On the 75th anniversary of independence, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has taken initiative to export 75 varieties of mangoes from Bengal to foreign countries. The agency has already identified 75 varieties of delicious mangoes from Maldah and Murshidabad districts. The central government agency has started a plan to export mangoes abroad in joint venture with the state horticulture department.

 

Recently, a number of representatives of Kolkata exporters were taken to Malda under the initiative of Apeda. They also held initial stage discussions with the farmers. Mangoes to be exported include Himsagar, Gopalbhog, Laxmanbhog, Amrapali, Kohitur etc. Apeda development manager Suprabha Majhi said, mainly Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai will be sent.

 

Samant Layek, Mango Officer, Malda, said, "There is a possibility of a very good yield of mangoes in the district this year. Last year 34 species of mangoes went to different European countries. Keeping in mind the 75th Independence Day, we have taken initiative to send 75 varieties of mangoes abroad this year. The exporters have agreed to it. Discussions have also been held with Apeda.

The US department of agriculture's animal and plant health inspection service (USDA-APHIS) approved the Gujarat agro radiation processing facility last July.

 

Farmers and exporters will now be able to increase exports to the US. Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (GAIC) developed the facility at Bavla near Ahmedabad. Thus far, Gujarat's kesar and alphonso mangoes were exported through Maharashtra.

 

A senior GAIC officer said, 'USDA-APHIS approved the Bavla radiation processing facility last July. The coming mango season will be the first in which Gujarat will directly export mangoes to the US market. Currently, mangoes from Gujarat reach the US through Maharashtra, which means higher logistics costs. Our facility was ready in 2014 but the approval was delayed. We believe if the weather stays good, we will see direct exports to the US of about 400 tonnes of mangoes between mid-April and June.'

 

According to the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), last year India's mango exports to the US was 813 tonnes, valued at Rs 33.68 crore.

 

Hiren Gandhi, former chairman of GCCI's food committee, said, 'The US mandates that mangoes and other food products undergo irradiation, which kills insects on the fruit. The irradiation facility will help Gujarat farmers get better prices for their kesar mangoes in the international market. The US is a big market for mangoes and quality kesar will see good demand. The Australian market will also open for direct exports from Gujarat with this facility. Irradiation also increases the shelf life of mango by at least 25 days.'

 

Ashish Guru, chairman of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) agriculture committee said, 'Gujarat is a leading mango producer, and our mangoes are of better quality than the Mexican mangoes being sold in the US. It was difficult to export mangoes directly from Gujarat but with the irradiation facility in place, Gujarat-based exporters will be able to send mangoes to the US and command premium prices because of their superior quality.'

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Sunday said an initiative will be taken to start cargo flights from Maharaja Agrasen Airport here for exporting fruits and vegetables to the Arab countries.

 

Khattar was addressing a gathering during Haryana Krishi Vikas Mela at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University here.

 

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister J P Dalal and Urban Local Bodies Minister Kamal Gupta were also present.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Oilseeds & Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 8, 2023, to enhance the production of quality oilseeds in India.

 

The MoU was signed by ICRISAT’s Director General, Dr Jacqueline Hughes, and IOPEPC’s Chairman, Mr Nilesh Vira, with the aim of strengthening long-term cooperation to increase the quantum and quality of oilseeds grown in India.

 

The collaboration will focus on expanding cultivated areas, deploying scientific technologies, and collaborating at all levels, including providing farmers with better quality certified seed and strengthening the supply chain of oilseeds.

 

In addition, the partnership will promote food safety principles, recommend policies and programs to the Government of India and to support the growth of the Indian oilseed sector.

 

During the discussions, Mr Vira stressed the importance of developing climate-resilient oilseed crops, given the unpredictable weather patterns affecting India’s agriculture. He cited the challenge faced by farmers in growing aflatoxin-free groundnuts, a crop that is increasingly in demand in the export market.

 

'Farmers want oilseed crops that can withstand climate vagaries. Changing monsoon patterns are affecting oilseed crops that usually take 110-120 days to mature. Farmers do not want to grow oilseeds due to unpredictable weather and we need to find solutions,' said Mr Vira.

 

Mr Kishore Tanna, Director-Groundnut Panel Convenor, IOPEPC said that India is importing 15 million tons of edible oil and that’s because farmers do not want to grow oilseeds, especially groundnuts.

