APEDA to equip states with infra to boost agri exports
Updated: Jun 16, 2014 12:56:36pm
New Delhi, Jun 16 (KNN) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is planning to conduct a study to identify state specific infrastructural needs specifically in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and other states for providing an impetus to agriculture export.
The study will also cover and identify problems faced by agri exporters in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
APEDA is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The country’s agro exports during 2013–14 touched USD 45 billion. India is among the 10 leading exporters of agricultural products in the world with the country accounting for 2.07 per cent of global agricultural trade in 2012. Total agricultural exports from India expanded at a CAGR of 25.2 per cent (to USD 39 billion) over FY07-12.
The aim of the study is to build a profitable business in Indian food export market by providing quality products and services to consumers on a global level, APEDA said.
Notwithstanding the advantage of primary production, India lags behind in the export of agricultural products due to various reasons including inadequacy of general infrastructure, post-harvest infrastructure scale of operation, high freight cost, price fluctuations, predominance of unorganised sector, lack of implementation of quality and food safety management systems (HACCP, GAP, GMP, etc.), absence of adequate backward linkages and low technology of processing facilities.
While efforts are being made to improve the situation, that is likely to take some time. In the meantime, competing countries are progressing on all these fronts at a rapid pace. India, despite being one of the largest producers of agriculture products, has only about 1.5 per cent share of the world food trade. Emerging demand for food offers a great opportunity for export in international market.
India is facing stiff competition from other countries in terms of agricultural export. Exporting competitors in the world are adapting to the latest technology for horticulture and processed food products which may become a decisive factor for the future competition. Further, in recent years the demand for quality processed food; organic food and health food along with attractive packaging has increased significantly. Therefore, for India the interventions are required in the not only in the production sector, but also in the related sub-sectors of agriculture like, infrastructure, quality, logistics, packaging, marketing, etc.
Presently in India nearly one third of the primary produce like fruits and vegetables etc. are wasted before it reaches to the market due to lack of proper post-harvest infrastructure and processing. An efficient agriculture infrastructure not only reduces the wastage, but also enhances the quality of produce and agricultural exports from India. In recent years, government has offered various schemes and policies which could provide impetus to these initiatives, but special importance is given to the agri-infrastructure sector in India.
For India to garner a larger, more lucrative share of world trade, it is essential that focus is shifted from commodity trading to value-added products in fresh and processed food; increase scale of operations, extend supply chain to international ports and invest in the supply chain on the domestic side.
Keeping in view these facts, APEDA proposes to undertake a detailed study in identified states to find the need of state specific infrastructural requirements which could provide impetus to agriculture export from India. (KNN/ES)
The study will also cover and identify problems faced by agri exporters in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
APEDA is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The country’s agro exports during 2013–14 touched USD 45 billion. India is among the 10 leading exporters of agricultural products in the world with the country accounting for 2.07 per cent of global agricultural trade in 2012. Total agricultural exports from India expanded at a CAGR of 25.2 per cent (to USD 39 billion) over FY07-12.
The aim of the study is to build a profitable business in Indian food export market by providing quality products and services to consumers on a global level, APEDA said.
Notwithstanding the advantage of primary production, India lags behind in the export of agricultural products due to various reasons including inadequacy of general infrastructure, post-harvest infrastructure scale of operation, high freight cost, price fluctuations, predominance of unorganised sector, lack of implementation of quality and food safety management systems (HACCP, GAP, GMP, etc.), absence of adequate backward linkages and low technology of processing facilities.
While efforts are being made to improve the situation, that is likely to take some time. In the meantime, competing countries are progressing on all these fronts at a rapid pace. India, despite being one of the largest producers of agriculture products, has only about 1.5 per cent share of the world food trade. Emerging demand for food offers a great opportunity for export in international market.
India is facing stiff competition from other countries in terms of agricultural export. Exporting competitors in the world are adapting to the latest technology for horticulture and processed food products which may become a decisive factor for the future competition. Further, in recent years the demand for quality processed food; organic food and health food along with attractive packaging has increased significantly. Therefore, for India the interventions are required in the not only in the production sector, but also in the related sub-sectors of agriculture like, infrastructure, quality, logistics, packaging, marketing, etc.
Presently in India nearly one third of the primary produce like fruits and vegetables etc. are wasted before it reaches to the market due to lack of proper post-harvest infrastructure and processing. An efficient agriculture infrastructure not only reduces the wastage, but also enhances the quality of produce and agricultural exports from India. In recent years, government has offered various schemes and policies which could provide impetus to these initiatives, but special importance is given to the agri-infrastructure sector in India.
For India to garner a larger, more lucrative share of world trade, it is essential that focus is shifted from commodity trading to value-added products in fresh and processed food; increase scale of operations, extend supply chain to international ports and invest in the supply chain on the domestic side.
Keeping in view these facts, APEDA proposes to undertake a detailed study in identified states to find the need of state specific infrastructural requirements which could provide impetus to agriculture export from India. (KNN/ES)
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