aPeda expands India’s share with new produces and new markets
Going by export data available for the last three years, the export of fruits and vegetable has seen a respectable rise. Vinod Kaul, DGM, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), provides an update on the recent devel
In 2010-11, the export of fruit and vegetable was worth ` 3,946 crore, and it jumped by 21.96 per cent to ` 4,801 crore in 2011-12. The DGCSI data available for 11 months of 2012-13 shows export of fruits and vegetables at ` 4,774 crore. “This amply shows that Indian fruits and vegetable are in good demand in the international market,” maintained Kaul.
With the objective of boosting horticulture export of perishable horticulture produce, APEDA has been taking initiatives for setting up export-oriented integrated postharvest infrastructure facilities like pack-houses, pre-cooling facilities and Centres for Perishable Cargo (CPCs).
Though 2012 was the first year of 12th Plan Period, APEDA continued its support for various State and Central Government agencies and private exporters in setting up such post harvest infrastructure facilities. APEDA has also been working closely with Ministry of Agriculture for opening up of market access for Indian fruits and vegetables. During the last year, New Zealand and Chile had opened up their markets for Indian mangoes, while the market access for okra, pomegranate and sapota to the Chinese market is nearing final stages. “APEDA continues its support to various State/Central Government agencies and private exporters in augmenting exportoriented cold-chain facilities. The results of such efforts are the positive growth reflected in the export of perishable horticulture produce from the country,” stressed Kaul.
In his opinion, there has been progressive growth in production of horticulture products, specially fruits and vegetables. The Government of India has taken several initiatives in developing the cold-chain infrastructure in the country, which is a massive exercise. However, there is need for much larger coverage and efforts on part of the Government of India are continuing in this direction.
According to him, setting up of the National Centre in Cold Chain Development has been an excellent initiative and the first milestone has been the setting up of standards for various kinds of cold chain facilities in consultation with various stakeholders. “The results of these efforts will soon become widely visible,” he believes.
Programmes afoot
APEDA plans to make further inroads in the area of access in newer markets for fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the direction of APEDA’s efforts in the current year is development of post-harvest infrastructure and training in conjunction with State Governments in control of pesticides residues in horticulture produce.
“Meeting international trade requirements, especially sanitary and photo sanitary (SPS) aspects, has to be the focal point if export of horticulture produce is to further improve,” Kaul said. Keeping in view the growing concerns of importing countries towards fruits and vegetables, wider knowledge dissemination about use of registered and permitted pesticides is the need of the hour. “This is an area where the government and private exporters need to continue working in unison to strengthen and sustain positive growth in the export of perishables from the country. The strengthening of the cold chain infrastructure in the country is another focal point and enough emphasis is being laid on these aspects in the 12th Plan period,” Kaul concluded.