Lok Sabha Question No. 2432 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Export of Fruits and Vegetables
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN, HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2432 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st JULY, 2017

## EXPORT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

## 2432.  SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN: SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per Horticultural Report 2016, India is the second largest producer in the world of fruits and Vegetables and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  India  has  recently  emerged  as  one  of  the  largest  exporter  of  fruits  and vegetables and if so, the details thereof along with the details of fruit and vegetable exports from the country during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether the export of fruits and vegetables has come down in the current financial year in comparison to previous two years and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has any data of area-specific production of fruits that are exported  out  of  the  country  particularly  from  Tamil  Nadu  and  if  so,  the  details thereof  along  with  the  measures  taken  to  enhance  the  exports  of  fruits  and vegetables from the country;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  provide  assistance  to  the  grapes farmers especially to those belonging to Nasik district for direct export to foreign countries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether  various  countries  have  stopped  the  import  of  a  number  of  fruits  and vegetables  from  India  or  issued  any  warning  in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) As  per  'Horticultural  Statistics  at  a  Glance  2016',  published  by  the  Ministry  of Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  India  is  the  second  largest  producer  of  fruit  and vegetables in the world. As per FAOSTAT data for the year 2014, India's share in the production of Fruits (excluding Melons) was 12.83%  and for production of Vegetables & Melons, India's share was 10.82%.
- (b) India is not a major exporter of fruits and vegetables. As per UN COMTRADE data for 2016, India's share of world export of fruits and vegetables was only about 1.5%. Details of India's exports of fruits and vegetables, during the last three years and the current year, are as under:
- (c) Comparison of India's exports of fruits & vegetables during the current year (Apr May 2017), with the exports for the corresponding periods during the previous two years, is as under:

|                          |      |          |         |          |         | Value in USD Million   | Value in USD Million   | Value in USD Million     | Value in USD Million     |
|--------------------------|------|----------|---------|----------|---------|------------------------|------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
|                          |      | 2014-15  | 2014-15 | 2015-16  | 2015-16 | 2016-17                | 2016-17                | 2017-18 (Apr - May 2017) | 2017-18 (Apr - May 2017) |
| Commodity                | Unit | Quantity | Value   | Quantity | Value   | Quantity               | Value                  | Quantity                 | Value                    |
| Fruits / Vegetable Seeds | Kgs  | 12499306 | 69.96   | 13104108 | 80.89   | 11638461               | 78.86                  | 1053564                  | 21.92                    |
| Fresh Fruits             | Ton  | 539227   | 516.26  | 654659   | 635.49  | 820317                 | 750.90                 | 176026                   | 166.99                   |
| Fresh Vegetables         | Ton  | 2081802  | 763.24  | 2104359  | 799.93  | 3389795                | 860.29                 | 497737                   | 120.63                   |
| Grand Total              |      |          | 1349.46 |          | 1516.31 |                        | 1690.05                |                          | 309.54                   |

Source: DGCI&S

Value in USD Million

| 2015-16 (Apr-May 2015)   | 2016-17 (Apr-May 2016)   | 2017-18 (Apr-May 2017)   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|
| 245.89                   | 293.38                   | 309.54                   |
| Source: DGCI&S           | Source: DGCI&S           | Source: DGCI&S           |

The  value  of  exports  during  the  current  year  (Apr-May  2017)  has  increased  as compared to the corresponding periods during the previous two years.

- (d) State-wise  data  for  exports  is  not  maintained.  Promoting  exports  of  fruits  and vegetables  is  a  continuous  process.  The  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA),  an  autonomous  organisation  under  the administrative  control  of  Department  of  Commerce,  has  been  mandated  with  the export promotion of fruits and vegetables. APEDA has been providing assistance to the  exporters  of  fruits  and  vegetables  under  the  various  components  of  its  scheme 'Agriculture Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA'. Continuous efforts are also being made to gain market access in various countries for opening up of new markets.
- (e) The  assistance  provided  by  APEDA  is  available  to  all  the  exporters  of  fruits  and vegetables, including farmers looking to directly export their produce.
- (f) At present, there is no instance of any country having stopped the import of fruits and vegetables from India. In the past, EU had placed a ban on import of mangos and four vegetables from India w.e.f. 1 st May 2014 due to detection of harmful pests. Due to corrective action taken by India, the ban has been revoked - w.e.f. 5 th February 2015 for mangos and w.e.f. 31 st December 2016 for the four vegetables. Saudi Arabia had imposed a ban on import of green chillies  from  India  w.e.f.  30 th May  2014  due  to detection of agrochemicals i.e. pesticides above the maximum residue limits. Due to corrective  action  taken  by  India,  the  temporary  ban  was  lifted  w.e.f.  13 th January 2016.

********