The global cashew supply in 2022 will be comfortable and the demand is expected to remain strong with continued emphasis on healthy foods aided by reasonable prices moving in a narrow range. At the same time the challenges of Covid uncertainty and high logistics cost may continue for one more year which could impact prices, Pankaj Sampat, partner of Samson Traders said.

 

The processing in Africa will continue to increase with the investments made and being made in several countries. Africa already accounts for close to 60 per cent of the world’s cashew production with the largest producer – Ivory Coast contributing 1 million tonnes (close to 25 per cent of world production).

 

Now, in the last 2-3 years, processing in Africa has increased significantly. This is evident from the 60 per cent increase in Vietnam imports of African kernels plus similarly significant increases in imports by USA & EU, he said.

 

There was a huge jump in Cambodia raw cashew nut (RCN) export to Vietnam – up by 445 per cent from 2,10,000 tonne to 11,00,000 tonne for January-November 2021. Taking into account possible under reporting in previous years and increase in current year crop, it would be reasonable to estimate import of Cambodia to be 3,50,000 to 4,00,000 tonne of RCN.

 

Covid restrictions impacted production and movement of products from Vietnam for several months. Production and consumption in India was also impacted for a few weeks, twice or thrice. There was not much impact on supplies from Africa or consumption in the importing countries.

 

Freight rates

 

Logistics continued to be a big problem for kernels from Vietnam to the USA and EU. Freight rates have been going up continuously since the second half of 2020 with a big jump at the end of 2021. Current freight is close to $10,000 to EU and over $18,000 to the US. Availability of containers and space on vessels has been tight. Vessel cancellations, roll-overs and congestion in transit ports have resulted in delays in arrival of goods at destination.

 

Pratab Nair, INC (International Nuts and Dried Fruits) ambassador to India hinted that there is a slight softening of demand in India due to the strengthening of third Covid wave, but the demand is expected to pick up once this wave begins to subside. However, the demand continues to be good across the world on the back of cashews being considered as an immunity boosting food.

 

On the supply side, he said while West Africa and India are expecting normal crop, Vietnam and Cambodia are anticipating delayed crops due to unseasonal rains. Exports from India were low – probably the lowest in history – with only some niche buyers willing to pay the higher Indian prices. However, India’s import of RCN and consumption of kernels were steady.

India is set to achieve $650 billion exports target in the current financial year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

 

Out of the targeted $650 billion, $400 billion will be merchandise exports while the rest $250 billion will be services exports.

 

Chairing a review meeting of all major Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Goyal said the $650 billion exports target for the current financial year is achievable.

 

He noted that merchandise exports reached $300 billion mark in the first nine months of the current financial year.

 

'In December alone we touched $37 billion goods exports despite the Omicron fear factor weighing high. This month, in 15 days till January 15, we have reached $16 billion,' he said.

 

Goyal assured Export Promotion Councils that his Ministry would do whatever it takes in handholding the EPCs and resolving their issues to attain even higher export targets in the next financial year.

 

The minister urged the EPCs and entrepreneurs to avail of the Government's initiatives towards Ease of Doing Business such as obtaining clearances through the National Single Window System. He assured the Industry representatives to pursue their demands during the various FTA negotiations.

 

Speaking of the government's efforts to improve the ease of living and the ease of doing business, Goyal said that more than 25,000 compliances have been reduced.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivered ‘State of the World’ special address at the World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda today via video conferencing.

 

The Prime Minister said that India is tackling another wave of the pandemic with caution and confidence and moving ahead in the economic sphere with many hopeful results. He said that India as a strong democracy, has given a bouquet of hope to the mankind which comprises of Indian’s unwavering faith in democracy, technology that is empowering 21st century and talent and temperament of Indians. The Prime Minister said that during Corona time, India saved many lives by exporting essential medicines and vaccines by following its vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’. India is world’s third largest pharmaceutical producer and is considered ‘pharmacy to the world’, he added.

