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Will be ready for $1 trillion exports soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Dec 08, 2023

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on December 07 said that ‘Make in India’ was a bold step and confirmed that 1 trillion exports will be ready soon. Ashwini Vaishnaw said, 'When PM Modi launched 'Make in India', it was a very bold step. The opposition constantly criticised it. If you look at the manifesto of the Congress party at that time, they also talked about 'Make in India'. But when PM Modi did this, Congress criticised it... We will soon be ready for $1 trillion exports and the foundation behind this is manufacturing.'

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Cooperative export body NCEL gets nod to export 14.92 lakh tones non-basmati rice, 50k tonnes sugar: Amit Shah.

Dec 08, 2023

The newly set up cooperative export body National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) has got permission to export 14,92,800 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonnes of sugar to two countries, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha.

The NCEL was registered in January this year under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.

It covers agriculture and allied activities as well as handloom and handicraft items by enrolling a large number of co-operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 from the current level of about Rs 2,160 crore.

Shah, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said NCEL has so far received 2,581 applications for membership under different classes from 22 states and Union Territories.

'NCEL has so far got permission for exports of 14,92,800 tonne non-Basmati white rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonne sugar to two countries,' Shah said.

NCEL will provide a complete ecosystem for promotion of exports mainly of agricultural commodities for the benefits of our farmers, in which India has a comparative advantage, he said.

All cooperative societies, from the level of primary to apex, who are interested in exports, are eligible to become its members, he added.

The minister further said NCEL will focus on exporting the surpluses available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country, thereby, increasing the demand of Indian cooperative products/services across the globe and fetch best possible prices for such products/services.

It will promote exports through various activities including procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, labelling, packaging, certification, research and development, etc. and trading of all types of goods and services produced by cooperative societies, he said.

This society will also help cooperatives in getting benefits of various export related schemes and policies of different ministries in a focussed manner, he added.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India allows non-Basmati white rice exports to Nepal, 5 African nations.

Dec 08, 2023

India on Thursday allowed export of non-Basmati white rice to five African nations despite a ban on its outbound shipments since July.

In a separate notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also announced a one-time exemption to the Indian Rice Exporters Federation for the export of 20 MT of non-basmati rice to Nepal. The exemption has been granted as a donation to Nepal's National Disaster Risk and Management Authority (NDRMA) to provide relief to earthquake victims in the Himalayan nation.

The government allowed export of 240,000 tonne non-basmati rice to Comoros, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Egypt through National Cooperatives Exports Limited (NCEL). Comoros will get 20,000 tonne of non-basmati rice, Madagascar (50,000 tonne), Equatorial Guinea (10,000 tonne), Kenya (1 lakh tonne) and Egypt (60,000 tonne), according to the DGFT notification.

Though exports of non-basmati white rice were banned on July 20 to boost domestic supply, exports are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs and on request.

“One-time exemption from prohibition is granted to Indian Rice Exporters Federation for exports of 20 MT of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)…as a donation to Nepal earthquake victims,” the DGFT said in a notification.

India has allocated export quotas of non-basmati white rice to Bhutan, Mauritius, the UAE, Singapore, Cameroon, Cote D' Ivore, Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

India extends curbs on onion exports till March 31, 2024 amid price spike.

Dec 08, 2023

India has extended restrictions on the outbound shipments of onions until the end of this fiscal year or March 31, 2024, as the government seeks to ensure ample supply in the country and keep a lid on prices of this key political crop that in the past was associated with toppling governments.

The government had introduced a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne on onion exports from October 28 until December 31 this year. This measure aims to boost the availability of onions in the domestic market and control their prices.

The government today extended the same restriction on onion exports, Reuters reported citing a government order.

The all-India retail price of onions increased 94.39% to Rs 57.85 a kilogram on November 29 from Rs 29.76 per kg a year ago, according to the government data.

There was an increase of 58% and 35% in prices of onions and tomatoes respectively in November over October, prompted by festive demand and lower output in Kharif season due to erratic rainfall conditions, according to a report by CRISIL.

A steep rise in prices of food essentials – wheat, rice, pulses, sugar, onions - in India in the past few months is a major concern for the Narendra Modi-led government, which will face voters in the general elections in April-May 2024.

