Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

12-December-2012 17:38 IST

The Government’s policy on export of agriculture produce depends upon various factors including stocks of agriculture products available in the country, surplus over and above the buffer stock norm and strategic reserve requirements, if any, the concerns of food security, availability of agriculture products to common man at reasonable prices and remunerative returns to the grower and price competitiveness in the international market etc.

Increase in export of agricultural products is a result of continuous encouragement of exports by taking number of steps, which include incentives and financial assistance under Plan Schemes of the Commodity Board, Authority and Export Promotion Councils. Besides this, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has put in place various schemes namely Market Development Assistance (MDA), Market Assistance Initiative (MAI), Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities(ASIDE), Vishesh Krishi and Gram Upaj Yojana, Focus Product Scheme, Focus Market Scheme, Town of Export Excellence, etc. to provide assistance to encourage exports. Trade delegations are also mounted to penetrate foreign markets and Buyer –Seller Meets are organized to assist the potential exports.

The overall average price realisation for export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) scheduled agri products for 1990-91, 2009-10 and 2011-12 were Rs.9336.29 per ton, Rs.31155.65 per ton and Rs.41634.69 per ton respectively.

The overall average price realisation of APEDA schedule agri products during 1990-91 to 1994-95 and 2007-08 to 2011-12 were Rs.11932.09 per ton and Rs.30814.27 per ton respectively. The average quantity of export of APEDA schedule agri products during the aforesaid period were 8789920.37 ton and 75528702.75 ton respectively.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Dr. D. Purandeswari in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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DS/RK

Export policy for agricultural products promotes increased exports through targeted assistance schemes and market development measures. Government export policy for agricultural produce balances domestic food security and grower remuneration with international competitiveness by calibrating exports according to available stocks, surplus over buffer norms and strategic reserve needs. To encourage agro-exports the Ministry implements targeted assistance and promotional measures including Market Development Assistance, ASIDE, Vishesh Krishi and Gram Upaj Yojana, Focus Product and Focus Market Schemes, infrastructure support and market access activities.