 

Mr Tanna also drew attention to the fact that groundnut exports to the European Union had dropped to around 6000-7500 tons due to stringent import rules on aflatoxin that call for levels of not more than 2 – 4 PPB for various grades of groundnut.

 

ICRISAT’s Director General, Dr Hughes, highlighted the need to eliminate intermediaries in the export value chain, thereby increasing the profits for smallholder farmers. She also emphasized ICRISAT’s commitment to finding solutions to eliminate aflatoxin in groundnuts, which has detrimental effects on all consumers.

 

'Aflatoxin elimination is a doable challenge for ICRISAT, and partnership with IOPEPC will help ICRISAT focus on key areas of intervention applicable for the peanut sector in India,' said Dr Hughes.

 

The visiting team shared several avenues to shorten the export value chain and establish direct connections between farmers and exporters. One successful example they cited was the short value chain for soybeans in Rajasthan and Gujarat, which has potential for replication in other crops. They also mentioned the growing popularity of e-markets as another potential avenue for connecting farmers and exporters.

 

The MoU signing was attended by ICRISAT staff Dr Sean Mayes, Mr Stefan De Greling, and Dr Janila Pasupuleti, and convened by ICRISAT’s Product Placement Lead Dr Ashok Kumar and Mr Ramesh P Kolath, Deputy CEO, IOPEPC.

 

IOPEPC is recognized by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and serves as the common forum for Indian oilseeds/vegetable oils exporters, foreign buyers, the Indian Government, R&D agencies for oilseeds and vegetable oils in India, international agencies, and many other official bodies and authorities globally.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is likely to visit India in March, according to persons aware of the matter. This is among Cohen’s first foreign visits after taking office as Israel’s top diplomat in late December last year. 

 

Cohen’s visit, the people cited above said, will focus largely on economic and trade relations between India and Israel. Particular focus will be paid to the bilateral innovation and technology partnership as well as cooperation on agriculture. While defence ties remain a key feature of bilateral talks, the visit of Defence Minister Benny Gantz to India in June last year will mean that the Israeli Foreign Minister will largely focus on economic ties during his time in India.

 

Queries to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Israeli Foreign Minister’s Office remained unanswered at press time. 

 

The visit comes at a high point for bilateral ties, which has seen New Delhi and Tel Aviv co-operate closely on Middle-East policy, multilateral platforms like I2U2 and defence. 

 

Trade, technology and innovation has been a particular focus of the partnership in recent years. According to figures from India’s foreign ministry, trade expanded from USD 200 million in 1992 to USD 4.66 billion in 2020-21. Investment promotion agency Invest India now estimates that bilateral trade stands at USD 7,86 billion. 

 

'India is Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally. In recent years, bilateral trade has diversified into several sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, water, IT and telecom,' according to the Ministry of External Affairs. 

 

Technology investments by Israeli firms in India run the gamut from information technology and cybersecurity to resources like water. Both countries also established the USD 40 million India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) fund to be run by the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Israel Innovation Authority.

 

Defence has also been a particular focus of bilateral ties. India’s defence purchases from Tel Aviv have run the gamut from missiles and radar systems to unmanned aerial vehicles and air defence systems; India and Israel jointly developed the Barak-8 air and missile defence through Israel Aerospace Industries and India’s DRDO. 

 

While incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been a votary of closer ties with India, his government has been rocked by massive instability in recent months following its controversial attempt to curtail the powers of the judiciary. Israeli civil society has been up in arms about the Prime Minister’s attempts to reduce the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down laws it deems unconstitutional.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to discuss India's G20 priorities and bilateral cooperation to further boost investment and trade.

 

In a tweet, the Finance Ministry said Sitharaman and Raimondo also appreciated the substantial and multi-faceted India-US relations which are centred on strong economic and financial engagements.

 

Raimondo is here for the India-US Commercial Dialogue and India-US CEO Forum meet on March 10 to discuss cooperation in various sectors that could unlock new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

 

The two leaders also discussed India's G20 priorities and other issues of mutual interest.

 

'During their deliberations, FM Smt. @nsitharaman and Secretary Ms. @SecRaimondo also exchanged views on enhancing #bilateral cooperation to further boost #investment and #trade in mutually agreed areas,' the ministry tweeted.

 

In a separate tweet, the ministry said Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach too called on Sitharaman on Thursday.

