Farmers have welcomed the state government’s proposal to seek Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Arasampatti coconut and Krishnagiri panneer rose. J Kennedy, a coconut farmer in Arasampatti, said, 'There are over 3,000 coconut farmers in Arasampatti and surrounding villages. The coconuts are exported to several states for over five decades.

 

Arasampatti coconut tree can withstand drought-like conditions and the quality of oil is very good. The minister’s proposal to seek GI tag for coconut grown in our village will encourage many more farmers. The government should also start a coconut research centre and coconut oil factory in the area.'

 

Tamizhaga Vivasaigal Sangam president KM Ramagounder said, 'GI tag proposal for Arasampatti coconut and cultivation of panneer rose will benefit many farmers. Co-operative crop loan to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore and an interest-free co-operative loan for Rs 1,500 crore will benefit the farmers.

 

Already, ragi was procured from farmers and distributed at ration shops in Dharmapuri and Nilgiris on a pilot basis, later it was procured through cooperative societies to benefit the farmers. Fund allocation of Rs 18 crore for red gram transplantation in Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Salem will help people to consume quality food.'

Maharashtra State Agricultural Board (MSAMB) has decided to introduce Indian mangoes this season to Central Asian countries.

 

MSAMB general manager D D Shinde told The Indian Express they planned promotional events with Indian Embassies in these countries. Other than this, the US phytosanitary inspector was expected to arrive on April 10, marking the start of exports to the country.

 

The current season has put some doubts about the availability of mangoes in the country. Unusually high February temperatures followed by rains and hailstorms in March have seen farmers complain about the availability of quality fruit.

 

However, this season, Kesar, the produce of Marathwada, is expected to arrive earlier than usual. Alphonso or Hapus – the priced produce of the Konkan coast of Maharashtra – can suffer from a lower-than-usual production.

 

The last financial year saw Indian exporters ship out 32,745 tonnes of the fruit. Most of the fruit is exported to Central Asian countries, while European Union countries and the US occupy essential shelves in the export basket.

 

In most countries, exporters send their consignment via air freight, which is both uncertain and costly. For the US, the air freight sometimes comes out more than the consignment cost at the US markets. Land and sea freight is comparatively lower, but given the perishable nature of the fruit, it has yet to be explored much.

 

Shinde said their decision to introduce Indian mangoes to Central Asian countries was to explore markets which can be served by road and ship freight. 'We are in talks with Indian Embassies to hold promotional events there,' he said. This season, some of the exporters are also in talks with their trade counterparts in the US to explore sea freight.

 

As per protocol, shipments to the US are made under the supervision of the inspector. Exports to the US start once the inspector arrives. Australia, New Zealand and Japan’s export season will also begin soon.

 

The MSAMB runs a massive export facilitation centre in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, which exporters use to treat their consignments before shipping. Countries have their protocol, including vapour heat treatment, irradiation (exposing the consignment to weak radioactive rays) and hot water treatment.

The horticulture department is all set to form a curry leaf cluster on 1,500 hectares in and around Karamadai at a cost of 2.5 crore. The region is famous for cultivation of Sengambu variety of curry leaves.

At present, around 1,000 farmers from Karamadai, PN Palayam, SS Kulam and Annur are cultivating curry leaves on 1,270 hectares in the region, of which 1,000 hectares falls in Karamadai. The plan is to bring these farmers together, while increasing the acreage under cultivation.

Announcing the cluster as part of the state agriculture budget, agriculture minister M R K Panneerselvam said the fund allocation would be used to enhance the area under curry leaf cultivation.

'Drip irrigation system, farm machinery, quality planting materials, solar drying unit, and training for production of value-added products such as dry curry leaf, curry leaf powder and paste will be provided to the farmers. Residue analysis of curry leaf samples will be carried out to meet the export standards as well.'

 

Welcoming the announcement, farmers in the Karamadai region said it was their long-pending demand. Curry leaves cultivated in the region find a market across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala.

T Muthusamy, a farmer, said, 'We thank the state government for fulfilling our long-pending demand. It will boost curry leaf production and we are happy with the announcement.'