 

The Prime Minister said that today, India is providing record number of software engineers. More than 50 lakh software developers are working in India. He informed that India has third largest number of unicorns today. More than 10 thousand start-ups have registered during the last six months. He also talked about the India’s huge, safe and successful digital payments platform and informed that in the last month itself more than 4.4 billion transections took place through Unified Payments Interface. The Prime Minister talked about the measures of enhancing Ease of Doing Business and reduction of the government interference. He mentioned simplification of corporate tax rates and making them the most competitive in the world. India has deregulated areas like Drones, Space, Geo-spatial mapping and has brought reforms in the outdated telecom regulation related with the IT and BPO sectors. 'We did away with more than 25 thousand compliances in the year gone by', he added.

 

Indicating India’s growing attractiveness as a partner, the Prime Minister said that India is committed to become world’s  reliable partner in global supply-chains and is making way for free trade agreements with many countries. India’s capabilities in innovation, technology adaptation and entrepreneurship spirit makes India an ideal global partner. 'This why, this is the best time to invest in India', he said.   He mentioned Indian Youth achieving  new height of entrepreneurship. He said that as compared to mere 100 start-ups in 2014, India has more than 60 thousand start-ups today. Out of which 80 are unicorns and more than 40 unicorns emerged in 2021 itself.

 

Underlining India’s confident approach, the Prime Minister highlighted that when the world was focussing on interventions like quantitative easing during the Corona period, India was strengthening the reforms. He listed strides in physical and digital infrastructure like optical fibre in 6 lakh villages, 1.3 trillion dollars investment in connectivity related infrastructure, goal of generation of 80 billion dollars through asset monetization and Gatishakti National Master Plan to bring all the stakeholder on the single platform to infuse new dynamism to the seamless connectivity of goods, people and services. Shri Modi told the forum that not only India is focussing on easing the processes in its quest for self-reliance, it is also incentivizing investment and production. Most clear manifestation of that is 26 billion dollar worth of Production Linked Incentive schemes in 14 sectors, he said. He stressed that India is making policies keeping in mind the goals of next 25 years. In this time period, the country has kept the goals of high growth and saturation of welfare and wellness. This period of growth will be green, clean, sustainable as well as reliable, the Prime Minister emphasized.

 

The Prime Minister focused on the ecological cost of today’s life style and policies. He pointed towards the challenges that our life-style causes for climate. '‘Throw away’ culture and consumerism has deepened the climate challenge. It is imperative to rapidly move from today’s ‘take-make-use-dispose’ economy to a circular economy', he stressed. Referring to the Mission LIFE, that he gave at the CoP26 conference, the Prime Minister said that making LIFE into a mass movement can be a strong foundation for P-3 i.e ‘Pro Planet People’. LIFE i.e. ‘Lifestyle for Environment’, is a vision of resilient and sustainable lifestyle that will come handy in dealing with the climate crisis and other unpredictable challenges of the future. Shri Modi also told the forum about India’s impressive record in achieving the climate target well in advance of the target dates.

 

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to adopt as per the changing realities of the world order. He said that the global family is facing fresh challenges in the changing world order and called for collective and synchronized action from every country and global agency. He cited supply chain disruptions, inflation and climate change as key examples. He also gave example of cryptocurrency where related technologies and their challenges  do not lend themselves to the decisions of any single country. He called to be on one page on this. He asked whether the multilateral organizations are in a position to tackle the challenges of the world order in a changed scenario, as the world has changed from the time when these organization came into being. 'That is why it is imperative that every democratic nation should push for reforms of these bodies so that they can come up to the task dealing with the challenges of the present and the future', he concluded.

Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has received applications seeking GI tag for two famous products from Tamil Nadu — Kumbakonam Vetrilai and Thovalai Manikka Malai.

 

The application for Kumbakonam Vetrilai was filed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore while the application for Thovalai Manikka Malai was given by the Thovalai Manikkamaalai Kaivinai Kalaingargal Nalasangam, Kanniyakumari.

 

P. Sanjai Gandhi, IP Attorney and Advocate, Nodal Officer, Geographical Indication Registration of Products, Government of Tamil Nadu, who submitted both the applications, said the Kumbakonam betel leaves were heart shaped and grown in the Cauvery delta region by small and marginal farmers. It is particularly grown in Ayyampettai, Rajagiri, Pandaravadai and Swamimalai in Thanjavur district.

