GROWTH IN AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AMID COVID-19        

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Context

• According to the Quick Estimates released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), the overall export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) products has witnessed 21.8 percent growth in terms of USD during April-August 2021 over the same period of the previous year.

Highlights of the Report

• India reported a significant 1% jump in export of other cereals while the export of meat, dairy & poultry products witnessed an increase 31.1% in the first five months of the current fiscal.
• The huge jump in exports of agricultural and processed food products during the first five months of current fiscal is in continuation of growth in exports witnessed in the financial year 2020-21.
• This rise in exports has been achieved notwithstanding Covid-19 restrictions.
• The initiatives taken by APEDA has helped the country achieve this milestone at a time when most of the business activities suffered a huge setback due to the restrictions imposed after the outbreak of second wave of the COVID19 pandemic.
• According to WTO’s trade map, with the total agri-exports of USD 37 billion in the year 2019, India is ranked at 9th position in the world ranking.

Initiatives taken by APEDA

• Among the major initiatives undertaken by Apeda are paperless office, enabling digital signatures and electronic payment facilities, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access to shippers and conducting virtual trade fairs.
• In addition, Apeda had also achieved cent per cent digitization of issuing registration-cum-allocation certificate (RCAC), by enabling online payment gateway and digital signatures.
• Apeda has integrated peanut processing units and laboratories into a single window system for certification of peanut (groundnut) exports. This includes issuing online certificates of exports. The authority has also launched similar initiatives with regard to meat exports.
• It has launched Hortinet covering 40-plus vegetables, besides mango, pomegranate, citrus and other fruits.
• APEDA has also developed a traceability System for Basmati rice (a registered GI product).
• APEDA, has implemented a Blockchain solution as a part of its popular GrapeNet, to begin with.
• For boosting exports, APEDA compiles and disseminates various international trade analytical information, market access information amongst exporters and address trade enquiries.
• APEDA also assists in up-gradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans.
• APEDA also provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.
• APEDA has also launched a FarmerConnect portal to help farmer producers' organisations, cooperatives and exporters. This helps them to create profiles and post their sale offers on the web platform. Exporters can also post their enquiries or needs, and view matching sale offers.
• One of the unique online initiatives of Apeda is the virtual trade fair that is a meeting place for exhibitors, visitors, exporters and industry to exchange information on new products and establish new partnerships.
• APEDA is implementing a hybrid solution combining its traditional web-based SaaS model for its stakeholders, augmented by an authentic, private Blockchain layer for further data security and authentication
• These initiatives have, in fact, helped Indian agricultural exports fare well during Covid pandemic when shipments were affected due to various factors, including lockdowns.

APEDA

• Agriculture and processed food production export Development Authority (APEDA) is an apex body that promotes export trade of agricultural products in India.
• Set-up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, APEDA was formed under the act passed by parliament in 1985.
• APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products:

1. Fruits, vegetables and their products
2. Meat and meat products
3. Poultry and poultry products
4. Dairy products
5. Confectionery biscuits and Bakery products
6. Honey, jaggery and sugar products
7. Cocoa and its products, Chocolates of all kinds.
8. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
9. Cereal and cereal products
10. Groundnuts peanuts and walnuts
11. Pickles, papads and chutney
12. Guar gum
13. Floriculture and its products
14. Herbal and Medicinal plants

• The above product categories are almost covered 50% of all Agriculture products exported from India.
• APEDA has also been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar.

Final Thought

• The significant spike in agri-exports is seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income through giving thrust on boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products of the country.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1756762