The love and trend for food and beverage have considerably multiplied on the worldwide front over the period of time and the trend is changing day by day. Over the past few decades, the food and beverage business has seen majestic growth and is projected to expand to a magnificent extent.

 

The retail sales for attire, white product, and footwear are decreasing globally and area units replaced by the food and beverage industry.

 

The change in the demand for beverages by native people as well as by tourists is due to globalisation and cultural diversification. This makes the food and beverage industry is more competent and more innovative with their products. The indeed required critical thinking makes the market more diverse in terms of creativity in beverages and selection of the ingredients. Just thinking of the above discussion one more important term strikes the mind -Functional Beverages.

 

Ready-to-drink beverages that are non-alcoholic and comprise non-traditional ingredients are referred to as ‘functional drinks’. Functional drinks comprise a couple of common ingredients like minerals, herbs, some raw fruits or vegetables. The health-related advantages offered by functional drinks are far more than the daily organic process intake.

 

Improved heart health, system strengthening, improved psychic energy, improved bone health, steroid and alcohol management, and different health-related advantages associated with eye health and vision. Dairy, increased fruit drinks and juices, ready-to-drink tea, energy drinks, functional milk, soy beverages, and sports and performance drinks are the foremost common forms of functional drinks.

 

The global functional beverage market is estimated to reach $208 billion by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of around 9% during the forecast period, 2020 – 2026. The growing shopper inclination towards the consumption of functional beverages is principal because of the rising demand for non-alcoholic beverages. Functional drinks are being most popular over effervescent drinks and fruit juices by shoppers.

 

For gaining a footing within the market corporations are springing up with new innovations. For varied blessings of functional beverages, the shoppers are willing to pay a premium that is one every of the most important blessings of functional beverages. Some facts and figures about the UAE retail sale revenue.

 

As reported by Euromonitor, in 2018, UAE retail sales value of soft drinks reached $5.1 billion. From 2013 to 2018, UAE retail sales of soft drinks grew with CAGR of around 5.7%. The largest category in this group was bottled water, juice and carbonated water. It is also worth mentioning that Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee had the highest CAGR of 22% between 2013 and 2018.

 

'The Arab Beverages Conference returns to the UAE following a great success last year, the conference offers networking opportunities and promotes discussion among hundreds of participants from the beverage industry and it supporting industries from all around the world. The Arab non-alcoholic beverages industry is now one of the fastest-growing industries in the Arab world, playing a vital role in the Arab countries economies, catering to over 300 million consumers in the Arab region alone, with a production volume of over 10 billion liters per yea' stated the chairman of the Arab Beverage Association Monther Al Harthi.

Indian exporters have shipped out around 17 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugar in the October-December quarter of the current sugar season 2021-22 as compared to 4.5 lt in the same period last year, an increase of around 277 per cent. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the apex trade body, another 7 lt was in the pipeline for exports during January 2022.

 

Indian exporters have contracted have already signed about 38-40 lt of sugar for exports, but a decline in global prices have forced them to take the wait-and-watch approach. Global raw sugar prices have slumped to a five month low at around 18 cents per pound amidst news of expectedly better upcoming season 2022-23 (April-March) in Brazil.

 

'Indian mills are still waiting for the opportune time and are in no hurry to enter into further export contracts beyond 38-40 lt which have already been signed so far,” ISMA said in a note on Monday.

 

More number of mills in operations

This is even as sugar production in the country till from October 1 to January 15 registered a six per cent increase at 151.41 lt as compared to 142.78 per cent in the same period last sugar season. The increase is mainly on account of more number of mills in operations this year at 504 as compared to 487 in the same period last year.

 

In Maharashtra, sugar production has increased to 58.84 lt till mid-January this year as against 51.55 lt in the same period last season, an increase of 14 per cent. However, in Uttar Pradesh the production is trailing last year’s levels at 40.17 lt as compared to 42.99 lt in the same period last season.

