With a view to provide further relief to consumers and to keep in check any further rise in the prices of domestic edible oils due to rise in the prices of edible oils globally, the Government of India has reduced the agri-cess for Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from 7.5% to 5% with effect from 12th February, 2022.  After reduction of the agri-cess, the import tax gap between CPO and Refined Palm Oil has increased to 8.25%. The increase in the gap between the CPO and Refined Palm Oil will benefit the domestic refining industry to import Crude Oil for refining.

 

Another pre-emptive measure taken by the Government to check the prices of edible oils is to extend the current basic rate of import duty of zero percent on Crude Palm Oil, Crude Soyabean oil and Crude Sunflower Oil upto 30th September, 2022. The rate of import duty on Refined Palm Oils at 12.5%, Refined Soyabean oil and Refined Sunflower Oil at 17.5% will remain in force up to 30th September, 2022. This measure will help in cooling down the prices of edible oils which are witnessing an upward trend in the international market due to lower availability and other international factors.

 

The above steps will augment the earlier measure taken by the Government viz. the stock limit order dated 3rd February, 2022 vide which the Government had specified the stock limit quantities on edible oils and oilseeds for a period upto 30th June, 2022 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This measure is expected to curtail any unfair practices like hoarding, black marketing etc. of edible oils and oilseeds in the market which may lead to any increase in the prices of edible oils. Oil industry is being called for a meeting tomorrow to do their best in passing on the benefit to consumers and State Governments have been requested to enforce stock limit order strictly.

Algeria's state grains agency OAIC has issued an international tender to buy milling wheat to be sourced from optional origins, European traders said on Monday.

 

The tender sought a nominal 50,000 tonnes, but Algeria often buys considerably more in its tenders than the nominal volume sought.

 

The deadline for submission of price offers is Feb. 16, with offers having to remain valid until Feb. 17.

 

The wheat is sought for shipment in two periods from the main supply regions including Europe: April 1-15 and April 16-30.

 

If sourced from South America or Australia, shipment is one month earlier.

 

Algeria is a vital customer for wheat from the European Union, especially France, but it has been turning its back on French wheat recently as it seeks to diversify to other suppliers.

 

In its last wheat tender on Jan. 26, the OAIC made a relatively small purchase of 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes expected to be sourced from the Black Sea region after seeking shipment to two ports only.

The tricennial of diplomatic ties between India and Israel is marked by ballyhoo on state broadcasters, commemorative livery and logo, and a planned visit of Israeli PM Naftali Bennett. Not too long ago, India was Israel’s reluctant partner. One that was eager to secure Israel’s technology and arms but shy and shirking, at best, when it came to reciprocating political warmth. Even amidst this political vagary, defence deals were a constant. So was their cooperation in agriculture. Hence, for too long, India-Israel relations were read through a narrow prism of geopolitics and warfare along with agricultural cooperation. Nevertheless, with increasing warmth since 2014, both countries are engaging in newer domains below the radar.

 

Spurred by a flurry of high-level visits, India shed its Israel inhibition in 2014. Both countries signed the strategic partnership agreement and a series of pacts focusing on unexplored areas during PM Modi’s Israel visit, the first by an Indian premier. India’s renewed West Asia outlook, particularly its attempt at dehyphenating the Israel-Palestine issue, provided the space for the deepening of cooperation. Through diplomatic signalling in terms of separate visits to Israel and Palestine, dropping the demand for East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, and occasional neutrality at the UN, India has been able to overtly realise its relations with the Jewish nation. Advertently, it is in line with its independent policy in the wider Middle East.

 

Defence and agri-tech have unquestionably sustained the partnership all the while. Although marginally documented in Indian military history, Israel had helped India during two major crises of 1971 and 1999 with Pakistan by supplying mortars and ammunition. Dynamics have changed since then. Nature of acquisitions has moved away from mortars to missiles, and components to avionics. Globally, India is the second-largest arms importer after China. Given the equally hostile neighbourhood, Israeli defence technology suits the deterrent bracket desired by India. With competitive pricing, it has enjoyed success with Indian military planners. As of 2020, India was its largest recipient acquiring 43 percent of Israel’s total arms exports. The signing of the impending defence cooperation agreement will further enhance defence trade.

