Lok Sabha Question No. 4817 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Red Rice Export to USA
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4817 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th MARCH, 2021

## RED RICE EXPORT TO USA

## 4817(H). SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  other  items/goods  being  exported  to  the  United  States  of America (USA) on the lines  of  red  rice  being  exported  from  Assam  to  that country; and
- (b) the details  of  measures being taken to promote quality and productivity in Indian industry?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- a) India has been exporting different rice items to the United States apart from other agriculture and allied products. India's export of rice items to the USA for last three financial years and current year (up to Dec 2020) is as follows;

( Value in Million US Dollars)

| Items                     |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 (upto Dec 20) |
|---------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------|
| Rice - Basmoti            |    149.01 |    168.74 |    181.26 |                  158.43 |
| Rice (other than Basmoti) |     33.28 |     34.49 |     31.36 |                   39.66 |
| Total                     |    182.29 |    203.23 |    212.61 |                  198.09 |

(Source: DGCIS)

- (b) Government of India through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been taking regular measures for promoting exports of  agriculture  and  allied  products  from  various  states  including  Assam.  Aimed  at

improving  the  quality  and  productivity  of  exported  products, APEDA  provides  the following assistance;

1. Financial  assistance  is  provided  under  Agriculture  and  Processed  Foods  Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA for the Medium Term expenditure Framework (201718 to 2019-20) provides assistance under the following components: -
- a. Scheme for infrastructure Development
- b. Scheme for Quality Development
- c. Scheme for Market Promotion
2. Outreach Programmes : APEDA has been conducting Outreach Programmes as one of the important activities in various parts of the country for sensitisation of stakeholders towards the export of quality products in the supply chain of exports.
3. Buyer Seller Meets : APEDA organizes Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) for promotion of agri exports by inviting importers from across the world to showcase India's strength in production, infrastructure and quality measures adopted for exports.
4. Development of Common Infrastructure for agri exports : APEDA provided financial assistance  for  setting  up  of  common  infrastructure  facilities  such  as  pack-houses, processing units, reefer van etc. in various States across the country.
5. APEDA's  e-Governance  System: To  facilitate  exports,  APEDA  has  implemented traceability  system  for  organic  exports  (Trace  net);  grape  exports  (Grape  net);  peanut exports(peanut.net);  meat  export(meat.net);  horticultural  products(hortinet),  basmati export (basmati.net).
9. 6 .  Packaging  Development : Besides  providing  financial  assistance  to  its  member exporters under its Market Development Scheme for using international standards of packaging, APEDA has developed packaging standards and specifications for potential fruits and vegetables and processed food products with the help of Indian Institute of Packaging.
10. 7 . Scheme  for  recognition of  Horticulture  Pack  house :  APEDA  launched  a comprehensive pack house recognition scheme for export of fruits and vegetables with the objectives to improve the quality of the produce. Around APEDA has registered 207 pack houses for processing of fresh fruits and vegetables for export of identified markets.
11. 8 . Quality development programmes : APEDA's assistance is extended for up-gradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans.  As a result, the authorised labs have raised their analytical competence at par with the international requirements.  These labs are undertaking sampling and analysis for export certification of APEDA scheduled products in line with the requirements.
9. In addition, APEDA also provides financial assistance for setting          up/upgradation of in house Quality Control labs of export manufacturing units to check their in process quality for mailing export requirements.

10. Pre  and  post-harvest  manuals  for  exports  of  fresh  fruits  and vegetables : Fourteen Pre harvest manuals of fruits and vegetables for production and post-harvest manuals  for  handling  of  fruits  and  vegetables  of  export  potential  were  developed  in association with the ICAR institutions and fruits and vegetables exporters Association. These  manuals  are  facilitating  the  growers,  exporters  and  traders  in maintaining the basic quality and safety requirements of fruits and vegetables for exports.

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