 

In Karnataka, the third largest sugar producing State, output has increased to 33.20 lt as of mid-January this season as compared to 29.80 lt in same period last season. ISMA further said that the second advance estimates of sugar production for the 2021-22 season would be released by the end of January.

 

The Federation of Indian Exports Organisations (FIEO) is organising a webinar on 'Focus on Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products' on 4th February, 2022 at 3pm. 

 

The topic of discussions are to learn the criterion for identifying GI products, importance & International scenario of GI products and success stories of GI products, and registration link is https://t.co/EC6l05Kyhv.

 

Understanding the importance of GI products on an international level will help domestic agro product to boost exports and get an edge in the global trade. 

 

Participation in the webinar is free of cost and for any query, contact PT Srinath, Joint Director & Telangana Head on following contact details: 91-40-23210380, 9831726300, fieohyd@fieo.org, ptsrinath@fieo.org.

 

Geographical Indications of goods are defined as that aspect of industrial property which refers to the geographical indication referring to a country or to a place situated therein as being the country or place of origin of that product. 

 

Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country. 

 

Darjeeling Tea, Kangra Tea, CoOrg Orange, Mysore Betel leaf, Nanjanagud, Banana, Mysore Jasmine, Navara Rice, Palakkadan Matta Rice, Malabar Pepper, Allahabad Surkha, Monsooned Malabar, Arabica and Robusta Coffee, Coorg Green, Cardamom, Eathomozhy Tall Coconut, Dharwad Pedha, Pokkali Rice, Laxman Bhog, Mango and Naga Mircha, etc  are products that have GI status.

The Centre has set a target to increase area under zaid crops (excluding paddy) — grown between rabi and kharif seasons — by 29 per cent at 52.72 lakh hectares (lh) this year. Of this, 21.05 lh will be under pulses, 13.78 lh under oilseeds and 17.89 lh under coarse cereals.

 

Paddy area in the last summer season was about 40 lh and that may remain in the range of 30-40 lh this year though the government wants diversification from rice, an official said. Summer rice is grown mainly in West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

 

Pulses , cereals

 

Among pulses, moong is the most preferred one and the government targets 17.58 lh under summer moong, mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, against 14.45 lh actual last year. In oilseeds, major summer grown crops are groundnut and sesame where the targets are fixed at 7.6 lh and 5.25 lh, respectively. Among coarse cereals, summer maize has been targeted in an area of 8.79 lh against 7.85 lh actual last year.

 

The additional area increase targeted is to come from rice fallows, inter-cropping in oil palm and sugarcane, besides the normal summer areas, the official said.

 

Post-monsoon, the country received 44 per cent more than normal rains at 177.7 mm during October-December and in the first three weeks of January the rainfall was nearly three times higher than average at 31.8 mm.

 

Addressing the annual conference on summer crops, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the objective of the conference was to review the performance of these crops during the preceding three cropping seasons and fix crop-wise targets for the coming summer season in consultation with the State governments. The priority of government is to increase production of oilseeds and pulses where large imports are required, he said.

 

Fertilisers supply

 

Tomar also asked participating States in the conference to plan in advance for their fertilisers needs and provide estimates to the Centre and ensure sufficient quantity of crop nutrients are made available in time. He suggested that States should work towards increasing the use of NPK and liquid urea to reduce the dependence on DAP fertiliser.

 

The Fertilisers Secretary Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi said that adequate and timely availability of fertilisers would be ensured in ensuing season and the government has estimated total availability of urea at 255.28 lakh tonnes (lt), DAP 81.24 lt, MOP 18.50 lt, NPKS 76.87 lt and SSP 34 lt for Kharif 2022.

Bangladesh has emerged as the top destination for exported Indian pomegranates over the last few years. Ease of transportation and relatively relaxed import norms have helped Indian growers take their fruit to Bangladesh even as the share of export to European countries has dropped.