 

On an average, about 60-80 lakh betel leaves were harvested annually from a one-hectare plot. A betel leaf cultivator spends ?10,000 to ?50,000 to grow these leaves on a one-acre land. Harvested leaves are washed, cleaned, and graded according to their size and quality. They were traditionally packed in bamboo baskets but now there are several options such as plantain leaves and cloth bags.

 

Thovalai Manikka Malai is a special type of garland that is made only in Thovalai, a small village in Kanniyakumari. The flowers used in this particular garland are positioned in a way that when folded they look like a gem. The flowers are generally arranged in five rows, but at times for other decorations, 20 rows are used. The height ranges from one foot to 24 feet and above. Chamba fibre, nochi leaves, oleander and rose flowers are the key materials used for making this garland. Thovalai is famous for its abundance of flowers and most of flowers are procured locally.

 

When Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Mamallapuram in 2019 and saw these garlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Thovalai Manikka Malai as one of the Tamil cultural arts to him. The garland was used for decoration during a wedding ceremony at the house of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. A group of women from Thovalai went to Mumbai for the decoration work. According to details provided in the GI application, Palani Pandaram invented the technique of Manikka Malai.

India needs a second green revolution along with the next generation of reforms with a view to make agriculture more climate-resistant and environmentally sustainable, said an RBI article on farm sector challenges. Observing that Indian agriculture has exhibited remarkable resilience during the COVID-19 period, the article said 'new emerging challenges warrant a second green revolution along with next-generation reforms'.

 

Despite the success in terms of production that has ensured food security in the country, food inflation and its volatility remain a challenge, which requires supply-side interventions such as higher public investment, storage infrastructure and promotion of food processing, said the article titled 'Indian Agriculture: Achievements and Challenges'.

 

The article said Indian agriculture scaled new heights with record production of various foodgrains, commercial and horticultural crops, exhibiting resilience and ensuring food security during the COVID-19 period.

 

'The sector, however, confronted various challenges, mitigation of which requires a holistic policy approach,' it said.

 

For instance, crop productivity in India is much lower than other advanced and emerging market economies due to various factors, like fragmented landholdings, lower farm mechanisation and lower public and private investment in agriculture.

 

Second, the article said the current overproduction of crops like rice, wheat and sugarcane, has led to rapid depletion of the ground-water table, soil degradation and massive air pollution raising questions about the environmental sustainability of current agricultural practices in India.

 

Also, despite surplus production in many of the commodities, food inflation and volatility in prices continue to remain high causing inconvenience to consumers and low and fluctuating income for farmers.

 

'Addressing these challenges would require a second green revolution focussed on the agriculture water-energy nexus, making agriculture more climate resistant and environmentally sustainable. The use of biotechnology and breeding will be important in developing eco-friendly, disease-resistant, climate-resilient, more nutritious and diversified crop varieties,' it said.

 

Wider use of digital technology and extension services will be helpful in information sharing and generating awareness among the farmers.

 

It also stressed that better post-harvest loss-management and a revamp of co-operative movement through the formation of farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) can arrest the volatility in food prices and farmers' income and help harness the true potential of Indian agriculture.

India's sugar exports during October-December period jumped nearly four-fold to 17 lakh tonnes on higher demand from overseas, according to industry body ISMA. So far, 38-40 lakh tonnes have been contracted by mills for exports. Mills are now waiting for global prices to improve for further contracts.

 

Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.

 

'As per market reports and port information, about 17 lakh tonnes of sugar have been physically exported during the period October to December' 2021,' ISMA said in a statement.

 

During the same period in the previous year, about 4.5 lakh tonnes of sugar were exported.

 

Further, ISMA said it is reported that about 7 lakh tonnes of sugar is in pipeline for export this month.

 

'Amid news of expectedly better upcoming season 2022-23 (April - March) in CS Brazil, the global price of raw sugar has fallen further and is currently reeling at an over 5-month low at around 18 cents/pound,' ISMA said.

 

According to the association, Indian mills are waiting for the opportune time and are in no hurry to enter into further export contracts, beyond 38-40 lakh tonnes already been signed so far.

 

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said that the country has produced 151.41 lakh tonnes of sweetener between October 1, 2021 and January 15, 2022 period of the ongoing 2021-22 marketing year, as against 142.78 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous marketing year.

