Lok Sabha Question No. 250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Export of Foodgrains
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 250

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## EXPORT OF FOODGRAINS

250. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the country is self-reliant in the field of foodgrains;
- (b) if not, then reasons for encouraging the export of foodgrains, while there is always a ban on the export of some foodgrains and other grains;
- (c) whether any effective steps have been taken by the Government to open affordable testing facility centre and nearby centres for issuing quality certificates for the convenience of agricultural crop exporters to promote exports; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Yes. India is a net exporter of wheat, rice and other foodgrains such as rye, maize, sorghum, buckwheat, jawar, bajra, ragi and their import is negligible. In so far as pulses are concerned,  the  domestic  demand  exceeds  indigenous production,  necessitating  imports.  However,  the  production  of  pulses  is  gradually increasing.  The  details  of  Production  and  Export-Import  figures  of  foodgrains  are Annexed (Annexure).
- (c) & (d): The Export Inspection Council (EIC) was set up by the Government of India under Section 3 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963), in order to ensure sound development of export trade of India through Quality Control and Inspection.

The EIC currently provides mandatory certification prior to export for various commodities  notified  under  Export  (Quality  Control  and  Inspection)  Act  including agricultural commodities like Basmati Rice, Fruit & Vegetable Products.  In case of products  which  are  not notified  under  EIC's  Act  for  mandatory  pre-shipment inspection but the importing country require certification, the EIC has the provision of Voluntary Certification Scheme for certifying the products in compliance to importing country requirements.

The  EIC  has  got  its  own  eight  (8)  state-of-the  art  laboratories  at  Chennai, Kochi,  Kolkata,  Mumbai,  Delhi,  Bhubaneswar,  Visakhapatnam,  Bheemavaram.  In addition, there are more than 60 Private Laboratories which have taken approval as per  EIC's  requirements  under  Integrated  Laboratory  Approval  Scheme  (ILAS) implemented by NABL.

Besides, APEDA has recognised food testing laboratories meeting requirements of international norms, which as on date are 130.

## Annexure referred in reply to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 250 to be answered on 05.12.2023

Production, Export and Import of Agri and Allied products (from 2020-21 to 2022-23), Qty in '000 MT

|                                           | Production   | Production   | Production   | Export    | Export    | Export    | Import   | Import   | Import   | Balance of Trade   | Balance of Trade   | Balance of Trade   |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------|----------|----------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| DESCRIPTI ON                              | 2020- 21     | 2021- 22     | 2022- 23     | 2020 -21  | 2021 -22  | 2022 -23  | 2020 -21 | 2021 -22 | 2022 -23 | 2020 -21           | 2021 -22           | 2022 -23           |
| Rice                                      | 12436 8.00   | 12947 1.00   | 13575 5.00   | 1777 9.42 | 2123 2.68 | 2235 3.36 | 4.76     | 10.58    | 6.71     | 1777 4.65          | 2122 2.09          | 2234 6.64          |
| Wheat                                     | 10958 6.00   | 10774 2.00   | 11055 4.00   | 2154. 97  | 7244. 84  | 4695. 80  | 0.00     | 0.05     | 13.57    | 2154. 97           | 7244. 79           | 4682. 23           |
| Other Cereals ( Rye, Barley, Oats, Maize, | 51323. 00    | 51101. 00    | 57318. 00    | 3075. 66  | 3859. 36  | 3628. 12  | 134.7 9  | 112.0 6  | 305.2 4  | 2940. 87           | 3747. 30           | 3322. 88           |
| Pulses                                    | 25463. 00    | 27302. 00    | 26058. 00    | 276.9 3   | 387.2 1   | 762.6 7   | 2466. 16 | 2699. 69 | 2496. 17 | - 2189. 23         | - 2312. 49         | - 1733. 50         |
| Total Foodgrain s                         | 31074 0.00   | 31561 6.00   | 32968 5.00   | 2328 6.98 | 3272 4.09 | 3143 9.94 | 2605. 71 | 2822. 39 | 2821. 69 | 2068 1.27          | 2990 1.70          | 2861 8.25          |

Source: DES and DGCIS

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