 

Grown mostly in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat, pomegranate has emerged as a major export crop for drought-prone areas of the state. Over the years, Indian exports have become stagnant at around 50,000-60,000 tonnes as concerns over the quality of the fruit eclipsed the growth potential. While the European Union is a major market where the fruit fetches premium prices, the standards governing quality are higher there.

 

Prabhakar Chandane, president of All India Pomegranate Growers Association, said non-availability of export-ready fruit has, over the years, seen European markets slipping slowly out of Indian exporters’ hands. Last fiscal, India had exported 68,502.9 tonnes of the fruit, of which 36,906.77 tonnes had gone to Bangladesh. In the current fiscal, of the 53,524.31 tonnes of the fruit, 31,185.84 tonnes have been exported to Bangladesh.

 

One of the main reasons for the neighbouring country emerging as a major export destination is the ease of transport and the relatively relaxed quality norms. 'Last three years, just before the season, unseasonal rains and attack of mildew have affected our ability to export,' said Chandane.

 

'The fruit can be exported to Bangladesh round the year and thus we can send our produce even when the European season is over,' he said.

 

While exports have taken a hit, registration of farmers who are ready to export their produce have seen a sizeable jump. The Agriculture department registers plots for export and outlines steps to ensure the fruits meet the prescribed residue content. The steps include measured application of pesticides and fungicides, which could be detected in residue levels before exports. This fiscal, 5,000 farms have to registered, of which 1,000 have been registered.

Ahead of the India-Central Asia summit on Thursday, India and Uzbekistan have fast-tracked talks for a bilateral trade pact, the first for India in that region.

 

The first round of joint working group meetings with Uzbekistan was held in the first week of January and the inter-governmental commission on trade is also scheduled this month.

 

'A trade pact with Uzbekistan is of strategic importance, especially after the political changes in Afghanistan,' said an official, who did not wish to be identified.

 

India and Uzbekistan had signed a joint statement in September 2019 to carry out a joint feasibility study for entering into negotiations for a preferential trade agreement (PTA).

 

The proposed PTA will contribute to fast-tracking India’s connectivity to the landlocked region and vice versa. Smoother connectivity will also enable India to boost PTA, said an expert on Central Asia. The PTA with Uzbekistan will also enable India to tap into the markets of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

 

The Indo-Uzbek PTA is also expected to contribute to the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union. Talks between India-Eurasian Economic Union have gained momentum and negotiations are expected to be held in the near future. The proposed India-Uzbek PTA and FTA between India and Eurasian Economic Union is politically significant, raising India’s stakes in the region. Russia has thrown its weight behind India’s moves to increase presence in Central Asia and Eurasia.

 

In April-November 2021, India’s exports to Uzbekistan amounted to $176.22 million, led by pharmaceuticals, mechanical equipment, vehicle parts, services, optical instruments and equipment. India’s imports from Uzbekistan, at $14.58 million during the period, consisted largely of fruit and vegetable products, services, fertilisers, juice products and extracts, and lubricants.

 

The official said India is keen to export goods worth $500 billion next year, which is why it is scouting for new markets through trade agreements.

 

Notable Indian investments in Uzbekistan by Indian companies include those in the field of pharmaceuticals, amusement parks, automobile components and hospitality industry. Indian firms like GMR have expressed interest in investment in airports, development of the air corridor and Navoi cargo complex in Uzbekistan. Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has expressed interest in setting up a specialty hospital, according to a note of the external affairs ministry.

 

In October 2019, Amity University and Sharda University opened campuses in Tashkent and Andijan respectively. Indian institutions like iCreate are actively cooperating with Uzbek counterparts for promoting the startup ecosystem in Uzbekistan and training entrepreneurs in setting up incubators.

 

Dev IT has entered into bilateral cooperation in field research, technologies, startups and innovations with budding Uzbek partners. NTPC is also participating in various tenders, including solar PV power plants and consultancy assignments for gas projects in Uzbekistan.

 

Meanwhile, India and Uzbekistan are in talks for a bilateral investment treaty.

