Lok Sabha Question No. 555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Export-oriented Production Clusters
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 st  DECEMBER, 2021

## EXPORT-ORIENTED PRODUCTION CLUSTERS

## 555.   SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण᭔य एवं उ᳒ोग मंᮢी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether export-oriented production clusters  are proposed  to  be established in Wayanad parliamentary constituency under the Agriculture Export Policy and if so, the details thereof, including the status of implementation;
- (b) the details of the initiatives are being undertaken to strengthen infrastructure and logistics  for  promotion  of  agricultural  export  in  Wayanad  parliamentary constituency;
- (c) whether any assistance has been provided to Kerala under the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme for establishment of Spice Parks and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  measures  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the effective participation of small and medium farmers in the production clusters;
- (e) whether any initiatives are being undertaken by the Government to promote the export of indigenous and tribal products; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof, including programs being undertaken in Kerala?

## ANSWER

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

(a)        Wayanad district has been identified as a cluster under the Agriculture Export Policy for development and promotion of exports of three products viz. Banana, Turmeric and Pepper under  Agri  Export  Policy  (AEP).  District  level  Cluster  Facilitation  Committee  has  been constituted under the chairmanship of District Collector to oversee the development of cluster. Initial rounds of meetings with the stakeholders have been conducted. The State Nodal agency, Vegetable  and  Fruit  Promotion  Council  Keralam  (VFPCK)  has  organized  the  Capacity building program for the concerned stakeholders in the Banana Cluster comprising Wayanad, Thrissur  and  Thiruvananthapuram.  Spices  Board  is  coordinating  with  State  Agriculture  /

Horticulture Departments of Kerala and has provided technical support in preparing the Action Plan and  a document related to good agricultural practices for various crops.

Under the District as  Export Hub initiative Malabar Pepper, Banana, Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice,  Wayanad  Gandhakasala  Rice,  Wayanaad  Robusta  Coffee,  Spice  products,  Tea  and Coffee  have  been  identified  as  the  products  with  export  potential  for  Wayanad  district  of Kerala.

(b)       APEDA has provided financial assistance of Rs. 430.92 lakhs to Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) under APEDA infrastructure scheme for establishment of Vegetables & fruits packhouse at Wayanad. Packhouse at Wayanad has become operational in the year 2016-17.

(c)     Spices  Board  has  established  a  Spices  Park  at  Puttady  in  Idukki  district  of  Kerala. However,  no  assistance  under  Trade  Infrastructure  for  Export  Scheme  (TIES)  has  been provided for establishment of Spices Parks in Kerala.

(d)  to  (f)   The  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority (APEDA) has set up a Regional Office in Kochi in May 2021. APEDA has been working closely with the district officials of these clusters and other stakeholders to sensitize the farmers to  enhance  the  quality  of  the  produce  for  export  purposes.  Following  initiatives  have  been taken:

-  Sensitization Programme for SC/ST FPOs in the State of Kerala was organised virtually on 26 th  June 2021.
-  Interactive  meeting  with  FPO's  of  Kerala  to  identify  the  issues  in  exporting  their potential products on 13 th  August 2021.
-  Interactive meeting with exporters &Farmers/FPOs of Rice exports was organised on 8th September 2021.
-  A virtual  capacity  building  program  was  organized  by  APEDA  in  association  with Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala, Department of Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Kerala, Kerala Agricultural University, NABARD, NAFED, SFAC & VFPCK for FPOs/Cooperative societies/farmers of Kerala on 26th September 2021.
-  Organised a farmer-scientists interface on GI-Tagged rice varieties in association with Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur to emphasize the export-oriented production of GI tagged rice varieties in Kerala on 12 th  October 2021.
-  A sensitisation programme on APEDA's new financial assistance schemes 2021-22 to 2025-26 was organised on 17th November 2021 in Ernakulam and on 19th November 2021 in Thiruvananthapuram.
-  Sensitisation  meetings/programs  have  been  organized  in  the  Banana  cluster  in association  with  State  departments,  SAUs,  KVKs,  NABARD  for  identification  of progressive Farmer groups and strengthening the export linkage of FPOs/FPCs.
-  The  FPOs  formed  under  the  clusters  are  concentrating  on  induction  of  small  and marginal farmers who constitute a majority in the farmers in Kerala. Export production protocol  for  banana  has  been  developed  by  National  Research  Centre  for  Banana (NRCB) and is being disseminated among the farmers to ensure availability of export quality produce.

Spices  Board  has  also  established  a  field  office  in  Kalpetta  of  Wayanad  District  for implementation of various programs for post-harvest management and quality improvement of Pepper,  turmeric  and  other  spices.  The  Board  is  implementing  Post  Harvest  Improvement programs, viz, Supply of Pepper threshers, Turmeric boilers & polishers etc, at a subsidized rate to the pepper and turmeric growers and also providing quality improvement training and extension  advisory  services  to  the  stakeholders  for  improving  the  quality  of  pepper  and turmeric for export.

Under a joint venture by the ICAR-National Research Centre on Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu and Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam, Kochi, Kerala, The ICARNRC on Banana imparted hands-on-training to the Banana farmers from Thrissur District on the scientific cultivation of Nendran following Good Agricultural Practices to produce export quality Nendran Bananas. Consignments of Nendran Bananas have been exported to UK and Singapore.  APEDA  has  also  facilitated  exports  of  value  added  products  of  Jackfruit  and Passion Fruit.

Spices  Board  is  implementing  a  Project  'Integrated  Development  of  Small  Cardamom  in Aranamala Tribal Settlement of Wayanad district in Kerala during the period from 2020 to 2022,  with  support  from  Dept  of  Tribal  Development,  Govt  of  Kerala.  The  project  with components such as area expansion , Installation of spice Curing Device, Quality Improvement Training programs (QITP), Extension Advisory support, Exposure Visits etc aims to benefit capacity building of 32 tribal families in Aranamala Tribal, with a financial outlay of Rs 11.71 lakh.

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