There has been a huge increase in the demand of Maize   in the international market . Due to this, Maize Export from India has also increased. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the export of maize has increased by 1.5 percent in 2022-23. The Ministry of Agriculture has informed that maize exports worth Rs 6 thousand 507 crore have been exported this year. 

 

The price of maize for export is Rs 2,300 to Rs 2,500

Currently, the price of maize has increased in the international market. Due to the increase in demand, the price has increased. At present, maize is getting a price of Rs 2,000 to 2,300 per quintal in the market committees. Whereas the prices of maize for export are between 2 thousand 300 to 2 thousand 500 rupees. At present, India is facing lower transport costs for exports to Southeast Asia and East Asia. Therefore, these countries have increased maize exports. 

 

A decline in maize production in 'this' country 

Production in some of the world's leading maize producing countries has declined this year. Due to the decline in production, there is a shortage of maize in the international market. As a result, there is a good increase in the price, and the farmers are benefiting from this. This year, maize production in the important countries of America, Argentina, Russia and Ukraine has decreased. The production of corn in America has decreased by 411 million tons this year. Currently, the demand for maize has increased in the international market. Due to this there has been a good increase in the rate. Rates of soy meal and other meals are currently slightly higher. It is affecting the price of maize. At present, the condition of maize crop in rabi in India is also good. But exports are also increasing. At present, maize prices are higher than the guaranteed price due to good demand for exports. 

 

Russia-Ukraine War Disrupts Maize Supply Chain

This year, the global maize production has decreased significantly. Maize production is forecast to be lower this year by around five percent. It has been estimated that global maize production will settle at 11 thousand 513 lakh tonnes. Last season's production was 12 thousand 160 lakh tonnes. Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war has disrupted the maize supply chain. The effect on the rate is visible.

In a significant move, India and the US on Thursday decided to launch a strategic trade dialogue to address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfers. The decision to launch the new framework of dialogue was taken at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

 

'The external affairs minister and secretary Raimondo agreed to launch a India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, led by Foreign Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US Department of Commerce,' the MEA said.

 

'The Strategic Trade Dialogue will address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries,' it said.

 

The MEA said Jaishankar and Raimondo had a productive discussion about the India-US strategic partnership and ongoing efforts to deepen the economic and commercial engagement between the two countries, including through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

 

'They also concurred on the need for increased bilateral strategic and high technology trade given the shared priorities of both countries in building resilient and trusted global supply chains,' the MEA said in a statement.

 

US President Joe Biden in May last year launched the IPEF, which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade

 

'Great pleasure to meet US Secretary of Commerce @SecRaimondo this evening. Conversation covered strategic trade, resilient and reliable supply chains and trust and transparency in the digital domain,' Jaishankar tweeted.

 

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India organized a two-day ‘Millet Fair cum Exhibition’ in Madurai, Tamil Nadu from 6-7 March, 2023. The event was organised as part of the Millet Mahotsav series, in collaboration with the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business, Government of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is known for the production of different varieties of millets including Pearl Millet (Bajra), Sorghum (Jowar), Finger Millet (Ragi), Small Millet (Foxtail Millet, Barnyard Millet, Kodo Millet, Proso Millet) and Little Millet. The district of Madurai is known for the production of Pearl Millet (Bajra), Sorghum (Jowar), Finger Millet (Ragi) and Small Millet. In the year 2019-20 the district produced, 3,548 tonnes of Pearl Millet (Bajra), 22,405 tonnes of Sorghum (Jowar), 69 tonnes of Finger Millet (Ragi) and 130 tonnes of Small Millets.

 

During the event, the first Common Incubation Centre under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme was inaugurated by Thiru. P. Moorthy, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. T. M. Anbarasan, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of Tamil Nadu and Thiru. M. R. K. Panneerselvam, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Madurai, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The Common Incubation Centre has been set up for Dhal Processing and Fruit & Vegetable Processing.

 

Aligning with the spirit of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and to promote entrepreneurship development, an Agri Hackathon was organized inviting aspiring entrepreneurs to submit their ideas for innovative agricultural and food processing technologies. The initiative garnered a positive response with more than 400 applications submitted. The selected applicants went through a boot camp training, out of which, four applicants were shortlisted for a funding grant, mentorship and handholding support. The dignitaries also launched 17-millet based brands to encourage micro food processing enterprises to venture into the domain of Millet processing. Additionally, a book on Millets by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was also launched during the event. The dignitaries later visited the stalls at the Millet-based product exhibition, which had over 150 stalls showcasing various Millet based value-added products and innovative millet-based recipes.