 

In Maharashtra, sugar mills have produced 58.84 lakh tonnes till January 15, 2022, as against 51.55 lakh tonnes in the same period of the previous marketing year, ISMA said in a statement.

 

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh fell to 40.17 lakh tonnes till January 15, from 42.99 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.

 

In Karnataka, production has increased to 33.20 lakh tonnes of sugar as on January 15, 2022, as compared to 29.80 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous marketing year.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday encouraged farmers to create a 'new green revolution' in India by embracing natural farming methods, pointing out that the abuse of artificial fertilisers is wreaking havoc on the quality of land, water, and human health.

 

He claims that the misuse of chemical fertilisers is making farmland infertile, and that adopting natural farming practices is essential for restoring soil quality, increasing agricultural productivity, and ensuring farmer prosperity.

 

After unveiling the Gujarat government's project for natural farming's logo, mobile app, and e-vans to market goods cultivated using natural farming practices through a network of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Shah was virtually addressing farmers.

 

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised chemical fertilisers as a big concern and began searching for ways to minimise their usage while also attempting to boost agriculture productivity, cut water use, and provide wealth to farmers. 'Let us usher in a new green revolution via natural farming, which maintains and conserves the land for the next many years rather than destroying it.' Natural farming is the only way to do this,' he stated in a video interview with farmers in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, which he represents.

 

Natural farming, which is mentioned in historical literature, is crucial for the country's future, according to the cooperation minister. 'Natural farming is critical for India now, but I believe the entire globe will have to adopt the natural agricultural practices that our country pioneered.' The value of the desi cow (which plays a key role in the natural agricultural process) will have to be accepted by the entire globe,' he remarked. Gujarat's FPOs would serve as a link between customers and farmers. Following certification, these organisations will deliver agricultural food to customers. He claims that this will be the country's first system of its kind.

 

PM Modi expressed his delight at being named its brand ambassador, saying, 'I am confident that India's embrace of natural agricultural practices will show the world the way.' Following the green revolution, the misuse of chemical fertilisers resulted in a number of negative consequences, which only grew worse due to a lack of assessment every ten years. 'India's agriculture is becoming infertile due to the abuse of chemical fertilisers, and chemicals have seeped underground,' he added, adding that this will increase the number of cancer patients in the future years.

 

Shah added that experts have validated that adopting natural farming restores the soil quality and makes it more fertile, enhances productivity, decreases water consumption, and makes farmers rich, pointing out that Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat also worked in the field of natural farming.

 

He claims that over two lakh farmers in Gujarat have adopted natural farming over 2.5 hectares of land in the previous two years. 'Gujarat's farmers have recognised the advantages of natural farming and have begun to use it... We are on the verge of a major disaster if 'annadatas' (food providers) do not consider the future, the country, and the environment,' Shah remarked.

 

He said that as a Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, he has made it his mission to convert at least half of the farmers in his area to natural farming.

 

Gujarat should also create preparations to guarantee that farmers receive the highest possible return on their natural farming products, because only then would they be more inclined to do natural farming, he added.

 

According to him, the Union Cooperation Ministry has tasked Amul (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) with establishing laboratories in regions where farmers practice natural farming in order to certify the land and output, as well as establishing a marketing chain. The minister expressed confidence that food grains grown naturally will fetch twice the minimum support price (MSP) in India and on international markets. 'Natural farming will become popular if we achieve it in this way.' There's no reason why farmers shouldn't go to natural farming if they can obtain the appropriate output at the right price,' Shah added.

India's apple exports have jumped 82 per cent since 2014, while fruit imports increased marginally by 3.8 per cent during the same time, according to the commerce ministry data. Increase in exports is helping the growers in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to further push the outbound shipments in different parts of the world.

 

In value terms, exports rose to USD 14.45 million in 2020-21 from USD 8.6 million in 2014-15, the data showed.

 

Apple exports during April-November this fiscal stood at USD 12.25 million, indicating healthy growth over the years.

 

On the other hand, imports have increased 3.8 per cent to USD 240 million in 2020-21 from USD 230.8 million in 2014-15.

 

About 82 per cent of apples imported into India are from Chile, New Zealand, Turkey, Italy, Brazil and the US.

