Lok Sabha Question No. 568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Features of Agri-Export Policy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sudheer Gupta, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 568

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## FEATURES OF AGRI-EXPORT POLICY

568.      SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has recently announced an Agri-Export Policy (AEP);
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  aims,  objectives and salient features of the said policy;
- (c) whether  the  Agricultural  and  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority (APEDA) has held any meetings with the State Governments and other stakeholders f or effective implementation of the said policy and preparation of State Action Plan and if so, details thereof;
- (d) whether the Ministry has held any discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Food Processing Industry and other agencies for seeking the inputs for formulating a strategy to increase exports and address bottlenecks in the trade;
- (e) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (f) whether  the  Ministry  has  signed  an  MoU  with  the  National  Cooperative  Development Corporation to include Cooperatives for their active role in AEP and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a & b)  The  Government  has  introduced  a  comprehensive  Agriculture  Export  Policy  with  the following vision:

'Harness export potential of Indian agriculture, through suitable policy instruments, to make India a global power in agriculture, and raise farmers' income.'

Inter-alia, the objectives of the Agriculture Export policy are as under:

- (i) To  diversify  our  export  basket,  destinations  and  boost  high  value  and  value  added agricultural exports, including focus on perishables.
- (ii) To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.
- (iii) To provide an  institutional  mechanism  for  pursuing  market  access,  tackling  barriers  and dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
- (iv) To  strive  to  double  India's  share  in  world  agri  expo rts  by  integrating  with  global  value chains.
- (v) Enable farmers to get benefit of export opportunities in overseas market.

The envisaged initiatives in the Agriculture Export Policy have been organised in two categories  Strategic and Operational - as detailed below:

| Strategic   | Policy measures                                          |
|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Strategic   | Infrastructure and logistics support                     |
| Strategic   | Holistic approach to boost exports                       |
| Strategic   | Greater involvement of State Governments in agri exports |

| Operational   | Focus on Clusters                                          |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Operational   | Promoting value added exports                              |
| Operational   | Marketing and promotion of 'Brand India'                   |
| Operational   | Attract private investments into production and processing |
| Operational   | Establishment of strong quality regimen                    |
| Operational   | Research &Development                                      |
| Operational   | Miscellaneous                                              |

(c)  The  Agricultural  & Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development Authority  (APEDA)  has prepared  State-specific  Action  Plans  and  shared  them  with  the  respective  States  for  vetting  and finalization. APEDA  had  series  of  meetings  with  the  States  followed  by  several  follow-ups  and correspondences for the finalization of draft action plan. Maharashtra, U.P., Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab and Karnataka have finalised the State specific Action Plans. 25 States and 2 UTs have designated nodal agencies to promote agricultural exports. 16 States have constituted State Level Monitoring Committees.

(d & e) Department of Commerce is in constant touch with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing

Industries  and  other  concerned  agencies  to  formulate  a  strategy  to  increase  agricultural  exports. Several meetings have been held in this regard. Top 10 products, 10 countries and 20 export potential Products, 20 potential countries have been identified for increasing exports. These lists have been shared with all stakeholders for a focussed effort to increase agricultural exports. A Sub-group under the Chairmanship of Chairman, APEDA and comprising of members from concerned Line Ministries has been formed to monitor the progress made in this regard.

- (f) APEDA and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) have signed a MoU, under which following areas of cooperation have been identified:
- i. To jointly  formulate  programs to provide technical knowhow to  cooperatives  to  upscale infrastructure  created  for  post  harvest  management  for  APEDA  scheduled  products  to promote exports
- ii. APEDA to share list of all clusters in various states with NCDC who may approach the clusters for achieving scale and aggregation with export orientation. APEDA to facilitate exports by the cooperatives assisted or identified by NCDC.
- iii. APEDA to facilitate certification of organic produce /areas by the cooperatives assisted or identified by NCDC.
- iv. To jointly work towards capacity development of various stakeholders.
- v. To jointly come towards organizing outreach programs, awareness programs and workshops for stakeholders.
- vi. To jointly work together to showcase, the products, technologies, processes, knowledge and services by the cooperative sector stakeholders through variety of modes to the Indian and Global Market.
- vii. APEDA and NCDC to jointly work together to achieve the goal of Doubling the Farmers Income as set out by the Government.

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