Dubai, besides the fresh jackfruit from Tripura to UK and Germany through Guwahati.

 

The first consignment of fresh ‘Raja Mircha’ also referred as king chilli was exported from Nagaland to London and Honey was exported for the first time from Assam to Dubai.  The first consignment of  GI tagged Nendran banana from Kerala to Singapore and the value added products from Jackfruit and Passion fruit were exported to New Zealand. The first consignment of GI tagged Vazhakulam Pineapple to Dubai and Sharjah and GI tagged Marayoor Jaggery from Marayoor, Idukki, Kerala to Dubai was also facilitated by APEDA.

 

For the first time APEDA facilitated exports of banana from Lakhimpur, UP to Iran and five traditional varieties of rice from Gujarat - Gujarat 17 Rice (Jeerasar/Jeera Samba), Surti Kolam Rice, Ambemohar Rice, Kali Mooch Rice and Indrayani Rice was exported to the United Kingdom.

 

APEDA also supported exports of Himalayan Millets (Organic Barnyard, Finger Millets and Amaranthus) to Vietnam for the first time from Uttarakhand and shipment of puffed rice sourced from Cuttack, Odisha has been exported to Malaysia via Vizag seaport.

 

“We continue to provide assistance to exporters based on clusters approach in collaboration with state governments while taking into consideration objective of Agriculture Export Policy, 2018,” Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA, said.

 

Some of the initiatives taken by APEDA to boost agri-exports in the last couple of years are as below:

 

Agriculture Export Policy implementation in collaboration with states

 

28 States and 4 UTs have appointed the Nodal agency and Nodal officers and State level Monitoring Committees have been formed in 26 States and 4 UTs.

 

Twenty two States and 2 UTs (Ladakh/ A&N Islands) have finalized the State specific Agri Export Action Plan viz. Maharashtra, U.P., Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, M.P., Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.

Cluster development activities

 

Thirty two meetings in the second round of cluster development through virtual mode have been organised. The major interventions required have been identified and existing infrastructure has been mapped.

Thirty eight Cluster level committees have been notified in several cluster districts across the States.

Exports of horticulture produce has taken place from the clusters of Anantapur (Banana), Theni (Banana), Nagpur (Orange), Nashik (Grapes), Chikaballapura (Rose Onion).

 

Synergy with Line Ministries for cluster development - Efforts have been made for having a synergy with the identified Clusters of MoA&FW (CDP-NHB), MoFPI (PMFME) and DGFT.

Creation of Export Promotion Forums (EPFs)

 

To give impetus to the export of potential products as well as to remove the bottlenecks in the supply chain, APEDA created Export  Promotion Forums (EPFs) under the chairmanship of Chairman, APEDA and having  representatives of  Department of Commerce, Dept. of Agriculture, State Govts., National Referral Laboratories & top 10 leading exporters of each product for Grapes,  Onions,  Mango,  Banana,  Rice,  Dairy Products,  Pomegranate,  Floriculture and  Nutri Cereals.

 

Accreditation/Compliance/Enforcement Under National Programme for Organic Production

 

Overseas accreditation has been granted to a certificate body for certification in European Union.

Accreditation of a Certification Body for certification as per NPOP in European Union.

 

The mutual recognition with Taiwan has been concluded. This has been the first MRS under NPOP.

The accredited Certification Bodies have been increased to 32. 

 

Export of organic products during April –February 2022 has been 700 million USD. India exports mainly to USA, EU, Canada, Switzerland and Great Britain. 

Promotion of GI products

 

In order to promote the exports of GI products, as emphasised by the Prime Minister, two V-BSMs have been organised with the Embassies of UAE and USA.

 

APEDA officials have participated in several District level meetings for deliberation and promotion of GI registered products like Banganpalli mango in Andhra Pradesh, Govindbhog rice in West Bengal, Black rice in Manipur, Assam ginger etc.

 

An exclusive new section for GI products has been created in the APEDA portal and 112 GI registered agriproducts have been identified.

 

 Development of traceability system for GI products has been initiated.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

 

An MoU has been signed by APEDA and ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute (ICAR-CCRI), Nagpur, Maharashtra.

