Lok Sabha Question No. 3510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Export of Organic Products
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3510 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  MARCH,2023

## EXPORT OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS

## 3510.   DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Maharashtra  has  huge  potential  for  production  of organic products;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken steps to boost the export of organic products from the country especially Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether India's share in global trade of organic products is very low despite India having lot of potential;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to increase India's share in global trade of organic food?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) & (b): Maharashtra is one of the leading states in production of organic products under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The promotion of exports of organic products is  a  continuous  process.  The  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development Authority (APEDA), a statutory organisation under the administrative control of Department of Commerce has the mandate to promote export of agricultural and processed products including organic products from the country including Maharashtra.  Mumbai office of APEDA, from time to time, undertakes activities for promotion of organic products from Maharashtra.  APEDA provides technical and financial assistance to the exporters of organic products under various components of its  export promotion scheme viz. Infrastructure Development, Market Development and Quality Development. APEDA also undertakes various activities to promote exports of organic products viz. addition of new products under NPOP, making efforts to get NPOP standards recognized by the  importing  countries,  promoting  'India  Organic'  brand  through  participation  in  international

trade fairs and exhibitions, organising Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), organising capacity building and outreach programmes etc.

(c) to (e): The total exports of organic products from India were USD 771.96 million in 202122. The primary reason for India's relatively low share in world organic export is our huge domestic consumption  base  for  agriculture  products  including  for  organic  products,  due  to  our  large population base. The Government has been taking steps to increase India's share in global trade of organic products. International buyer-seller meets have also been organised in North-Eastern States like Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim to provide an impetus to organic exports from the region. Webinars and virtual buyer-seller meets have been organised to provide a platform for Indian organic exporters to interact with potential importers in various countries such as Japan, Australia, Malaysia, USA, European Union (EU), Canada etc.

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