 

Likewise, Israel’s contribution to India’s food security is significant. Notably, Israel is the world leader in agricultural technology. Since the early phase of the normalisation, Tel Aviv has actively aided India in drip and community irrigation technologies. During former President Shimon Peres’ visit in 2014, he stressed how Israel can further assist India in its second green revolution by increasing crop productivity using smart farming technologies. Israel’s MASHAV along with India’s Ministry of Agriculture and different state governments have been involved in creating 30 Centers of Excellences (CoEs) spread across the country that will help roughly 1.2 lakh Indian farmers. In a recent move, while commemorating 30 years, both countries agreed to invest in the creation of 150 Villages of Excellences around these CoEs, focusing on capacity building and market linkages. Water conservation is another allied activity where India is learning from Israel’s success.

 

It is worth underscoring here that securing agri-tech from Tel Aviv is in New Delhi’s interest as agriculture remains the mainstay of the majority population in India. The sector is responsible for over 52 percent of employment, 16 percent of the GDP, and 10 percent of export earnings. Ranked at 101 out of 135 on Global Hunger Index, India’s food security challenges are acute. As its population continues to rise, the desire for technology that spurs agricultural productivity to meet domestic demand, enhance export revenues, and keep the sector lucrative is evident. In this case, Israel’s contribution would remain crucial in the days to come.

 

India’s gaze towards Israel’s technological prowess has not remained limited to agri-tech. In the age of rapid digitisation with heightened exposure to the vulnerabilities of the virtual world, both countries signed a cyber security pact in July 2020. As a first step, India and Israel are jointly developing protected systems and services to avert incessantly increasing cyber-attacks on their civilian and strategic assets. It is a crucial indicator of trust the Indian side has placed on Tel Aviv for co-developing protective technologies in line with its Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) initiative.

 

Both countries’ tiny diasporas have made notable contributions to host nations. India boasts around 5,000 Bene Israel Jews who are present in all walks of Indian life. Bnei Menashe, the Jewish population in north-eastern India, also traces its linkages to the Lost Tribes of Israel. Similarly, the Indian diaspora in Israel remains quite visible, from tech sector to caregiving. Increasing proliferation in tourism, education and health adds further social impetus to the bilateral.

 

Thus, beyond missiles and mortars, ‘India-Israel 2.0’ is getting underwritten by a broader spectrum of non-conventional areas such as information and cybersecurity, water conservation, education, health and research. The elevation of ties at the strategic partnership intends to deepen this incipient cooperation in new areas. A similar sentiment was noted in PM Modi’s tricennial commemoration speech,where he placed equal emphasis on evolving geopolitics and mutual possibilities. The renewed approach will benefit people at both ends as much as it would intensify trust and cooperation at the governmental level.

 

It is assumed that PM Bennett’s forthcoming visit may witness a plethora of agreements on various more such areas overlooked so far. However, the centrality of defence and agriculture would remain. To quote Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, the two countries are not just friends but partners. It reflects the sentiment that India and Israel mean business—but now, in many new sectors.

India and the UAE are likely to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on February 18, news agency PTI reported on Monday. Under the deal, both the countries could give duty-free access to a number of products from different sectors.

 

In September last year, Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal and his counterpart Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi had formally launched negotiations on the India-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

 

Under FTA, two trading partners reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them. Also, they liberalise norms to enhance trade in services and boost investments.

 

'The India-UAE agreement is ready and it would be signed on February 18,' the news agency quoted a source as saying.

 

Bilateral trade between India and the UAE stood at $43.3 billion in 2020-21. Exports were $16.7 billion and imports aggregated at $26.7 billion in 2020-21.

 

Speaking on India-UAE trade deal, Piyush Goyal last week had said 'we hope to make some announcements very quickly'. Recently, he said the UAE is a gateway to all of Africa and many other parts of the world.