India is expected to host Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian next week, close on the heels of the India-Central Asia summit, amid tension in the Gulf region that could adversely impact energy prices and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

 

This would be the Iranian foreign minister’s maiden visit since his appointment last year. The agenda of the visit will include the Afghan situation, transit to Afghanistan and Central Asia, current developments in West Asia following the UAE-Houthi battle and trade ties, according to people aware of the matter.

 

The other issue that will figure high on the agenda of talks between the visiting minister and his Indian counterpart is the optimum use of Chabahar Port. While Iran will help in the transit of Indian wheat consignment to Afghanistan, the Taliban regime under Pakistan’s influence might try to limit India’s access to the port.

 

India is extremely keen to use the port for connectivity to Central Asia. India, Iran and Afghanistan had entered into a trilateral arrangement for the use of Chabahar Port under the erstwhile Ghani government. Later, India-Iran-Uzbekistan formed a trilateral for the use of the strategically located port and there was speculation that Afghanistan might join to make it a quadrilateral of sorts.

 

Besides, a preferential trade agreement with Iran is on the cards. India is keen to push the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for connectivity to Russia via Iran. There are plans by India, Iran and Russia to link the Chabahar Port with the INSTC which would also enable the Central Asian states to access the Indian Ocean Region via the port. Iran’s entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a member could further bolster India-Iran ties in the region.

 

Ahead of the visit, Amir-Abdollahian sent Republic Day greetings and called for expansion of all-out relations. “Warm wishes to my colleague Indian FM@DrSJaishankar and the government and people of the Republic of India as they celebrate their Republic Day. Will continue to work towards further expansion of all-out relations, bilaterally, regionally and at international fora,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

 

The recent developments in the Gulf are a cause for worry for India as the situation might lead to a surge in oil prices if the conflict lingers and spreads. Besides, the developments may once again sharpen divergences between various actors in the region, requiring India to bring all its experience in balancing its approach which has been appreciated by all states in the region. India enjoys enormous goodwill across the Arab world.

 

Iran, like India, favours an inclusive regime in Kabul that comprises representatives from all ethnic communities. The issue is expected to figure high on the agenda of Jaishankar’s meeting with Amir-Abdollahian. The two had met twice last year.

 

Iran, which has centuries-old cultural and political influence in Afghanistan as a neighbour, does not want to play second fiddle to Pakistan. It is keen to push representation of Hazaras – Shias, who account for 10 per cent of Afghanistan’s population – in Kabul’s power structure and safeguard their future.

The food authority has issued a draft for amending the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations related to salt, ‘Atta (wheat flour and resultant wheat flour), millets and papad.

 

Low Sodium Salt, the draft says, means crystalline solid material with reduced sodium content obtained from evaporation of natural brines (sea/subsoil or lake brines) by replacement of sodium chloride with potassium chloride as per the permitted levels with moisture not more than 1%, and 60-75% sodium chloride by weight on dry basis.

 

For Refined Iodized Salt, the parameters are set at 1% moisture, 98% sodium chloride, max 0.15% alkalinity as Na2Co3 and pH range of 6.0-7.5.

 

Meanwhile, according to the draft, Wheat Flour (Atta) means the product obtained exclusively by milling or grinding of clean wheat, and Resultant Wheat Flour (Resultant Atta) means the product obtained by blending of various fractions in roller mills after separating semolina and/or maida during the processing of wheat.

 

These products need to comply with the parameters including not more than 13.0 % moisture by mass, not less than 7% gluten on dry mass basis, not less than 2.5% crude fibre and not less than 98% granularity by mass.

