Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-02
Subject: Export of Organic Foodgrains
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 144 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  FEBRUARY, 2022

## EXPORT OF ORGANIC FOODGRAINS

## 144 (H). SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any special measures for the marketing of foodgrains produced through organic farming within the country and abroad and the details of the contribution of these products to the exports of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  efforts  made  to  promote  the  marketing  of  the  products  produced through  organic  farming  and  create  awareness  about  their  benefits  in  the  country including Bundelkhand and Uttarakhand during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)    to  (c):    Yes,  Sir.  The  National  Centre  for  Organic  Farming  (NCOF),  under  the  Ministry  of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is the nodal organization for organic farming in the country. NCOF implements the National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) to promote production, certification and marketing of organic products. The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), introduced by the Department of Commerce, is aimed at regulation and promotion of organic production for exports.

The promotion of exports of organic products is a continuous process. The Agricultural & Processed Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA),  an  autonomous  organisation  under  the administrative control of Department of Commerce, has been mandated with implementation of NPOP and  export promotion of organic products. APEDA provides assistance to the exporters of organic products under various components of its export promotion scheme. 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.

India's exports of organic products amounted to USD 1.04 billion during 2020-21. Organic foodgrains are being exported from the country mainly under the category Cereal & Millets. During 2020-21, 59908 MT of organic products under the category 'Cereal & Millets', worth 76 million USD, have been exported from India under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

Government of India has been promoting Organic farming in the country, including in Bundelkhand and Uttarakhand, through dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) since 2015-16 to cater to the needs of domestic and export markets respectively. Marketing and branding have been integral part of organic farming schemes. Assistance of Rs 6800/ ha under PKVY and Rs 5000/ ha under MOVCDNER is provided for marketing, branding and trade. Brand 'Organic Uttarakhand' has been developed under PKVY for the State of Uttarakhand.

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