The government had imposed an export duty of 40% on onions in August. However, that did not help in curtailing their exports substantially. Rampant under-invoicing of exports undermined the duty, prompting the government to scrap it and impose a minimum export price of $800 per metric tonne on onions.

This year, key onion exporters such as Egypt and Turkey had banned onion exports. Onion production in Pakistan is lower, while Holland has also resorted to imports.

Owing to recurring onion export bans enforced by the Indian government previously, India's portion in several significant export markets has dwindled drastically, dropping from 80% to as minimal as 30% in certain nations.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Trade bodies of Bangladesh and India raise demands for import through Mahadipur port.

Dec 08, 2023

Trade bodies of Bangladesh and India have demanded the launch of import of goods from Bangladesh to India through Mahadipur, a land port on the international border in Malda district.

As of now, only goods are exported from India to Bangladesh through the Mahadipur land port. The introduction of the import to India, the trade bodies said, will benefit the residents of north Bengal.

The demand was taken up with Gaurav Sinha, a commissioner of Customs posted in Calcutta, during his recent visit to Mahadipur to check the existing infrastructure at the land port.

'Our country is claimed to be the fifth largest economy in the world. Our demand is in the interest of the national economy. We have already communicated our demand to the directorate of foreign trade and Customs. We will approach them again. Exporters of Bangladesh, particularly those in the Rajshahi division, also back the demand for the export of goods to India through Mahadipur,' said Prasenjit Ghosh, the secretary of the Mahadipur Exporters’ Association.

Every day, around 380 trucks laden with stone chips, onions, potatoes, cattle feed and other goods go to Bangladesh through Mahadipur.

'In a similar manner, Bangladeshi exporters from Rajshahi, Chapai-Nawabganj, Sona Mosjid and other adjoining areas are keen to send at least 100 trucks to India through Mahadipur, carrying different items,' said Bhupati Mandal, a member of the Mahadipur Clearing and Forwarding Agents’ Association.

About a month ago, a delegation of the Malda Merchant Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) visited Bangladesh to discuss the prospects of developing bilateral trade further through Mahadipur.

'While interacting with us, our Bangladeshi counterparts expressed willingness to send to India hilsa, other fishes, timber, garments, fruits and raw jute through Mahadipur,' said Jayanta Kundu, the president of the MMCC.

Kundu has said as of now, hilsa and some other goods are imported to India through Benapole and Petrapole land ports which have good testing laboratories.

'So, it takes more than 36 hours for the fish and other goods to reach Malda and its neighbouring districts. If the Mahdipur route is opened, the goods would reach Malda from Rajshahi in six to eight hours,' said Kundu.

Senior officials of Customs said to start the import, the first requirement at Mahadipur was a laboratory where goods brought from Bangladesh would have to be examined according to the norms.

'As of now, we don’t have any such lab here,' said Desh Dulal Chatterjee, the superintendent of customs posted at the land port.

The traders also said the land port needed a parking facility before the launch of the import.

'Besides, the infrastructure for immigration is required to be improved. Every day, around 300 people cross the India-Bangladesh border through Mahadipur. The existing infrastructure is miserable and people face inconveniences. The central government and the departments concerned should look into the issue,' said Roy, who represents the exporters.

Source: telegraphindia.com

Global grain prices likely to decline 6.5 per cent in 2024.

Dec 08, 2023

Grain prices in the global market will likely decline in 2024, though rice will be an exception in view of India’s export curbs and concerns over the impact of El Nino, the World Bank and research agency BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, have said.

However, the World Bank Commodity Outlook said higher rice prices in 2024 are forecast to be offset by the continued decline in maize and wheat prices due to improving global grain supplies.

BMI, in its key agri-business themes for 2024, said markets will remain comparatively tight, rendering prices susceptible to upward momentum-driven runs on adverse supply-side developments.

umper harvests

'We forecast that the average annual price of CBOT-listed second-month corn, soyabean, and wheat futures will decline by 9.9 per cent year-on-year (yoy), 3.9 per cent y-o-y, and 5.7 per cent y-o-y in 2024, respectively, or by 6.5 per cent y-o-y if the three crops are considered on an even weighted basis,' the research agency said.

