Amid lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic, the export of agri produce such as vegetables, fruits and rice and dairy products and processed foods have been started by India after an intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).
Agriculture and Procecssed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has also informed that many consignments of fresh vegetables have been reaching destinations.
In a statement, APEDA said, “We are open and APEDA’s efforts in pursuing the cause of international trade with the support of all concerned stakeholders’ exports have shown results. The perishable vegetables exported from Mumbai to Germany are being sold at warehouses and supermarkets at Frankfurt.”
The farm export authority further said that farm produce reaching global markets during Covid-19 with APEDA’s effort and with support of stakeholders, export of fresh mangoes and vegetables have started yielding results. Approximately 240 MT of green vegetables reached Germany by April 19, 2020.
Further, according to the APEDA, due to Ramadan and Covid-19 crisis, the demand for Basmati rice has grown and it is expected that 4.4 million tonne of that variety of rice will be exported in this season.
APEDA informed that the Agriculture Ministry has started call centre to facilitate farm transport to coordinate between states for interstate movement of agri goods. Also, the Union government has relaxed the procedure for the exporters of agricultural produce to avail transport and marketing assistance for specified products in view of the Covid-19 outbreak and the lockdown.
The Government of India is a net exporter of agricultural & allied commodities. India’s agricultural and allied exports during 2018-19 were worth Rs 2.73 lakh crore and this sector has always been positive in balance of trade.
The MoA added that export is very important as besides earning precious foreign exchange for the country, agricultural exports help farmers/producers/exporters take advantage of wider international market and increase their income. Exports have also resulted in increased production in agriculture sector by increasing area coverage and productivity.