Home
|
Sitemap
|
FAQs
|
Contact Us
Product
Country
Menu
About Agri Exchange
Introduction
Apeda Agri Exchange
The Vision
Benefits / Facilities
To Exporters
To Buyers
Product Profile
Floriculture
Floriculture
Fruits & Vegetables Seeds
Fresh fruits & Vegetables
Fresh Onion
Other Fresh Vegetables
Walnuts
Fresh Mangoes
Fresh Grapes
Other Fresh Fruits
Others (Betel Leaves & Nuts)
Processed Fruits & Vegetables
Cucumber and Gherkins (Prepd. & Presvd.)
Processed Vegetables
Mango Pulp
Processed Fruits,Juices & Nuts
Pulses
Animal Products
Buffalo Meat
Sheep/ Goat Meat
Other Meat
Processed Meat
Animal Casing
Poultry Products
Dairy Products
Natural Honey
Caseins
Albumin (Eggs & Milk)
Other Processed Foods
Groundnuts
Guar Gum
Jaggery & confectionery
Cocoa Products
Cereal Preparation
Milled Products
Alcoholic Beverages
Miscellaneous Preperations
Cereals
Basmati Rice
Non Basmati Rice
Wheat
Maize
Other Cereals
Country Profile
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Malaysia
Bangladesh
United States
Vietnam
Kuwait
Iran
United Kingdom
Indonesia
...View more country profiles
FTA's
Analytical Report on FTAs
Tariff Concession under FTAs
Statistics
International Trade
India's Export
India's Import
Production
International Production
India Production
Market Intelligence
e-Bulletin
Global Analytical Report
India's Export Analytical Report
Comparative Report On APEDA Products
Comparative Report On Principal Commodities
Import Tariffs
Import Regulations
SPS Notifications
DGFT : Public Notice, Notifications, Circular and Trade Notice
India Food Safety & Standards
Market Reports
Foreign Trade Policy 2023
Chapter 01 - Legal Framework and Trade Facilitation
Chapter 02 - General Provisions Regarding Imports and Exports
Chapter 03 - Developing Districts as Export Hubs
Chapter 04 - Duty Exemption Remission Schemes
Chapter 05 - Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme
Chapter 06 - Export Oriented Units (EOUs), Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTPs), Software Technology Parks (STPs) and Bio-Technology Parks (BTPs)
Chapter 07 - Deemed Exports
Chapter 08 - Quality Complaints and Trade Disputes
Chapter 09 - Promoting Cross Border Trade in Digital Economy
Chapter 10 - Scomet: Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies
Chapter 11 - Definitions
Newsletters
Latest News
Latest Newsletter
Archives
Directory
Exporters
Service Providers
Logistics
Trade Leads
Submit New lead
Buy Leads
Sell Leads
Indian Mission Login
Market News
Export scope for landless betel-leaf farmers.
Feb 15, 2023
The Bengal government has issued a notification allowing landless betel-leaf farmers to register their farms for export of their products to the UK and European Union (EU) with consent from land-owners, in an attempt to boost the agro-industry.
'Earlier, only farmers with land records in their names were allowed to register their farms for export, especially to the UK and EU, which are leading consumers of betel leaves from Bengal. When we found many landless farmers also grow betel leaves on others’ land, we issued the notification by which they can register themselves for export with a written nod from the land-owner,' said a horticulture department official.
The notification issued by the state horticulture department in January this year stated that farmers whose land records had not been transferred to their names could register their farms with assent from the family member who owns the land. Sharecroppers or landless farmers can now do the same by taking consent from the land-owner.
The lower ceiling of the farm for registration for export to the UK and EU is 200 sqm and farmers are supposed to have cultivation rights to the land in order to register their farms for the export of betel leaves.
Bengal is a major producer of betel leaves in the country and contributes around half of the volume of leaves exported to several countries, including the UK and EU. North and South 24-Parganas, East Midnapore, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Nadia are among major betel leaves-producing districts involving as many as 20 lakh farmers.
Sources said the decision to involve more farms in the export process was taken after the export of betel leaves saw a surge over the past financial year. India exported $6.18 million worth of betel leaves in the 2021- 22 fiscal compared to $3.56 million in the previous year. Bengal alone exported betel leaves worth $4.15 million in 2021-22.
Apart from the UK and EU, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Oman and Kenya are other key consumers.
Most countries are used betel leaves as mouth fresheners or paan, and a few countries to produce medicine.
Sources said betel leaf exports from India to the UK and EU were stopped five years ago after a consignment was detected tainted by the bacteria salmonella. However, after the registration of exporters for shipments to the UK and EU came under the Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (Shefexil) in September 2021, the council became the competent authority to issue the health certificate instead of the earlier regulatory body, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).
'After the responsibility came under Shefexil, we first addressed the issue of Salmonella by educating farmers and arranging the best agency in Hyderabad to test the betel leaves for issuing a health certificate,' said Debjani Roy, executive director of Shefexil.
'The new notification by the Bengal government would help lakhs of farmers register their farms for the export of their produce. We hope the export of betel leaves will be doubled within one or two years,' Roy added.
Sources said hundreds of landless betel leaf farmers have started registering their farms in districts like Nadia, where a large number of landless farmers cultivate betel leaves on others’ land.
Premjit Adak, a prominent exporter of betel leaves from Bengal, said the decision of the Bengal government would have a big impact on export. 'The decision will not only help the farmers but also help exporters like me to get betel leaves easily for export to the UK and EU. Farmers get a better price if they sell leaves for export rather than in local markets,' said Adak.
Exporters, however, pointed out that 18 per cent GST on air freight of betel leaves posed a challenge.
'Bangladesh also exports betel leaves to the countries where we do. As Bangladesh has no GST on air freight, they can sell at a cheaper rate. If the government considers withdrawing the GST, it will help,' added Adak.
telegraphindia.com
Archive