 

Also, the draft proposes that all the millets to come under one heading number 23-Millets of these regulations.  The millets include (i) Amaranthus (Chaulai/Rajgira)-Amaranthuscaudatus, A. cruentus, A. hypochondriacus (ii) Barnyard Millet (Samakechawal/Sanwa/Jhangora)-Echinochloa crus-galli, E. colona (iii) Brown top (Korale)-Urochloaramosa (iv) Buckwheat (Kuttu)-Fagopyrumesculentum (v) Crab finger (Sikiya)-Digitariasanguinalis (vi) Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua)-Eleusinecoracana (vii) Fonio (Acha)-Digitariaexilis (White fonio); D. iburua (Black fonio) (viii) Foxtail Millet (Kangni/Kakun)-Setariaitalica (ix) Job's tears (Adlay) - Coixlachryma-jobi (x) Kodo Millet (Kodo)-Paspalumscorbiculatum (xi) Little Millet (Kutki)-Panicumsumatrense (xii) Pearl Millet (Bajra)-Pennisetumglaucum, Pennisetumamericanum, Pennisetumtyphyoideum (xiii) Proso Millet (Cheena)-Panicummiliaceum (xiv) Sorghum (Jowar)-Sorghum bicolor  and (xv) Teff (Lovegrass)-Eargrostistef.

 

The standard under these regulations applies to the whole or dehulled millets.

 

Further, the FSSAI proposes to include standards for Papad.  According to the draft, papad/papadum means a product, obtained from a blend of cereal flour, millet flour, pulse flour, processed soya flour, fruits and vegetables, vegetable juices, edible vegetable oils, and/or spices either singly or in combination.

 

The papad should be labelled according to the major ingredient such as in case potato/banana/jack fruit/sweet potato/tapioca is the major ingredient, it should be prefixed before ‘Papad’ on the label.

 

The parameters include, not more than 11% moisture, 0.2% alcoholic acidity –with 90% alcohol expressed as H2SO4.

Higher prices of Indian onions could impact exports. Between April and November 2021, exports have been in the range of the 10.55 lakh tonne, according to senior horticulture officials. Onion exports in the 2020-21 season were 15.75 lakh tonne, despite the pandemic situation.

 

Ajit Shah, president, Horticulture Produce Exporters Association, pointed out that the Indian onion is quoted higher in the export market and, therefore, exports have been affected.

 

Onion supplies from Pakistan are quoted at $300 a tonne whereas the Indian stock is quoting at $500, he said. Moreover, the kharif crop was damaged due to heavy rains across onion-growing states, affecting the quality of the bulb, and thus, impacting onion shipments from the country.

 

Onion prices have been on the higher side despite good arrivals. On Thursday, market arrivals at Lasalgaon, the country’s largest wholesale market for onion, were 17,000 quintals with modal prices touching Rs 2,100 per quintal. Prices were Rs 2,250 per quintal on Tuesday.

 

Normally, onions are exported throughout the year, but the rabi crop, which is sown in December- January and harvested post-March comprises majority of the export basket due to lower moisture content and longer shelf life of the bulb.

 

Shah said that with the new crop expected to hit the market in the next fortnight, prices are likely to come down and India could then become competitive in the export market. So far, since the Indian onion has been more expensive, importing countries have been looking to Pakistan and Iran.

 

The late kharif onion will soon be harvested and the rabi onion should be ready for harvesting March onwards, traders said, adding that there is no cause for worry as onion production is expected to be good.

 

Govind Hande, technical officer, exports, Maharashtra Horticulture Department, said that the last couple of seasons have been bad both for the farmer and exporter due to incessant rains but exports should begin to pick up from February onwards.

 

India exported 15.88 lakh tonne in the 2017-18 season, 21.82 lakh tonne in the 2018-19 season, 18.49 lakh tonne in the 2019-20 and 15.75 lakh tonne in 2020-21. In FY21, India exported $378 million worth of onions, 15% higher than the previous year.

 

The top exporting destinations are Bangladesh ($101 million), Malaysia ($62 million), the United Arab Emirates ($44 million) and Sri Lanka ($42 million). Indian onions have some established markets, especially in West Asian countries, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the UK, among others.

