The first paragraph of the anticipated article:
India is set to make its mark in the international organic products market, with the first export consignment of Himalayan-grown millets set to be dispatched to Denmark. The shipment comprises ragi (finger millet) and jhingora (barnyard millet), collected from farmers residing in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The governing body behind this enterprise is the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Currently, domestic organic commodities are subject to export only if their production, processing, packaging, and labelling are in compliance with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)’s guidelines.
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
Initiated in 2001 under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act, 1992, NPOP is directed by APEDA. The programme presides over standards for crops, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, apiculture, and other commodities. NPOP certification is acknowledged by European Union, Switzerland and post-Brexit United Kingdom, enabling unprocessed plant exports without additional certifications. The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) also gives credence to NPOP for local organic product trade. Importantly, those products validated under the NPOP don’t require re-certification prior to import to India.
Organic Farming as Defined by FSSAI
The FSSAI defines ‘organic farming’ as a farming design system that encourages agricultural production without resorting to synthetic additives like chemical fertilisers, pesticides, synthetic hormones, or Genetically Modified Organisms.
Supportive Initiatives for Organic Farming
Several initiatives such as Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) have been undertaken to promote organic farming. Sikkim, the first state to go completely organic, has received global recognition, bagging the UN’s Future Policy Gold Award 2018.
Trends in India’s Organic Food Exports
India has seen a significant increase in the export of organic food products in the past year. From April 2020 to February 2021, organic food exports surged by more than 51% amounting to Rs. 7078 crore, when juxtaposed with the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year. In terms of quantity, the exports grew by 39%. Major export commodities include oil cake meal, oil seeds, fruit pulps, purees, cereals & millets, spices, tea, medicinal plant products, dry fruits, sugar, pulses, coffee, essential oils, and more. These products cater to 58 countries globally including the USA, the European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Switzerland, Israel, and South Korea.
Overview of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
The Government of India set up APEDA under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. This body operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and functions out of New Delhi. Its primary role is to facilitate and encourage the export of scheduled products like fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, among others. The monitoring of imported sugar also falls under its purview.
