Lok Sabha Question No. 234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Funds for APEDA
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 234 ANSWERED ON 02/12/2025

## Funds FOR APEDA

## 234. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY

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

- (a) whether  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority (APEDA)  needs  sufficient  budget  to  achieve  its  goals  more  effectively  as  it  can provide  more financial  support,  training,  and  market  access  to  exporters  with  the availability of the same, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to improve technical and financial support to farmers and exporters;
- (c) the plan to provide more advanced and focused training to exporters and farmers regarding international standards, quality control and marketing strategies; and
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  to  make  market  development  schemes  of  APEDA  more effective to help exporters access new international markets?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद )

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

(a) The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is  a  statutory  body  established  under  APEDA  Act,  1985  which  has  been  assigned  the mandate  to  promote the  export  of  its  Scheduled  products  which  includes  17  product categories covering nearly 800 tariff lines of fresh fruits and vegetables, processed food products and animal food products. APEDA is the registered proprietor for Basmati Rice and also functions as the Secretariat for implementation of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) for organic products.

In order to perform the assigned functions with respect to its Scheduled products, adequate funds are required, for which APEDA is working on augmenting its funds and resources through  internal  mobilization,  convergence  with  schemes  of  related  line  Ministries  and Departments of the Government of India and seeking funds from the Government under the upcoming 16 th  Finance Commission Cycle (2026-31).

(b) & (c) To strengthen the capabilities of stakeholders across the agri-export value chain, including farmers, FPOs (Farmers Producers Organization), exporters, APEDA has scaled up  its  training  and  capacity  building  initiative.  Focused  training  and  capacity  building sessions are being undertaken in physical and hybrid mode, in coordination with the State Government  agencies,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras,  ICAR ( Indian Council  of Agricultural Research ), research  institutions,  Agriculture  Universities  and  institutions  like  NIFTEM (National  Institute  of  Food  Technology,  Entrepreneurship  and  Management),  CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) etc. to sensitize on international standards, importing  country  requirements,  Good  Agricultural  Practices,  quality  control,  improved packaging, marketing strategies etc. In the current fiscal, till date, more than 900 training and  capacity  building  sessions  have  been  conducted  across  India,  with  participation  of nearly 1 lakh stakeholders.

(d) APEDA engages with its stakeholders through its headquarters and network of regional offices, on a weekly basis to seek their feedback and resolution of issues. With respect to the  market  development  component,  a  system  of  obtaining  feedback  is  in  place  from participants  (exhibitors,  buyers  etc)  of  trade  fairs,  buyer-seller  meets,  so  as  to  make APEDA's participation more effective. Detailed feedback has also been obtained for all the scheme components, including the market development for amendment and updation of the Scheme and its guidelines in the forthcoming 16 th  Finance Commission cycle (2026-31).

*****