 

Chile accounted for a quarter of India's imports. It was followed by New Zealand (16.45 per cent), Turkey (12.43 per cent), and Italy (10.8 per cent).

 

Small suppliers of apples to India include Iran (7.73 per cent), the UAE (3.29 per cent) and Afghanistan (0.43 per cent) during April-November 2021-22.

 

The government is taking steps to push apple exports further.

Under pressure from non-governmental organisations, scientists and activists, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended deadline for submitting feedback on draft guidelines on genetically modified foods to February 5. The earlier deadline had ended on January 15.

 

Anti-GMO organisations, scientists and farmers appealed to the FSSAI early this month to extend the deadline in order to give more time to stakeholders to submit their views.

 

Indian indices poised at crucial levels

 

PORTFOLIO COURSERA

 

Though it extended the deadline, the FSSAI, however, has not responded to the demand for publishing the draft guidelines in vernacular languages.

 

‘Non-committal’

 

'It is non-committal on holding widespread consultations all over the country. This limited time extension is insufficient and insignificant,' the Coalition for a GM-Free India has said. 'It might be useful to some extent but it does not address what we have been asking for,' it said on Monday.

 

It felt that some people wanted to keep their food free of genetically modified organisms. It expected the government to hold discussions to seek their views, it said.

 

The Coalition felt that the draft guidelines should be published in regional languages in order to let people in different States understand the consequences and express their views.

 

'We urge the Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene in this matter, and not leave this issue of great importance to only the regulatory body FSSAI,' it said.

 

The Coalition argued that there was no provision for a long-term, comprehensive and independent testing regime in the proposed guidelines.

 

There was no provision for an independent analysis of data or allowing public scrutiny, it pointed out.

'Chemical free' GI tagged 'Marayoor Jaggery' produced from the sugarcane grown in rain shadow regions of Marayoor and Kanthalloor Grama Panchayaths of Idukki District of Kerala have been well received in the international market.

 

Marayur Jaggery is produced from the geographical area have higher market demand due its taste, flavour and quality and are generally produced without the addition of harmful chemicals like artificial colouring or sweetening agents.

 

On January 13, the first consignment of GI Tagged 'Marayoor Jaggery' was exported to Dubai, UAE, by the Fair Exports India Private Limited belonging to the Lulu Group International.

 

Director of Agriculture, Government of Kerala, TV Subhash has said a detailed action plan, in cooperation with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), will be developed to promote exports from Kerala focusing on the airports and ports.

 

APEDA’s initiative to promote GI tagged products from India is ultimately paving the way to achieve Prime Minister’s target of USD 400 billion of merchandise export by 2021-22.

 

The economic prosperity of producers of GI tagged goods is promoted by geographical indication tags by enhancing their demand in national and international markets.

 

GI tag indicates uniqueness of a product with respect to its geographical area of production.

 

Jaggery is unrefined natural sugar that is produced without adding any chemicals. More than 70% of the total world jaggery production is done in India.

 

As the major producer of Jaggery, India is recognized as one of the leading traders and exporters of Jaggery in the world.

 

India exported 631,895.81 MT of jaggery and confectionery products to the world worth USD 358.88 Millions during the year 2020-21.

 

The cane jaggery export alone was worth USD 30.06 Millions from India out of which Kerala's contribution was 12.67%during 2020-21.

 

The major export destinations of cane jaggery were Malayasia, USA, Nepal, UAE, UK etc

 

The cane sugar, Marayoor Jaggery locally known as 'Marayoor Sharkara' is prepared from the sugarcane grown in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Grama panchayaths.

 

Marayoor Jaggery is generally prepared in ball form (Undasharkara) but are also produced in powder and liquid forms in minor quantities. Brown to dark brown Jaggery balls is available in well dried form with firm consistency and non-sticky nature.

 

Its unique characteristic feature is its non-salty sweetness and is rich in sucrose, iron, potassium and calcium.

 

This traditional sweetening agent has a vital role in Ayurvedic preparations due to the presence of natural phytochemicals.

 

Dr. M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA, flagged off the first consignment of 2 Metric tonnes of Marayoor Jaggery to Dubai on January 13.