The Government introduced a comprehensive Agriculture Export Policy in December 2018, with the following objectives:

(i) To diversify our export basket, destinations and boost high value and value added agricultural exports, including focus on perishables.

(ii) To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.

(iii) To provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market access, tackling barriers and dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues.

(iv) To strive to double India’s share in world agri exports by integrating with global value chains.

(v) Enable farmers to get benefit of export opportunities in overseas market.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed MoUs with AFC India Limited and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) in August 2020.

The MoU with AFC India Ltd. has been signed for cooperation in the areas of critical technology intervention requirements for organic as well as chemical/ residue free production systems; development of Common Processing Centres; effectively supporting the entire value chain system in clusters identified under the Agriculture Export Policy (AEP); developing pre-production, production, post harvesting, primary processing, secondary processing and transportation/ distribution guidelines for all the stakeholders including farmers to meet international compliances, capacity building of various stakeholders and providing technical support to tribal farmers & groups, federations,  organizations working with farmers.

The MoU with NCUI has been signed for cooperation in the areas of engaging cooperatives involved in agricultural production for improving the quality of agri-produce, its consolidation and export for better price realization to the farmers; facilitating necessary certifications for  agri-produce/ organic produce; capacity development of agri-processing and allied cooperative societies/SHGs; showcasing the products and services being produced/offered by agri-produce/processing cooperatives in the Indian and global markets, etc.

The MoU with AFC India Ltd and NCUI will facilitate the development of clusters identified under the AEP, thus benefiting the farmers in those clusters and promoting agri exports from the country.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha yesterday.

Agriculture export policy promotes export diversification and MoUs to develop clusters, strengthen compliance and benefit farmers. APEDA has signed MoUs with AFC India Limited and the National Cooperative Union of India to implement the Agriculture Export Policy by developing clusters, providing technical interventions for organic and residue free production, establishing common processing centres, issuing end to end value chain guidelines, facilitating certifications, and building capacity of cooperatives, SHGs and tribal farmer groups to enhance export compliance, value addition and farmer price realization.