Lok Sabha Question No. 1638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Export of Banana
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Manjulata Mandal, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1638 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/12/2023

## EXPORT OF BANANA

## 1638.   SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether the Union Government is giving assistance to State Government to boost the export of banana and if so, the details thereof, State-wise particularly Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra;
- (b) the quantum of banana exported during each of the last three years and the current year along with foreign exchange earned from such export;
- (c) the challenges faced by the Government while boosting the export of banana from the country;
- (d) whether APEDA has taken any measures to boost the export of banana from the country which is produced in abundance in Tamil Nadu;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether any financial assistance is being provided to the growers and exporters for the export of banana and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Yes,  The  Government  is  taking  measures  to  promote  exports  of  banana  from  the  country, including from the states of Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra. 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 bananas. An Export Promotion Forum (EPF)  for  bananas,  with  representation  from  trade/industry,  line  ministries/departments,  regulatory agencies, research institutes, state governments etc., has been established under the aegis of APEDA. The EPF strives to identify and anticipate developments pertaining to production and exports of bananas, 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. APEDA has also identified production clusters for banana in various States and have promoted controlled field management  practices  and  use  of  movable  post-harvest  equipment  such  as  pre-coolers;  ripening chambers and ethylene dip tanks in these clusters. APEDA has also facilitated bulk movement of bananas through refrigerated train from East Coast to West Coast port for onward transportation to West Asian countries. APEDA has also initiated development of sea protocol for facilitating exports to European countries.

- (b) The details of India's exports of banana, during each of the last three years and the current year, are as under:

| Year              |   Quantity (MT) |   Value (in USD Mill) |
|-------------------|-----------------|-----------------------|
| 2020-21           |          232518 |                 99.86 |
| 2021-22           |          376572 |                157.86 |
| 2022-23           |          361842 |                174.83 |
| 2023-24 (Apr-Sep) |          236471 |                108.08 |

Source: DGCI&S

(c) High  perishability  of  the  product  and  distance  from  markets  like  US  and  EU  are  the  major challenges, other than huge domestic demand in the Country.

(d) to (e) Apart  from  the  measures  listed  at  (a)  above,  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.

- (f) APEDA provides financial assistance to exporters of its scheduled products, including of banana, under  various  components  of  its  export  promotion  scheme  viz.  Market  Development,  Infrastructure Development and Quality Development.

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