He said the export business was a challenge, as they lacked exposure to markets abroad, packaging technique and marketing ideas for value-added products such as juice, powder and oil extract.

'Curry leaf is sold at anywhere between 5 and 70 per kg, depending on the weather condition and production. The announcement is expected to insulate us from highly volatile prices. We will be able to get a steady income, if we could focus on value-added products,' Muthusamy told TOI.

M Buvaneshwari, deputy director of horticulture, Coimbatore, said all the requirements of farmers would be met soon. 'We are ready to offer all support to the farmers. We have applied for the geographical indication (GI) tag for Sengambu variety of curry leaf and the same is expected soon. It will be a milestone in the history of curry leaf production.'

The Yogi government is planning to replace around 17% of the area under paddy (rice) cultivation with millets and oilseeds in the coming years, a top official in the agriculture department said.

 

UP is the second largest producer of rice in the country (15 million MT) and has 60 lakh hectares of land under paddy cultivation across 70 districts.

 

The government plans to reduce this to 50 lakh hectares while getting the area reallocated for millets and oilseeds, a move that could mark a radical change in the cropping pattern, especially during the kharif season.

 

Officials said the change would be brought through concerted and extensive campaigns among farmers. Sources said the government was also planning to promote "exotic" varieties of rice which could have higher returns.

 

Data show that only seven districts (Bijnor, Kushinagar, Pilibhit, Chandauli, Baghpat, Varanasi and Ambedkarnagar) have high productivity (over 2500 kg/hectare). A total 55 districts have medium (2000-2500 kg/hectare) or medium-low productivity (1500-2000 kg/hectare). Five and three districts have low and very low productivity, respectively.Rice production has been registering downward fluctuation in the wake of lesser rainfall. Last year, rice production came down nationally from 111 million MT in 2021 to around 105 million MT in 2022. UP reported to have received 42% less rainfall last year and recorded acreage under rice going down by around 2.5 lakh hectares.

 

According to experts, the plan falls in line with the UP government's concerted efforts to promote millets which has been the focus of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The year 2023 is being observed as the international year of millets. With 11 lakh hectares of land under millets, UP is the second largest producer of coarse grain too.

Sopore Apple Farmer Producers Company and Pune-based NGO Sarhad are jointly organizing the first-ever World Apple Conference in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in June 2023.

 

The conference, scheduled for June 24-25 at the Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre, aims to address the issues faced by the apple industry and empower apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir, who have suffered huge losses due to the fall in prices of their produce in recent years. Eminent personalities and experts from various fields, especially agriculture and horticulture, are expected to attend the event.

 

The conference will focus on promoting apple tourism, as the valley has significant potential in this area. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with apple farmers, stay on their farms, and experience their way of life. The organizers hope that this will not only generate additional tourism revenue but also provide income for farmers.

 

Fayaz Malik, President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, said that the conference comes at the right time to explore possible avenues to help mitigate the effects of crop and financial losses due to natural disasters, low crop yield, weak markets, and storage issues. Crop insurance, value addition, cold storage, logistics, and supply chain management and integration will also be core focus areas of the conference.

 

Malik highlighted that the wastage of crop, both premature and post-harvesting, is another major issue faced by apple growers in the region. 

To address these challenges, eminent researchers and academics will participate in the event to contribute to sustainable and long-term solutions for fundamental issues in the apple industry and farming.

 

The conference also aims to promote better marketing and supply of Kashmiri apples across India while exploring export opportunities for the same.

India has identified 1,068 products across agriculture, textiles, handicrafts and engineering, among others, from 761 districts under the One District One Product (ODOP), an official said Tuesday. The ODOP initiative seeks to convert each district into a manufacturing and export hub by identifying products with export potential in the district.

 

Manmeet Nanda, joint secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) also said that the department has partnered with premier institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institute of Design and National Institute of Fashion Technology to impart skills related to designing and packaging of these products.

 

'We have collaborated with Indian missions abroad to showcase these goods as it would help create interest about these products globally,' Nanda said, adding that capacity building via design workshops are being conducted for artisans and weavers to get proper prices.