 

The UAE also has a huge Indian diaspora, and a large market for products like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, footwear and food items, which are labour oriented sectors, he had said. 

 

The commerce ministry in September last year said the UAE is currently India’s third-largest trading partner with bilateral trade in 2019-2020 valued at $59 billion. The UAE is also India’s second-largest export destination after the US, with exports valued at approximately $29 billion in 2019-2020. 

 

India was the UAE’s second-largest trading partner in 2019, with bilateral non-oil trade valued at $41 billion. The UAE is the eighth-largest investor in India, having invested $11 billion between April 2000 and March 2021, while investment by Indian companies in the UAE is estimated to be over $85 billion.

 

India's major exports to the UAE include petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewellery, minerals, food items such as cereals, sugar, fruits and vegetables, tea, meat, and seafood, textiles, engineering and machinery products, and chemicals. 

 

India's top imports from the UAE include petroleum and petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewellery, minerals, chemicals and wood and wood products. India imported $10.9 billion of crude oil from the UAE in 2019-2020.

Tamil Nadu Cashew Processors and Exporters Association (TNCPEA) has sought exemption in customs clearance for imported raw cashew nuts from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

 

In this regard, association’s secretary M Ramakrishnan has written to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. In the letter, he stated that  raw cashew nuts were not suitable for consumption and subjected to steam boiling before being deshelled.

 

The kernels with outer covering would have to be heated to approximately 70 degree for around 12 hours before obtaining edible cashew nuts.

 

Hence, according to Ramakrishnan, FSSAI norms of edible nuts should not be applied to cashew kernels as the raw seeds and kernels have to be treated separately.

 

Raw cashew nuts are regarded as a raw material and therefore do not require FSSAI clearance presently. Till the standards for raw cashew nuts are framed FSSAI cannot detain import consignment for inspection and such cashews only fall under plant quarantine. However, the FSSAI was now insisting on customs clearance for importing raw cashew nuts, according to Ramakrishnan.

 

Meanwhile FSSAI has recently passed an order stating that all authorised officers are hereby directed to facilitate import of raw cashew nuts by ensuring compliance to the horizontal standards as laid out in FSS (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011; and, by considering them under ‘foods not specified'.

As Indian agricultural product exports begin to make inroads into the global market, particularly as a leader in non-basmati rice exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is playing an important role, accounting for 49% of total shipments of these products.

 

APEDA was established on February 13, 1986, with agricultural exports totaling $0.6 billion. Last fiscal year, its agricultural product shipments totaled $20.67 billion, and it expanded its footprint to 205 countries.

 

It was established by an Act of Parliament by the Government under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry after the government recognized the importance of agricultural and processed food product exports.

 

APEDA's progress in agricultural exports has not been easy. 'Despite several logistical challenges in global commodity trade, India's agricultural and processed food exports have grown steadily over the last decade,' says M Angamuthu, Chairman of APEDA.

 

Export Basket Break-up

Today, the authority is a cornerstone of the government's success in promoting agricultural exports. Cereals and fresh horticulture items account for 59% of APEDA's share of agricultural product exports, cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items account for 23%, and animal products account for 18%.

 

APEDA was given an export target of $23.7 billion for the current fiscal year, and by the end of January, it had met more than 70% of it, at $17.2 billion. According to the APEDA Chairman, the remainder of the target will be met within the time frame specified.

 

APEDA has promoted IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India in order to further the cause of agricultural exports. To make governance more efficient and effective, it has implemented initiatives such as paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, and electronic payment facility), APEDA mobile app, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair.

 

GI-Tagged, Ethnic Products

To meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'vocal for local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' the authority has been focusing on the promotion of exports of locally-sourced Geographical Indication (GI) products as well as indigenous, ethnic agricultural products.

 

According to APEDA, new products and export destinations have been identified, and trial shipments have been facilitated accordingly. Over 100 registered APEDA scheduled agricultural products are among the 150 GI-tagged agricultural products that have been registered so far (cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc).