This will also mark a deceleration of the pace at which grains markets unwind the price shocks that began with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, with the average even-weighted price of the same three crops falling by an estimated 17.4 per cent y-o-y in 2023.

Bumper harvests in several major producers during the 2023-24 season will turn the market bearish. Russia’s wheat production is set to be another mammoth one and Brazil is forecast supply a higher volume of corn and soyabean to world markets.

'With respect to on-farm production costs, lower fuel and fertiliser prices, although both subject to upside risks over the next twelve months, will also see average grain prices lower in 2024,' BMI said.

The World Bank, said in its Commodity Outlook, that edible oils supply continues to increase, particularly soyabean oil as soyabean production is estimated to be 9 per cent higher this crop year.

Maize to slip further

Maize prices are expected to decline a further 8 per cent in 2024, in addition to the 22 per cent slide this year. 'Similarly, wheat prices should decrease by about 3 per cent in 2024,' it said.

BMI said grains prices will, however, continue to rule higher than the average pre-Covid levels. 'Our forecasts for average corn, soyabean, and wheat prices in 2024 still remain 30-40 per cent higher than their average prices between 2015 and 2019. In the main, this is a reflection of narrow inventories, with Covid-era stock drawdowns yet to be rebuilt,' it said.

The World Bank said in contrast, the price of rice is expected to increase 6 per cent in 2024, partly due to the threat of El Niño, policy responses from significant exporters and importers, and the geographic and market concentrations of rice production and exports.

‘Other foods’ prices

BMI said: 'Looking ahead, we expect that the world market will remain taut through at least the first six months of 2024 for two principal reasons.

'Firstly, we do not anticipate the lifting of India’s rice export restrictions ahead of the general election, scheduled for April-May, in view of the potential upside risk to domestic food price inflation…,' the research agency said.

Second, the now-active El Niño event, a weather phenomenon associated with below-average rainfall across much of south-east Asia, is likely to persist until May-July 2024, it said.

Prices of 'other foods,' comprising fruit, meat, poultry, and sugar, are expected to be stable in 2024 and fall slightly in 2025, the World Bank said.

Support to softs

Dwelling on El Nino, BMI said: 'Considering its profound effect on agricultural soft commodity prices in 2023, we predict that the El Niño weather pattern will continue to wield considerable sway over the global soft commodities market in 2024.

'Due to the concentrated nature of global soft commodities production, we forecast that El Niño will offer increased support to soft commodities as opposed to grains.'

Another factor that could impact foodgrain prices are the global scene of biofuel consumption, primarily ethanol and biodiesel, is experiencing a substantial transformation. This trend, primarily propelled by leading agricultural markets like the US, Brazil, India, and Indonesia, is anticipated to carry significant repercussions for biofuel feedstock prices into 2024, BMI said.

Food security will likely improve over the next twelve months, caused by lower average agricultural prices and real economic growth, BMI said.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

NRRI to help farmers produce and export aromatic rice.

Dec 08, 2023

National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in Cuttack has taken up a project to help farmers produce and export aromatic rice.

NRRI director Amaresh Kumar Nayak said the institute has supplied high-yielding varieties of aromatic rice to members of farmer producer organisations (FPO)s of four selected districts — Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput — for cultivation.

'The institute will not only promote aromatic rice cultivation in these districts, but also connect with firms which can export the produce. The NRRI has signed a tripartite agreement with an export firm and the FPOs for better production and marketing of the product,' Nayak said.

'We will provide technical backup with respect to variety, package and practices and developing the standards. The procuring firm has a buyback agreement with the FPOs so that farmers will not face any problem of procurement and get a fair price for their produce,' Nayak added.

He said they are exploring the possibilities of exporting a consignment of aromatic rice within a few months. 'As the international markets look for both long and short grain aromatic rice, we should produce, package and market the product to meet the export quality,' Nayak said.