Addressing the National conference on Agriculture for Summer Campaign 2021-22 today through video-conferencing, Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Narendra Kumar Tomar said that summer crops not only provide extra income but also create employment opportunities in between Rabi and Kharif for the farmers thereby increasing crop intensity. The Government has taken new initiatives through various programmes for cultivation of summer crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and oilseeds. Though more than half of cultivated area in summer season is under pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals, the farmers with irrigation source are growing rice and vegetables during the summer season. He highlighted that area under cultivation of zaid crops including rice has increased progressively 2.7 times from 29.71 lakh hectares in 2017-18 to 80.46 lakh hectares in 2020-21.

 

The objective of Zaid conference is to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop seasons and fix crop-wise targets for summer season in consultation with State Governments. The Minister assured full support to ensure supply of critical inputs and facilitate adoption of innovative technologies with a view to enhance production and productivity of the crops. The priority of government is to increase production of oilseeds and pulses where large imports are required.

 

Speaking on the new varieties developed by the ICAR, Shri Tomar said that States should use new varieties of seeds for better production of summer crops. The Minister also asked States to plan in advance for their fertilizers needs and provide estimates to the center so that fertilizer department can provide sufficient fertilizers timely. He also suggested that States should increase the use of NPK and liquid urea and reduce the dependence on DAP fertilizers.

 

Regarding training to the farmers, Agriculture Minister asked Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) to jointly conduct the essential training for the small and marginal farmers so that new technology and knowledge reach the grassroots level.

 

In spite of difficult time due to Covid, country produced 3086.47 lakh tonnes of food grains during 2020-21 (4th Advance Estimates), which will be an all-time record. Pulses and oilseed production has also achieved all time high at 257.19 and 361.01 lakh tonnes, respectively. Production of cotton is being estimated at 353.84 lakh bales with which India is set to rise to the first position in the world. On the production and productivity fronts, the horticulture sector has also outperformed conventional food grain crops.

 

Addressing the Conference, Sh. Kailash Choudhary, MoS for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare told the states that special focus is now given to increase production of oilseeds and pulses and make country self-reliant. Regarding the promotion of organic and natural farming, Shri Choudhary advised States to send proposals to certify the entire block or area as organic/natural farming block so that farmers who belong to that area need not apply for certificate individually. He also asked States to provide market for organic farmers.

 

Addressing the States Secretary, Department of Fertilizers said that adequate and timely availability of fertilizers would be ensured. He also gave estimated availability of fertilizers for Kharif 2022. The total availability of Urea is likely to be 255.28 (LMT), of DAP 81.24, of MOP 18.50, of NPKS 76.87 and of SSP 34. Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR highlighted the latest technological advances made for cultivation of summer crops.

 

National and state wise targets for pulses, oilseeds and nutri-cereals were set for the summer 2021-22. Compared to 40.85 lakh hectares under these crops in 2020-21, an area of 52.72 lakh hectares will be covered during 2021-22 in the country. Pulses will cover 21.05 lakh hectares while 13.78 and 17.89 lakh hectares will be brought under oilseeds and nutri-cereals, respectively. Pulses and oilseeds will be promoted through Targeted Rice Fallow Area sub-component of NFSM and NFSM (OS&OP). These will also be supported as inter-crops in Sugarcane and Oil Palm.

 

A presentation by Joint Secretary (Crops and Oil Seeds) highlighted the rain fall situation, region wise live storage of water in major reservoirs, season wise estimated area coverage under different crops, trend and area coverage under Zaid/summer, Existing support programmes for summer crops and State wise area projected for coverage under Zaid/summer crops 2022.

 

During the conference ‘Working manual on Indian Seed Certification’ was released. Presentations on PM KISAN e-KYC and presentation on Farmers’ database were also made during the conference for the benefit of the States. 

 

Secretary (Agriculture) Shri Sanjay Agarwal and other senior officers from DA&FW, ICAR and officers of different State Governments participated in the National Conference through video conferencing. An interaction session was also organized with Agriculture Production Commissioners and Principal Secretaries of all the States in four groups to share the achievements, challenges and strategies to be adopted in respective states for increasing area coverage, production and productivity during summer/Zaid season in agriculture sector.