 

Dragon fruit, patented village rice, jackfruit, jamun, Burmese grapes, dehydrated mahua flowers, and puffed rice were among the ethnic and GI tagged products shipped out of the country last fiscal year and this fiscal year. GI varieties of mango, GI tagged Shahi litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai malli, Mihidana, Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon banana, Vazhakulam pineapple and Marayoor jaggery are among these, says Angamuthu.

 

Strategy Reports

In order to boost exports even further, country-specific agri-export strategy reports for 60 countries have been prepared. APEDA has established a Market Intelligence Cell and has begun releasing E-market intelligence reports that include detailed market analysis.

 

Mango, basmati rice, non-basmati rice, groundnut, grapes, gherkins, dehydrated onion, pomegranate, banana, potato, buffalo meat, swine meat, fresh-cut flowers, wine, egg, dairy products (SMP & cheese), biscuits, jaggery, millets, fruits and vegetable seeds, moringa, fox nut, fruit juices, mango pulp, potato flakes, and cereal preparations are among the 27 reports prepared so far.

 

APEDA has established a farmer connect portal on its website to provide a platform for farmer producer organizations (FPOs) or farmer producer companies (FPCs), Cooperatives to interact with exporters. According to him, approximately 3,295 FPO/FPCs and 3,315 exporters have registered in the portal so far.

 

APEDA has also included a Blockchain solution in its GrapeNet traceability platform, which is a web-based certification and traceability software system for tracking fresh grapes exports to the European Union. The Blockchain solution, known as APEDA Trust Chain, assists in tracking all aspects of the export consignment, right down to the vineyard location.

 

According to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, exports of agricultural and processed food products under the APEDA basket increased over the last decade to 1,53,049 crore in 2020-21, up from 42,437 crore in 2010-11.

 

Non-Basmati Rice Contribution

APEDA exported agricultural and processed food products worth $17,465 million (1,29,782 crore) from April to December of the current fiscal year.

 

Non-basmati rice, India's top export item in the APEDA basket of agricultural and processed food product exports, contributed nearly one-fourth of total exports in 2020-21. Non-basmati rice (23.22 percent), basmati rice (19.44 percent), and buffalo meat were the top three products in the APEDA export basket in 2020-21. Together, these products account for 58% of total shipments.

 

Other Initiatives

According to Angamuthu, APEDA pioneered its first traceability system for grape exports to EU countries in 2005-06. It has now been expanded to include peanut (Peanut.net), organic (Tracenet), and meat products (Meat.net). Traceability systems for additional products are being developed, according to the APEDA chairman.

 

APEDA organised a number of activities, including a virtual buyer-seller meet, showcasing the strength of Indian agri-exports on the Virtual trade fair platform, synergy with ministries, and convergence of various schemes run by line ministries and concerned organisations. 'APEDA's visionary approach, aggressive and consistent efforts have enabled India to position itself as a consistent and quality supplier of agricultural products,' Angamuthu said.

The Centre has amended the import policy for moong beans, by moving it from ‘free’ to ‘restricted’ category with immediate effect.

 

A notification issued by the Department of Commerce, dated February 11, said the import policy for moong is revised from ‘Free’ to ‘Restricted’ with immediate effect.

 

Previously, the import of moong beans was allowed under the 'free' category subject to the bill of lading being issued by 31st March 2022 and customs clearance by 30th June 2022.

 

Impacted by the latest policy revision, the pulses trade has urged the Government to reconsider its decision and reinstate the free import policy.

 

In a statement, Bimal Kothari, Vice Chairman, India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA) said, 'Based on the 'free' import policy, Indian market participants entered into binding contractual obligations for the import of moong from other countries into India. It was barely two months ago, as of 20th December 2021, that the Government of India allowed the 'free' import of moong, and has now changed that policy overnight. On behalf of all market players, we request the Government of India to reconsider the notification restricting import and reinstate the 'free' import policy.'

 

Further, Kothari said that frequent policy changes create immense financial hardship for Indian market participants, and uncertainty for international counterparts. Such changes are counterproductive for international trade and inconsistent with India’s 'Ease of Doing Business' objective.