Cooperative export body NCEL gets nod to export 14.92 lakh tones non-basmati rice, 50k tonnes sugar: Amit Shah

NCEL, the cooperative export body, has received permission to export 14,92,800 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonnes of sugar to two countries. It aims to double its revenue by 2025. NCEL has received 2,581 membership applications from 22 states and Union Territories. The society will promote exports of agricultural commodities, provide a complete export ecosystem, and help cooperatives access wider markets. It will focus on procurement, storage, processing, marketing, branding, and trading of cooperative products.

Chhattisgarh: Congress fails to rice to the occasion

The Congress government in Chhattisgarh hoped to benefit from higher paddy procurement prices, but the BJP set the narrative and outperformed them. The Baghel government fulfilled its promise of paying Rs 2,500 per quintal to farmers and offered an additional agriculture input subsidy. They pledged Rs 3,200 per quintal this time, Rs 100 more than the BJP's manifesto. However, the BJP promised to purchase every grain produced by farmers under MSP and offered to procure 1 quintal more per acre than the Congress. The Congress failed to recognize the changing tides in the paddy fields.

Karnataka IT exports jump 27% to Rs 3.2 lakh crore, contributes 42% to India's IT exports

Karnataka's IT exports grew 27% to Rs 3.2 lakh crore in 2022-23, contributing 42% to India's IT exports.

The Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2023 showcased tech leaders, startups, and investors from over 30 countries. Karnataka is the most sought-after destination for GCCs, hosting 40% of GCCs in India. The state has added 20 new GCCs every year since 2000. Karnataka is home to over 5,500 IT/ITeS companies, generating both direct and indirect employment. It also has a significant share in electronics design, machine tools manufacturing, aerospace & defense manufacturing, and biotechnology exports. Additionally, 63% of the state's renewable energy comes from renewable sources.

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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Kenya sees avocado export to India as a valuable opportunity.

Dec 08, 2023

Kenya is celebrating India's decision to open its market to Kenyan avocados, recognizing this move as a valuable opportunity for local farmers. During President William Ruto's visit to India, he extended an invitation to Indian companies to invest in diverse sectors in Kenya, including agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, health, ICT, green energy, affordable housing, and water.

The approval from the Indian government for the export of fresh avocados from Kenya, starting in September, holds significant promise for Kenyan farmers. With an estimated consumer market of 1.4 billion buyers, this decision provides a substantial opportunity for Kenyan avocados to access a vast and lucrative audience.

Kenya has experienced consistent growth in avocado production since 2016, and in 2020, it surpassed South Africa to become the largest exporter of avocados on the continent.

To bolster agriculture, India will finance agricultural mechanization projects in Kenya, aligning with the Bottom-Up Empowerment Transformation Agenda. The leaders also engaged in talks about expanding bilateral trade and investment, addressing market access challenges, and overcoming non-tariff barriers.

Source: freshplaza.com

Palghar's Bahadoli Obtains GI Tag For Its Unique Oblong-Shaped 'Jamun'.

Dec 08, 2023

Members of Bahadoli Jambhul Utpadak Shetkari Gat claimed that the fruit, which has been grown for decades and is a major source of income for thousands of farmers, would sell more as a result of the new identification.

Five years after a farmers' group started making efforts towards it, Bahadoli village in Palghar taluka, also referred to as "Jambulgaon," has been granted a geographical indication (GI) tag for its distinctive oblong-shaped fruit.

“The GI tag will help increase the price. This is the second such tag for a fruit in Palghar district after the chickoo of Bordi and Dahanu. Efforts of various government officials, including the district collector, Govind Bodke, are appreciated, " Prakash Kini, a jamun cultivator was quoted as saying by HT.

In 2018, a resident of Bahadoli named Jagdish Patil took the initiative to organize a group of farmers cultivating jamun and then went ahead and completed the paperwork to obtain a GI tag for the fruit. The next step after the creation of the Gat was to speak with Tarun Vaity, the agriculture officer for the Palghar taluka.

About Bahadoli Jamun

Bahadoli jamun weighs 18.32 grams and measures about 3.10 cm in length and 2.87 cm in width. According to the Geographical Indications Journal issue that was published on November 29, this is one of the nine fruits, pulses, vegetables, and other items in Maharashtra that have been given a designated identification.

Source: english.jagran.com

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