 

The two-day event was aimed at providing the micro food processing enterprises with a platform to interact with leading industry players through B2B and B2C interactions organized during the Buyer Seller Meet. Participants interacted with organizations to get a deeper understanding of marketing, e-commerce, quality parameters for online and offline retail, etc.  It brought all the stakeholders of the food processing sector with special focus on millets, on a common platform and encompassed a wide range of activities like exhibition and sale of various millet-based products, live kitchen showcasing 45 Millet-based dishes prepared by 19 Self Help Groups, millet recipe demonstration, cooking competition, agri-hackathon, informative sessions on millet processing, buyer seller meet, interactive sessions between industry experts and micro food processing enterprises, SHGs, FPOs engaged in food processing. Cultural programs and art forms like Puliyattam, Poikkal Kuthirai Attam, Karakattam and Kummi enriched the event and provided the participants with a glimpse of the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu. Millet Mahotsav received an overwhelming response with more than 6000 participants attending the event including micro food processing enterprises, self-help groups, farmer producer organizations, producer cooperatives, etc.

 

In addition to the Millet Mahotsav, a mega-food event World Food India 2023 is also being organized by the Ministry from 3rd to 5th Nov 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi to provide a unique platform to all stakeholders i.e. producers, food processors, equipment manufacturers, logistics players, cold chain players, technology providers, academia, start-up & innovators, food retailers, etc. to interact and have a dialogue. The event is slated to be the biggest-ever congregation of dignitaries, global investors and business leaders of major global and domestic food companies which would put India firmly on the global food landscape.

 

In the wake of the United Nations General Assembly declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is hosting Millet Mahotsav across 20 States and 30 Districts in the country with the aim of creating awareness about the nutritional benefits, value addition, consumption and export potential of Millets. The States hosting the events include Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Punjab, Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.

 

Being grown in more than 130 countries, Millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa. Millets are important by the virtue of their mammoth potential to generate livelihoods, increase farmers’ income and ensure food & nutritional security all over the world. India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in global production. Recognizing the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets. Spearheaded by the Honourable Prime Minister, the Government of India’s proposal for International Year of Millets (IYoM) 2023 was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront of celebrating IYoM.

 

About the PMFME Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) on 29th June, 2020 as a part of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' with an aim to enhance the competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment & promote the formalization of this sector.

 

The scheme provides financial, technical, and business support for the upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country. The scheme is implemented in close collaboration with State Nodal Agencies of respective States. All the States/UTs have appointed Nodal Agencies for the implementation of the scheme. Applications for credit-linked subsidies for individual enterprises are approved at the district level, while applications for groups are approved at the State Level/MOFPI. MIS portal for PMFME Scheme is receiving individual applications for credit linked subsidy for up-gradation of food processing units. For monitoring & approvals, Committees at the state and district level in the States/UTs have been constituted. Under the PMFME Scheme Credit Linked Subsidy @35% for the establishment or setting up of micro food processing unit with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 10 lakhs and for common infrastructure with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 3 Cr. would be provided.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that India’s goods and services exports will soon cross $750 billion.

 

'Data till February shows that we will cross $750 billion of exports in a few days… Both merchandise and services are growing. Services are growing faster,' Goyal said at an event organised by the Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) in Mumbai.

 

He also said $315-320 billion of services export are expected this year.

 

India’s goods and services exports touched an all-time high of $422 billion and $254 billion respectively, in FY22 taking the total shipments to $676 billion.

 

He said that forecasts show that global trade is slowing but India’s exports are growing, and when the year started, with the Ukraine war, orders were slowing in developed economies, and inflation and recessionary conditions were there.

 

Goyal also said that 2,000 products will come under Quality Control Orders as the country has been slow on them.

 

'Other countries give high degree of importance to build bridges with India, expand trade and commercial relations, improving their military and defence ties with India…every field they feel India is a bright spot and global power,he said, adding that this sweet spot is a rare opportunity.

 

On free trade pacts, he said that the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) is a balanced and equitable agreement, and is an opportunity for battery manufacturing.

 

'There is good potential to process rare earths and minerals,' Goyal said, and asked the exporters to put more effort like Japan and Korea to push exports and also study India’s FTAs.