Lok Sabha Question No. 150 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Export of Crops and Fruits
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *150 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/12/2023

## EXPORT OF CROPS AND FRUITS

## *150.  SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

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

- (a) the details of crops and fruits exported by our country including the details of the countries to which the said produces are exported;
- (b) the year-wise volume of the exports during the last five years;
- (c) whether  many  countries  have  heavily  increased  their  import  duties  and  if  so,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d) the volume of orange exports of the country during the last five years;
- (e) whether Bangladesh has heavily increased the import duty on Nagpuri Oranges and if so, the reasons therefor including the details thereof;
- (f) whether the said increase has caused reduction in orange export as well as other export products by half of its volume and fall in prices in domestic markets also and if so, the details of the States and crops adversely affected by the said incident;
- (g) whether the Government has carried out any review of the said incident and if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) the supportive measures and initiatives taken by the Government to protect orange farmers as well as other farmers and traders from export loss?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y )

THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (h): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred question No. 150 for 13.12.2023 regarding 'Export of Crops and Fruits' by Shri Krupal Balaji Tumane and Shri Gajanan Kirtikar:

(a) Out  of  India's  agriculture  export  basket  comprising  of  primary  as  well  as  value-added products,  the  crops,  which  account  for  substantial  share  of  India's  agriculture  exports,  are  nonBasmati rice, Basmati rice, spices, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables etc. Major fruits exported from the country are grapes, banana, pomegranate, mango, apples, orange etc. Major export destinations for these products are Bangladesh, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, USA etc.

(b) Details of volume of exports of major crops, during the last five years, are at Annexure-I. Details of volume of export of fruits, during the same period, are at Annexure-II.

(c) Importing countries change import duty rates for various products, which is their sovereign right, from time to time, based on several factors such as nature of the product, domestic demand, domestic financial situation, foreign currency reserves etc. However, member countries of World Trade Organisation (WTO) are obligated to keep the import duty rates within the bound tariff rates agreed to by them

(d) The details regarding volume of orange exports of the country, during the last five years, are as under:

| Qty. in MT     | Qty. in MT     | Qty. in MT     | Qty. in MT     | Qty. in MT     |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| 2018-19        | 2019-20        | 2020-21        | 2021-22        | 2022-23        |
| 43098.28       | 93749.41       | 162540.10      | 119548.04      | 73157.88       |
| Source: DGCI&S | Source: DGCI&S | Source: DGCI&S | Source: DGCI&S | Source: DGCI&S |

(e) Before the 2021-22 Bangladesh budget, the total tax incidence (TTI) for oranges was 89.32%. With  a  20%  SAFTA  rebate,  effective  duty  was  69.32%.  The  2021-22  budget  introduced  a  20% regulatory duty on oranges, increasing TTI to 113.8%, resulting in effective duty rate of 93.8%.

(f) to (h) The said increase in import duty rates by Bangladesh has affected India's export of oranges, as indicated in the details provided at (d) above, as Bangladesh is a major export destination for Indian oranges. However, as the volume of export of oranges is less than 2% of total production, impact on domestic prices due to lower exports is unlikely. However, overall agriculture exports of the country registered  a  growth  in  2022-23  and  as  such,  there  was  no  impact  in  respect  of  export  of  other agriculture products.

The matter has been consistently pursued through the Indian mission in Dhaka and was taken up in the bilateral meetings between India and Bangladesh viz. the 14 th  Joint Working Group on Customs meeting held on 21-22 August 2023 and 15 th Joint Working Group on Trade meeting held on 26-27 September 2023, between India and Bangladesh. The Indian side requested Bangladesh side to revisit their policy in the interest of the orange farmers in India and reduce the duties to pre-2021-22 budget level. During the 15 th Joint Working Group on Trade, Bangladesh side responded that regulatory duty is applied on this item on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis, i.e. it is applicable for imports from all countries without discrimination.

The Government has been providing support for holistic growth of horticulture sector, including oranges.  The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  has  been  implementing  Mission  for integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. All States and UTs are covered under MIDH.

The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a statutory body under the administrative  control  of  Department  of  Commerce,  has  the  mandate  to  promote export of oranges. APEDA has launched a comprehensive pack house recognition scheme for export of fruits and vegetables, including oranges, with the objective to preserve the quality of the produce. APEDA has registered  214  pack  houses  for  processing  of  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables,  including oranges.

Further, APEDA provides financial assistance to exporters of its scheduled products, including of oranges,  under  various  components  of  its  export  promotion  scheme  viz.  Market  Development, Infrastructure Development and Quality Development. APEDA also 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.

*********

Annexure refer to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred question No. 150 for answer on 13.12.2023.