 

APEDA signed MOU with Jawahar Lal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur on 17th December, 2021 to boost farmers income and exports from Madhya Pradesh.

MoU signed between Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and APEDA on 5th October, 2021 in Srinagar on mutual areas of cooperation for enhancing exports from the region.

 

The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products has been also largely due to the various initiatives taken by APEDA such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.

 

APEDA also assists in upgradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans. APEDA also provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.

 

APEDA organizes participation of exporters in the International Trade Fairs, which provides a platform to the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace. APEDA also organizes national events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc. to promote agri-exports.

 

In order to ensure seamless quality certification of products to be exported, APEDA has recognized 220 labs across India to provide services of testing to a wide range of products to exporters.

The Centre has set a target to export at least a million tonnes (mt) of wheat every month next fiscal as it wants the country to emerge as a reliable source of the grain’s shipments both in 'quantity and quality'. It wants to tap the current opportunities provided by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the optimum.

 

This sets a target of 12 mt for wheat exports next fiscal. This fiscal, the foodgrain’s exports are likely to be at a record of over 7.5 mt. The US Department of Agriculture has projected the country’s wheat exports this fiscal at 10 mt.

 

A meeting of exporters and officials of various ministries such as Railways, Shipping, Commerce and Agriculture was chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday to remove all impediments in speeding up the shipments. A task force has also been formed for this purpose. 

 

At the same time, the Centre is now prepared to prune its wheat procurement target under the minimum support price (MSP) scheme by 10 mt. For the rabi marketing season starting April 1, the Food Ministry had set a procurement target of 44 mt. 

 

The meeting was held on the heels of India expanding its wheat export basket with Sudan and Thailand joining the list of importers buying Indian wheat. Russia and Ukraine make up nearly 30 per cent of the wheat export market. The conflict in eastern Europe between these two nations has resulted in shipments of commodities such as wheat, corn, sunflower oil and barley coming to a halt.

 

Removal of mandi tax

 

At the meeting, Chouhan assured to remove mandi tax in the States as it would make Indian wheat more competitive, the sources said. Since MP takes the lead in growing the best quality Sharbati wheat variety, Chouhan wants to encash it politically as the State is due to go in for assembly poll next year, sources said.

 

Social media is flooded with messages highlighting his efforts on wheat export. He has also called a separate meeting with exporters on March 29 at Bhopal.

 

All commodities (except deregulated fruits and vegetables) in Madhya Pradesh are charged at 1 per cent mandi tax in addition to 0.2 per cent ‘Nirashit Cess’, both inside or outside mandis.

 

Maintaining standards

 

Speaking at the event, which was organised by Food Ministry and also joined by many Indian ambassadors virtually, Food and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stressed on quality and asked exporters to strictly follow the best standards so that Indian product leaves a mark in global trade. He said the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) would head a task force to coordinate with all agencies and a helpline will be operational for the exporters, sources said.

 

Lauding the efforts of the government, an exporter, who was present at the event that lasted for over an hour, said: 'If in the first three-four months at least 5 mt exports are completed, the target will be achieved as this is the most crucial period with the entire harvest reaching the market during April-May. The government has to find space at ports, make available rakes and these are all challenging issues in view of priorities accorded to fertiliser and foodgrains (of FCI).'

 

Goyal is also learnt to have asked APEDA to take trade delegations to countries where there are potential so that exporters get an opportunity to meet buyers there, sources said. APEDA is likely to organise such a trip in April-May, sources said. The government will also soon prepare short-term strategies to meet the objective.

 

On the procurement front, officials of the Food Ministry have informed that the government may miss the target of 44 mt in 2022-23 and there will not be any problem if it touches 35 mt. The FCI had 23.4 mt of stock as on March 1, whereas the annual normal offtake on account of distribution through ration shops is 21-22 mt (excluding PMGKAY, OMSS and other welfare schemes).

 

However, traders said if the current price trend continues it will be difficult for the government to procure even 30 mt. The weighted average mandi price in Madhya Pradesh was Rs2,149/quintal so far this month, whereas it was Rs2,312 in Gujarat, Rs2,381 in Maharashtra and Rs2,117 in Rajasthan against the minimum support prices of Rs2,015/quintal.

