Lok Sabha Question No. 5800 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Separate Board for Trading
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5800(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th  APRIL, 2017

## SEPARATE BOARD FOR TRADING

## 5800(H). SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  separate  board  for  promotion  of turmeric, cumin, isabgol, pulses, mango and banana trade in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  all  kinds  of  assistance  to  trade  in turmeric, cumin, isabgol , pulses, mango and banana; and
- (d) the total revenue earned through domestic trade and the export of turmeric, cumin, isabgol, mango and banana during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Presently, there is no proposal  to set up a  separate Board for promotion of turmeric, cumin, isabgol, pulses, mango and banana trade in the country  as several Departments/organizations are already working  on  various  aspects  relating  to  development,  research,  export  and  market  promotion  of  these crops.  Setting  up  of  a      separate  Board  may  result  in  multiplication  of  agencies  and  programmes  with similar objects and functions.

(c): Government implements various schemes/programmes for assisting trade in turmeric, cumin, isabgol , pulses,  mango  and  banana  such  as  Infrastructure  development  for  adoption  of  Hi-Tech  in  spices processing,  technology  up-gradation,  market  study  abroad,  product  development  through  scientific research,    value  addition,  quality  improvement  and  branding,    participation  of  exporters  in  major international fairs/exhibitions, promotion of Indian spice brands abroad,  establishment of spices parks for pices,  setting  up  of  quality  evaluation laboratories and conducting of buyer-seller meets. In addition, implements the 'Merchandise Exports from India  Scheme'  (MEIS)  to  incentivize  export  of  merchandise  which  are  produced/manufactured  in  India. Further,  government  is  undertaking  various  programmes  such  as  conservation,  development  and sustainable  management  and  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants  including  Isabgol,  setting  up  of  Common Vapour Heat Treatment Facility for common use by the exporters with the objective of mitigating the post harvest  quarantine  requirement  of  countries  importing  fruits  and  vegetables  from  India,  scheme  for recognition  of  horticulture  pack  house  for  export  of  fruits  and  vegetables  to  improve    the    quality  of produce etc.

(d) Information regarding total revenue earned through domestic trade of turmeric, cumin, isabgol, mango and  banana  trade  is  not  centrally  maintained.  Export  figures  of  these  crops  for  the  last  three  years  is  at Annexure 1 .

## Annexure 1

Statement showing revenue earned through export of turmeric, cumin, isabgol, mango and banana during the last three years(2013-14 to 2015-16)

## Export (Rs. in Crores)

| Year    |   Turmeric |   Cumin |   Isabgol Seed/Husk |   Mangoes Fresh/Dried |   Banana Fresh/ Other Bananas excluding Plantain |
|---------|------------|---------|---------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14 |        667 |    1600 |              767.91 |                312.29 |                                           155.23 |
| 2014-15 |        744 |    1838 |              935.82 |                341.35 |                                           244.84 |
| 2015-16 |        922 |    1567 |             1168.34 |                365.59 |                                           361.19 |

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