The 37th edition of Aahar, a specialised International food and hospitality event of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and apex industry bodies, concluded at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on March 18, 2023.

 

ITPO, the host organisation, claimed that over one lakh business visitors and 1,500 participants from India and abroad expressed their satisfaction over the business response, tie-ups, networking and joint ventures in the fair.

 

The concluding ceremony also witnessed an award ceremony wherein Pradeep Singh Kharola, chairman & managing director, ITPO, and Rajat Agarwal, executive director, ITPO, presented the Awards for Excellence in display in various categories including F&B Equipment, Food & Processed Food, Hospitality & Décor Solution and Foreign sector.

 

In the category of Processed Food Products & Beverages, VRB Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd. bagged the Gold Medal, while Cremica Food Industries Ltd. won the Silver Medal and Doehler India Pvt. Ltd was honoured with the Bronze Medal.

 

La Pyramid Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the Gold medal, while the Silver medal was conferred on Rich Products & Solutions Private Limited and the Bronze to Karachi Bakery Kothapet in Dairy/Bakery/Confectionery.

 

In Spices/Agri Produce, Pansari Industries won Gold, DS Spiceco Pvt. Ltd. Silver and Pravin Masalewale got Bronze.

 

In Foreign Sector, White Expo LLC, Russia got Gold, Embassy of Brazil, Silver and Italian Trade Agency, Bronze.

 

Government/Commodity Boards/PSU Sectors: Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion bagged Gold, APEDA, Silver and Tea Board India, Bronze.

 

In Allied Sector, Gold was awarded to Vezlay Foods Pvt. Ltd., Silver to Alimento Agro Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Bronze to Mangat Ram Dal Mills Pvt. Ltd.

 

In F&B Sector – Mitttal International got Gold, International Equipment Co. got Silver and Brass Line, Bronze while in Hospitality & Décor Solutions Laxree Amenities Pvt. Ltd. got Gold, IFB Industries Limited, Silver and The Designo International, Bronze.

 

ITPO officials acknowledged support of all the associates as well as different media verticals for 'grand' success of the event and assured that ITPO will continue and strive to make this fair better and better every year, with best in class services to exhibitors and also sought suggestions and feedback from the stakeholders.

 

Aahar (March 14 - 18, 2023) was organised by ITPO with active support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, APEDA, ARCHII, HOTREMAI, FHSAI, FIFI, FIWA and AIFPA, FAIC, FIFHI, ICMA, KREMAG and Plant Based Foods Industry Association.

An Inter-Ministerial delegation from India led by Department of Commerce   participated in the second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) negotiating round in Bali, Indonesia from March 13-19, 2023.

 

Negotiators from 13 other countries, including, the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam also participated in the Bali negotiating round.

 

During the Bali Round, discussions covered all the four pillars of the IPEF: Trade (Pillar I); Supply Chains (Pillar II); Clean Economy (Pillar III); and Fair Economy (Taxation & Anticorruption) - (Pillar IV). India participated in the discussions related to Pillars II to IV. 

 

Building on the discussions that took place during the previous rounds: First IPEF Round held in Brisbane, Australia, in December 10-15, 2022, and the Special negotiating round held in New Delhi, India from February 8-11, 2023, in Bali, IPEF Partners undertook in-depth text-based discussions and conducted follow-up conversations as they work to advance a shared vision for an open, connected, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region.

 

During the negotiations, the Chief Negotiator of India reiterated India’s belief that IPEF will deepen the economic engagement and promote inclusive development through enhancement in trade and investment in the region. On the side-lines of the negotiating round, the Chief Negotiator and the Pillar Leads also held bilateral meetings with IPEF countries and other concerned stakeholders.

 

Representatives of interested Indian companies also participated in the Stakeholders engagement session and Business Forum, organized on the margins of the IPEF Bali Round on 17 and 18 March 2023 respectively. In addition, a representative from National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) also gave a detailed presentation at the Business Forum on Unified Payment Interface (UPI),  a successful example of Digital Public infrastructure in India.

