Lok Sabha Question No. 4436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Scheme to Promote Export of Agricultural Products
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4436 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  MARCH, 2021

## SCHEME TO PROMOTE EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

4436.      SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has formulated any special scheme to promote export of agricultural products;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is considering to take any specific steps for free trade of other products along with food and agricultural products with Asian countries; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b):    Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme is being implemented by Department of Commerce  for Specified Agriculture Products for providing assistance for the international component of freight to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture  products  and  assistance  for  the  marketing  of  agricultural  produces  which  is likely  to  result  in  higher  exports  of  agriculture  products  in  overseas  markets.  The Department  of  Commerce  has  several  other  schemes  to  promote  exports,  including exports  of  agricultural  products,   viz.  Trade  Infrastructure  for  Export  Scheme  (TIES), Market  Access  Initiatives  (MAI)  Scheme  etc.  In  addition,  assistance  to  the  exporters  of agricultural  products  is  also  available  under  the  export  promotion  Schemes  of  APEDA, Marine  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (MPEDA),  Tobacco  Board,  Tea  Board, Coffee Board, Rubber Board and Spices Board.  Further, subsidy is being extended under Operation Greens  scheme  of  Ministry of Food  Processing  Industries (MoFPI)  for transportation of fruits and vegetable through Kisan Rail. Indian Railways are providing the transport subsidy directly to any applicants by way of charging 50% of their freight charges from them for transportation.

(c) & (d): India has a ASEAN-India  Trade  in  Goods  Agreement  (AITIGA)  with Association  of  South  East  Asian  Nations  (ASEAN)  under  which  individual  ASEAN countries  have  provided  tariff  concessions  to  India  on  a  variety  of  products  including certain food and agricultural products. Other than AITIGA, India has bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with three ASEAN  countries -India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-Malaysia CECA and India-Thailand FTA Early  Harvest  Scheme  under  which  these  countries  have  provided  tariff  concessions  to India on different products.

With  a  view  to  facilitate  enhanced  market  access  for  Indian  products  in  ASEAN markets, Department of Commerce is engaging with ASEAN for review of AITIGA and is also exploring bilateral Preferential Trade Agreements with certain ASEAN countries.

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