Annexure-I

| INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS      | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF CROPS   |
|-------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|                               |                            |                            |                            | Qty.                       | Qty.                       |
| DESCRIPTION                   | 2018-19                    | 2019-20                    | 2020-21                    | 2021-22                    | 2022-23                    |
| RICE OTHER THAN BASMATI)      | 7648.00                    | 5056.28                    | 13149.21                   | 17288.96                   | 17792.14                   |
| RICE -BASMATI                 | 4414.61                    | 4454.77                    | 4630.21                    | 3943.72                    | 4561.21                    |
| SPICES                        | 1133.89                    | 1193.44                    | 1607.06                    | 1427.72                    | 1312.26                    |
| WHEAT                         | 226.63                     | 219.69                     | 2154.97                    | 7244.84                    | 4695.80                    |
| OTHER CEREALS                 | 1257.24                    | 501.12                     | 3075.66                    | 3859.36                    | 3628.12                    |
| FRESH VEGETABLES              | 3192.49                    | 1930.51                    | 2339.68                    | 2468.40                    | 3383.59                    |
| FRESH FRUITS (INCLUDING NUTS) | 823.09                     | 834.84                     | 973.18                     | 1166.44                    | 1096.09                    |
| GROUNDNUT                     | 489.19                     | 664.44                     | 638.32                     | 514.12                     | 669.51                     |
| COTTONRAW INCLD. WASTE        | 1143.07                    | 657.81                     | 1213.98                    | 1258.63                    | 318.47                     |
| PULSES                        | 287.13                     | 232.08                     | 276.93                     | 387.21                     | 762.67                     |
| SESAME SEEDS                  | 312.00                     | 282.26                     | 273.26                     | 242.15                     | 228.65                     |
| OTHER OIL SEEDS               | 213.84                     | 89.64                      | 84.57                      | 60.24                      | 58.23                      |
| NIGER SEEDS                   | 13.37                      | 13.83                      | 19.59                      | 6.03                       | 7.74                       |

Source: DGCI&S

Annexure-II

| INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS          | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   | INDIA'S EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS   |
|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| HSCode                            | Product                                  | 2018-19                           | 2019-20                           | 2020-21                           | 2021-22                           | Qty inMT 2022-23                  |
| 8061000                           | Grapes, Fresh                            | 246133.77                         | 193690.51                         | 246107.37                         | 263075.62                         | 267950.39                         |
| 8039010                           | Bananas, Fresh                           | 134503.4                          | 195745.85                         | 232518.22                         | 376572.37                         | 361841.61                         |
| 8109010                           | Pomegranates Fresh                       | 67891.8                           | 80547.74                          | 67976.66                          | 99043.09                          | 62280.08                          |
| 8045029                           | Other Mangoes                            | 0                                 | 0                                 | 15795.09                          | 17448.9                           | 17257.28                          |
| 8081000                           | Apples, Fresh                            | 16744.61                          | 21182.09                          | 30606.82                          | 31976.52                          | 52875.88                          |
| 8051000                           | Oranges, Fresh/Dried                     | 43098.28                          | 93749.41                          | 162540.1                          | 119548.04                         | 73157.88                          |
| 8045090                           | Other Mangosteen Fresh / Dried           | 2892.87                           | 4505.88                           | 7544.14                           | 18229.47                          | 15908.67                          |
| 8071100                           | Watermelons, Fresh                       | 33366.46                          | 33750.57                          | 31739.02                          | 32694.52                          | 44999.78                          |
| 8109090                           | Other Fresh Fruits                       | 15203.39                          | 10690.18                          | 9894.39                           | 13629.93                          | 10350.55                          |
| 8045021                           | Alphonso (Hapus)                         | 0                                 | 0                                 | 3195.85                           | 5994.86                           | 2829.76                           |
| 8055000                           | Lemons                                   | 21121.33                          | 14485.92                          | 18788.84                          | 18523.9                           | 11341.23                          |
| 8045026                           | Kesar                                    | 0                                 | 0                                 | 983.73                            | 2319.08                           | 1749.97                           |
| 8043000                           | Pineapples Fresh Or Dried                | 6942.12                           | 6682.93                           | 4545.32                           | 7665.42                           | 6961.85                           |
| 8045010                           | Guavas Fresh/Dried                       | 956.69                            | 1697.14                           | 2886.37                           | 5339.21                           | 5680.92                           |
| 8072000                           | Papaws (Papayas), Fresh/Dried            | 9785.61                           | 8273.36                           | 7618.72                           | 7754.73                           | 9440.71                           |
| 8071910                           | Musk Melons                              | 0                                 | 0                                 | 4609.63                           | 4215.76                           | 3934.42                           |
| 8109020                           | Tamarind, Fresh                          | 3328.82                           | 2293.89                           | 2897.87                           | 4920.12                           | 2793.59                           |
| 8045022                           | Banganapalli                             | 0                                 | 0                                 | 830.55                            | 1674.04                           | 856.91                            |
| 8109030                           | Sapota (Chico) Fresh                     | 1423.6                            | 1133.78                           | 657.5                             | 1023.33                           | 972.96                            |
| 8041010                           | Dates, Fresh/Dried (Excluding Wet Dates) | 78.42                             | 460.99                            | 677.44                            | 1320.87                           | 1916.62                           |
|                                   | Other Fruits                             | 61386.54                          | 71036.61                          | 24340.23                          | 19009.83                          | 10104.81                          |
|                                   | Total                                    | 664857.7                          | 739926.9                          | 876753.9                          | 1051980                           | 965205.9                          |
| Source: DGCI&S                    | Source: DGCI&S                           | Source: DGCI&S                    | Source: DGCI&S                    | Source: DGCI&S                    | Source: DGCI&S                    | Source: DGCI&S                    |

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