 

IPEF Partners have committed to an aggressive negotiating schedule throughout 2023 with the objective of realizing concrete benefits to enhance a shared vision for economic competitiveness and prosperity in their respective economies. Additional details about the next in-person negotiating round will be released at a later date. 

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, in a written reply to a question Lok Sabha today informed that keeping in view the crucial role of entrepreneurs in development of food processing industries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) supports them through its Central Sector Umbrella Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.

 

Under component schemes of PMKSY, MoFPI provides mostly credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid with total outlay of Rs 4600 Cr for 15th Finance Commission Cycle. Ministry provides financial, technical and business support to micro food processing enterprises through PMFME scheme with outlay of Rs 10,000 Cr for a period of 5 Years (2020-21 to 2024-25), whereas PLISFPI is targeted to facilitate expansion of food processing capacity by creating champion brands in Food Processing Sector with total outlay of Rs 10,900 Cr for a period of 6 years (2021-22 to 2026-27).

 

In the written reply it was stated that Ministry has conducted evaluation study for relevant component schemes of PMKSY and amended guidelines of the schemes including its incentive structure accordingly.

 

Ministry has planned to organise a Global Food Event 'World Food India 2023' during 3rd - 5th November, 2023 in New Delhi. The event is intended to provide domestic investors/ producers/ processors/ institutions a platform to collaborate and partner with global stakeholders.

Mango trees in Bihar are a sight to behold this year. The weather has also been favourable so far due to which the farmers are happy about their mango production this time.

 

The mango trees in the state are laden with flowers or 'manjar', and the farmers are busy protecting them from any kind of disease or natural disaster.

 

In India, the major mango-growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar, among others.

 

National productivity of mango is 8.80 tonnes per hectare.

 

In Bihar, mango is cultivated in an area of 160.24 thousand hectares with production of 1,549.97 thousand tonnes.

 

Mango productivity in Bihar is 9.67 tonnes per hectare, which is slightly higher than the national productivity.

 

Bihar ranks 13th among 27 states in the list of mango-producing states.

 

Bihar is known for its wide variety of mangoes, which includes 'Dudhiya Malda', 'Jardalu', and 'Gulab Khaas', among others.

 

Among the different types of mangoes produced in Bihar, the 'Jardalu' variety of Bhagalpur got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018, which shows the uniqueness of the fruit.

 

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the state government, has exported 4.5 lakh tonnes of organic Jardalu mangos to Bahrain, Belgium and the UK.

 

The specialty of this variety is that if the saplings are planted anywhere other than Bhagalpur, the fruit will lose its fragrance.

 

Seeing its specialty, the government has decided to expand the production of this variety to Munger and Banka, which are adjacent to Bhagalpur and have similar soil pattern.

 

The other varieties produced in Bihar include 'Fazli', 'Sukul', 'Sepia', 'Chausa', 'Kalkatiya', 'Amrapali', 'Mallika', 'Sindhu', 'Ambika', 'Mahmud Bahar', 'Prabha Shankar' and 'Biju'.

 

The 'Jardalu' variety of Bhagalpur, 'Dudhiya Malda' of Digha and 'Chausa' of Buxar are not just sold in different parts of India, but are also exported to other countries.

 

A mango grower told IANS: 'This year the mango trees have blossomed well. We are speculating that if the 'manjars' are saved from storm, this year there will be a bumper yield of mangos.'

 

A farmer from Bhagalpur said: 'The production in the area has been not been good for the last three years, but this year the mango trees are in bloom and there is hope of a good crop. This is the time to protect the flowers from germs and heat.'

 

S.K. Singh, chief scientist and co-director of research at Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, who has done detailed research on the diseases that affect mango trees, said that there is no use of pesticides at this juncture.

 

'Wait until the fruits are equal to the size of peas, after which you can use pesticides. At this time, a large number of bees have come to the mango orchards, and we should not disturb them because they are doing pollination work in the orchards,' he said.

 

Singh added: 'If you sprinkle any kind of medicine, it will harm the bees and there is a possibility of the delicate parts of the flowers getting damaged.'