Lok Sabha Question No. 2822 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Export of Fruits to Australia
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Chahar, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Devusinh Chauhan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2822 ANSWERED ON 18/03/2025

## EXPORT OF FRUITS TO AUSTRALIA

## 2822.  SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR: SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI

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

(a) the  measures  being  taken  to  expand  exports  of  fresh  fruits  to  Australia  and  other  new markets;

(b) whether there is any scheme for providing specific benefits to  Indian farmers from this trade achievement along with any plan for giving additional support to them;

(c) the initiatives being adopted to ensure that Indian agricultural exports could meet global phytosanitary and quality standards; and

(d) the new strategies being formulated by the Government to enhance cost efficiency of sea shipment of perishable agricultural products?

## 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) & (b) The  Department  of  Commerce  through  the  Agricultural  and  Processed  food products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  provides  financial  assistance  to  its  member exporters, including those exporting to Australia, for export promotion of its Scheduled products, including fruits, through its Financial  Assistance Scheme (FAS). The scheme has the following components:

i. Development of Export Infrastructure ii. Quality Development

iii. Market Development

The details of financial assistance guidelines are available at APEDA's website www.apeda.gov.in under the 'Scheme' tab.

In  addition  to  above,  APEDA  works  in  close  collaboration  with  the  National  Plant  Protection Organization  (NPPO)  for  obtaining  market  access  for  fresh  fruits  in  new  markets,  including  in Australia.  As  a  result,  India  has  achieved  market  access  for  (i)  Indian  Potatoes  and  Onions  in Serbia;  (ii)  Baby  corn  and  fresh  banana  in  Canada;  (iii)Pomegranate  arils  in  Australia,  USA, Serbia, and New Zealand; (iv) Whole pomegranates in Australia via Irradiation treatment.

Further, as trade expands, farmers benefit from increased market opportunities, leading to higher demand  and  better  prices  for  their  produce.  Additionally,  the  Government  of  India  through Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  which  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  for  providing support to the farmers for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector including fruits.

(c) To  ensure  that  Indian  agricultural  exports  can  meet  global  phytosanitary  and  quality standards, the initiatives such as Sensitization/Capacity Building/Training programmes for farmers on  Good  Agricultural  Practices  (GAP),  development  of  Traceability  System,  farm  registration, registration and recognition of packhouses, development and implementation of residue management plan, as  per  importing  country  requirements,  are  being  taken  by  APEDA  in  close coordination  with  stakeholders  like  Directorate  of  Plant  protection,  Quarantine  and  Storage (DPPQ&S)  ,  Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW)  and  the  State Governments.

(d) The Government is focusing on development of the sea protocols for perishable products like  fruits,  which  will  enable  export  of  higher  volumes  to  long  distance  markets,  including Australia, at more  competitive prices. APEDA,  in  collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  under  the  Department  of  Agriculture  Research  and  Education (DARE), has developed sea protocols for exports of Pomegranate and Banana and protocols are being developed for Mango, Pineapple, Ginger and Orange.

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