 

Since the Russian-Ukraine conflict intensified on February 24, about a million tonne of wheat export deals have been signed. The Commerce Ministry, looking to tap the current opportunity, wants to export wheat to the top 10 global importers, including Egypt and China, and thus expand its shipments base.

 

Indian wheat is being offered at $335-350 a tonne free-on-board (f.o.b) for exports now. Wheat flour is also being shipped with deals signed at $380-390 a tonne f.o.b.

 

On the Chicago Board of Trade, benchmark wheat futures are quoted at $10.89 a bushel. Wheat prices have surged 50 per cent since the beginning of this year, with the bulk of the hike after February 24. This has turned the focus on Indian wheat, which is traded at a discount to other origin wheat. 

 

During the April-January period of the current fiscal, wheat exports had soared to 60.2 lt, valued at $1.7 billion, compared with 13.78 lt, valued at $358 million, a year ago.

 

Besides high stocks, another record wheat production of 111.32 million tonnes this season to June against 109.59 million tonnes last season is also expected to help., including in carrying overflowing granaries at huge costs. 

To boost exports of value-added meat products, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Shri Parshottam Rupala has called on stakeholders to work towards creation of region specific animal disease free zones in the country.

 

Shri Rupala, while inaugurating the National Business Meet on promoting exports of value-added meat products organized by APEDA in New Delhi on March 25, 2022, said that even in case of single outbreak of disease amongst poultry bird, the entire country is referred as ‘disease affected’.

 

'All the stakeholders must take small steps and work to declare small regions- a few districts at a time, as disease free,' said Shri Rupala, while referring to the model of Sikkim being declared as an organic state and its produce command a premium in the market.

 

He said that there is a need to initiate a survey with all stakeholders to prepare a road map with actionable points to make India disease free in terms of animal health. 'At the same time, we must have an action plan for identifying contaminated areas and quarantine just like we have done for prevention of COVID19,' Shri Rupala noted.

 

He said animals are the life support system for our rural economy, they provide sustenance in difficult times and a great source of nutrition particularly proteins for the rural folk. There is a need to work to increase animal productivity.

 

Shri Rupala also released two manuals on export of value-added meat products and pork & pork products.

 

While stating that the Ministry of Animal Husbandry is working for development of infrastructure for improving animal wellness, health and nutrition to ensure increase in productivity and quality, he also stated that while the world acknowledges India’s administering record number of COVID19 vaccinations, the government is currently running a massive vaccination drive for animals for eradicating Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis amongst the livestock.

 

In September, 2019, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme to control and eradicate the FMD and Brucellosis amongst the livestock in the country. The Centre has allocated Rs 12,652 crore under the Central Government sponsored programme which aimed at vaccinating more than 600 million cattle in the country in an effort to mitigate the two diseases.

 

Shri Rupala also recommended to the livestock industry to leverage the schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Anima; Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund and the National Livestock Mission for setting up animal farms for their rearing in order to produce good quality meat and thereby quality value-added products.

 

Dr. M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA, in his welcome address at the national meet, informed the delegates that Animal Husbandry has a critical role to play in enhancing farmer income. He stated that India pioneered the export of meat and maintained the growth of momentum even during the COVID19 pandemic. 'India is the largest exporter of frozen and bovine meat while achieving significant growth in export of organic honey and fish produce,' Dr Angamuthu said.

 

Besides the senior officials from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and APEDA, officials from leading players in livestock industry represented by Allana sons Limited, Venkateshwara Hatcheries, Lulu Group, Hind Agro Industries Ltd, Mayur Piggery Farm, Darshan Foods, ITC group, AOV pvt ltd, Hind Agro Industries, NRC on Pig, NIFTEM-Kundli and others participated in the day long meet.

 

APEDA promotes exports of agriculture and animal fresh and processed products by setting standards and specifications, suggesting and supporting improvement in packaging, marketing strategies, facilitating development of products for export, setting export zones, and organising Buyer-Seller meets to connect our exporters with relevant importers in destination markets.

 

APEDA along with exporters has successfully written many success stories in several sectors like Mango, Grapes, Bananas, Bakery products, including Meat and meat products.