Lok Sabha Question No. 2437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Export of Agri Products/GI Products
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2437 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH, 2022

## EXPORT OF AGRI PRODUCTS/GI PRODUCTS

## 2437. SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  export  agri  products  including Geographical Indication (GI) products to foreign countries through airports across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government had identified such agri products including GI products in Tamil Nadu to be exported from any one of the airports located in that State;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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)  &  (b)  Agriculture  products,  including  GI  products,  are  exported  from  the  country  through various  exit  points,  including  airports,  to  worldwide  export  destinations.  The  Government  has taken several steps at State/ District levels to promote exports of agriculture products, including GI  products.  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 product-specific action plans have also been formulated to promote exports. It has also been decided that the District as Export Hub Initiative of the Department of Commerce would be utilized to achieve the objectives of  the Agriculture Export  Policy.  The  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority (APEDA) has been organising Buyer Seller Meets and outreach programmes on sensitization of good farm cultivation practices, pre and post-harvest handling management of the produce etc. to promote export of agriculture products, including GI products, from various States of the country.

(c) to (e) Yes, Sir. The Government, in consultation with the State Government of Tamil Nadu, has identified various agriculture products such as non-basmati rice, maize, groundnut, ragi, bajra, black gram, coconut, mango, banana, Okra, onion, jasmine, cut-flowers, spices etc. for export from Tamil Nadu. Unique products from the State, which have the potential for GI tagging and export have also been identified. These products are Sholavandhan Betel Leaf (Madurai), Chettikulam small  onion  (Perammbalur),  Panruti  jack  fruit  (Cuddalore),  Sattur  samba  chilli  (Virudunagar), Elavambadi Mullu Kathirikkai (Vellore), Chithirai Kar rice (Ramananthapuram), Kumbakonam betel leaf, Panruti cashew, Attur Kichali Samba rice (Salem) and Kannadi Kathari (Salem).

The agricultural products, including GI products, from Tamil Nadu are exported through various ports and airports of the country including the Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai airports of the State.

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