Lok Sabha Question No. 1141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Export of Foodgrains
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Chhatar Singh Darbar, Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1141 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  FEBRUARY, 2023

## EXPORT OF FOODGRAINS

## 1141.  SHRI CHHATAR SINGH DARBAR: SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) the country's share in world foodgrains market as on date;
- (b) whether the Government has prepared itself to face the competition in this market as a result   of the declining foodgrains exports;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  the  country  competitive  in international market under the open market policy of the World Trade Organisation?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

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

- (a): India's share in the world food grains market, based on the exported values in 2021, was 7.66% (Source: ITC Trade Map calculations based on UN COMTRADE and ITC statistics).
- (b) to (d): India's exports of foodgrains have registered a steady growth in last few years which is reflected in the increase in India's share in world foodgrain exports from 3.38% in 2010 to 7.66% in 2021 as per UN COMTRADE statistics.  Export promotion is a continuous process. The Government has taken several steps at State/ District levels to promote exports of agriculture products, including foodgrains. State-specific Action Plans have been prepared and State Level Monitoring Committees (SLMCs), Nodal Agencies for agricultural exports and Cluster  Level  Committees  have  been  formed  in  a  number  of  States.  Country  and  productspecific action plans have also been formulated to promote exports.

The  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA),  a statutory  body  under  the  administrative  control  of  Department  of  Commerce,  has  been providing  financial  assistance  to  the  exporters  of  agricultural  and  processed  food  products including foodgrains under components such as Development of Export Infrastructure, Quality Development and Market Development under its scheme namely 'Agriculture & Processed Food Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA'. APEDA assists exporters in promoting exports by  organising  buyer-seller  meets  (BSMs);  participation  in  international  trade  fairs  and exhibitions; taking up the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Market Access issues with the importing countries; and regular interactions with the Indian Missions to tap export opportunities in various countries.

Further, Export Promotion Forums (EPFs) for Rice and Nutri-Cereals have been set up under the aegis of APEDA. The EPFs strive to identify and anticipate developments pertaining to production and exports of these products, reach out to stakeholders across the entire production/ supply chain of exports and make recommendations for necessary policy interventions and other measures to promote exports.

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) have been established for the purpose of leveraging collective  economies  of  scale  in  the  production  and  marketing  of  agriculture  and  related products. This helps lower the average cost of production, hence increasing competitiveness in foreign markets.

*****