Lok Sabha Question No. 1377 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Promotion of Agricultural Export
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1377 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2024

## PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORT

## 1377.  SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

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

(a) the details of measures taken for promotion of agricultural exports from Punjab;

(b) the details of step taken by the Government to address barriers faced by farmers in accessing international markets;

(c) the details of initiatives to improve market linkages for Punjab's agricultural products; and

(d) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  promotion  of  support  farmers  in  adopting quality standards required for reaching international markets?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (d) The  Department  of  Commerce  through  Agricultural  and  Processed  food  products Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  provides  financial  assistance  to  member  exporters  of APEDA from across the country including Punjab under Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion  Scheme  of  APEDA  for  the  15 th Finance  Commission  Cycle  (2021-22  to  2025-26)  in following three broad areas:

(i)  Scheme for infrastructure Development - Financial assistance for setting up of packhouses facilities  with  packing  /  grading  lines,  pre-cooling  unit  with  cold  storage  and  refrigerated transportation  etc,  cable  system  for  handling  of  crops  like  banana,  pre-shipment  treatment facilities  such  as  irradiation,  1apour  heat  treatment,  hot  water  dip  treatment  and  Common infrastructure facilities,  reefer vans and missing gap in the existing infrastructure of individual exporters.

(ii)  Scheme for Quality Development -Financial assistance for purchase of laboratory testing equipment,  installation  of  quality  management  system,  handheld  devices  for  capturing  farm level coordinates for traceability and testing of water, soil, residues and pesticides etc.

(iii)    Scheme  for  Market  PromotionThe  assistance  covers  participation  of  exporters  in international trade fairs, organizing buyer seller meets and developing packaging standards for new products and upgrading the existing standards.

The details of some specific measures taken for promotion of Agriculture exports from Punjab are annexed as Annexure - I

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## Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1377 for answer on 03.12.2024.

Initiatives  have  been  taken  for  enhancing  export-oriented  infrastructure  in  Punjab  to  support agricultural products like Basmati Rice, Fresh Fruits and Millets:

1. Packhouses and Cold Storage: APEDA has facilitated exporters to develop and streamline the export of perishable goods from packhouses in Ludhiana to meet international standards for fresh produce.  These  facilities  adhere  to  global  standards  for  exporting  fresh  produce  like  Kinnow, Others  Fruits  and  Vegetables.  On  June  28,  2024,  the  first  consignment  of  Litchi  has  been exported from Punjab to London.
2. Millet Export to Sydney: On January 30, 2024, the first consignment of 13 varieties of millet and associated value-added products was exported by Farmer turned as exporter from Sangrur, Punjab, to Sydney, Australia, with the help of APEDA.
3. Capacity Building Programs: APEDA collaborated with Punjab Agricultural University and other  institutions  to  organize  training  programmes  on  residue  free  farming  and  meeting  with international  standards.    Total  25  numbers  of  training  programme  have  been  organized  during 2024  in Punjab  which  were  attended  by more  than  2000  participants including  FPOs, Cooperatives, startup, PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society).
4. Kinnow Export Promotion: APEDA is facilitating Kinnow export to Gulf Countries through Retail  Chains  with  improved  packaging  and  marketing.    organized  programmes  connecting exporters  with  importers/buyers  for  the  export  of  kinnow  from  various  districts  in  Punjab, including  Abohar,  Fazilka,  Hoshiarpur,  Fatehgarh  Sahib,  Moga,  and  Bathinda.  Efforts  are underway to open new international markets and negotiate better trade agreements to increase kinnow exports.

Initiatives for implementation of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP): The exporters of Rice have been sensitized on the need for GAP implementation especially for export to destinations such as EU and UK.

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