 

'Consequently, we request the Government to provide reasonable advance notice to the market before introducing new policies that can hamper existing trade commitments. We are making representation to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to withdraw this Notification, as Indian importers have contracted cargoes which are presently in transit to Indian ports. If these cargoes are not allowed to be imported, it will create immense financial hardship to Indian companies and chaos in the market,' Kothari added.

 

In its first advance estimates issued on Sept 21 last year, the Agriculture Ministry had pegged the moong output at 2.06 million tonnes, higher than the targeted 2.02 million tonnes and the previous year’s fourth advance estimate of 2.01 million tonnes. However, the trade was expecting a lower crop due the erratic rainfall pattern in states such as Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh among others.

 

In the ongoing rabi season, moong acreage is estimated at 5.13 lakh ha, lower than the normal area for the season of 9.4 lakh ha and previous year’s 7.03 lakh ha.

There are 726 Testing Laboratories for food products in the country as per study conducted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries in 2020-21 and these Laboratories are operational at different levels of operation and testing of food products. Out of these, 585 food testing laboratories have obtained Accreditation as per the international standards i.e. ISO/IEC 17025/NABL. 

 

There are three central sector schemes implemented by Government of India, wherein financial assistance is provided to establish/upgrade Food Testing Laboratories to meet with international standards i.e. ISO/IEC 17025/NABL. The three central sector schemes are (i) Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries, (ii) Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile Food testing Lab implemented by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and (iii) Financial Assistance for Quality Development Scheme implemented by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority under Ministry and Commerce and Industries.

 

Government of India does not establish any Food Testing Laboratory on its own. The proposals for Food testing Laboratories received are demand driven and there is no specific state wise target. 

 

This information was given by Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today

Agriculture is a State subject. However, Government of India supports and facilitates the StateGovernments through many Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes to promote modern agricultural technology amongst farmers including small and marginal ones throughout the country to boost agricultural production. Some of the major central schemes aimed at promoting modern agricultural technology amongst farmers include Agriculture Technology ManagementAgency (ATMA) Scheme, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM); promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi; establishment of National Agriculture e-Market platform (e-NAM); Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme; Per Drop More Crop (PDMC); Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture; etc.

 

Apart from the above. So far, under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), 729 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been established in various districts across the country, where scientists or subject matter specialists are involved in dissemination and demonstration of modern agricultural technology to farmers including small and marginal farmers. Scientists and subject matter specialists of KVKs are regularly trained in various ICAR Institutes, where newer technologies/ crop varieties/ agricultural practices are developed as a result of continuous research process. In turn, scientists and subject matter specialist of KVKs pass on the technologies/ Crop varieties/ Agricultural practices to the farmers in the field.

 

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha Today.

Exports of agricultural and processed food products through APEDA are expected to exceed the target of USD 23.7 billion in the current fiscal, the commerce ministry said on Sunday.

 

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is taking a series of steps such as promoting IT-enabled activities for ease of doing business in the promotion and development of exports from India, it said.

 

APEDA, it said, is working with the state governments for ensuring traceability and market linkages for farmers for promoting exports.

 

It is giving thrust on ensuring digitization of land records and formalization of tenancy for the farmers, which helps in boosting exports, the ministry added.

It also said that as of date, there are 417 registered GI (geographical indication) products and out of that 150 are from the agricultural and food sector.

 

Country specific agri-export strategy reports have been prepared for 60 countries in consultation with the Indian Embassies and High Commissions of the respective countries to tap the opportunities emerging during the Covid-19 pandemic, it added.

 

'Notwithstanding several logistical challenges faced in the global trade of commodities, India’s agricultural and processed food exports have grown at a steady pace in the last decade,' M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said on the occasion of the authority’s 36th Foundation Day.

 

Exports of agricultural and processed food products under APEDA basket rose to USD 20.67 billion (Rs 1,53,049 crore) during 2020-21, from USD 9.31 billion (Rs 42,437 crore) in 2010-11.