What Is NER Agri Export Strategy

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The News

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), a body under ministry of commerce and industry has devised a strategy to promote Export of Agricultural and Horticulture products grown in North-Eastern (NE) states.

Assam and the other states of North East Region have a favourable climate condition and the soil type for growing almost all agricultural and horticultural crops.

Due to efforts of APEDA there has been a significant increase in the export of agricultural produce from NE states like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Meghalaya in the last few years.
The NE region witnessed an 34 % growth in the export of agricultural products in the last 6 years as it increased from $2.52 million in 2016-17 to $17.2 million in 2021-22.
The major destination of export has been Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Middle East, the UK and Europe.

Capacity Building Programmes
- In the last three years, APEDA organised 136 capacity building programmes on export awareness across the different parts of NER.
- Highest, 62 capacity building programmes were held in NER in 2019-20, while 21 in 2020-21 and 53 such programmes were organised by APEDA in the year 2021-22.
- APEDA has also signed an MoU with Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat to conduct various training programmes on pre-harvest and post-harvest management and other research activities.

Market Linkages
- To provide potential market linkages, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development and Authority (APEDA), organised field visits of importers to have first-hand information about the qualitative cultivation practices being followed by farmers.
- Importers were mostly the Middle East, far Eastern countries, and European nations and Australia, etc. In last 3 years, APEDA facilitated 22 International Buyer-Seller Meets as well as trade fairs in NER.
- Note: During Covid-19 period, APEDA continued to push its export plans through Virtual Buyer Seller Meets

Promotion of GI
- APEDA organized conference on the Export Potential of Natural, Organic and Geographical Indications (GI) Agro Products in Guwahati on June 24, 2022 to tap the abundant export potential of organic agricultural products from Assam and neighbouring states of NER.
- It has promoted GI products from NER like Bhut Jolokia, Assam Lemon, Manipur’s Kachai champra etc

Branding & Quality checks
- APEDA extended support for branding and promotion of North East products such as KIWI Wine, processed foods, Wet sampling of Joha Rice Pulao, Black Rice kheer etc.
- APEDA also facilitated a workshop on Food Quality and Safety Management for Export of Processed Food Products from NER at Ri Bhoi in Meghalaya and Dibrugarh in Assam.

New products to New markets
- With the APEDA’s intervention
  - Tripura’s Jack fruit was exported to London
  - Nagaland’s King Chilli was exported to London
  - Assam’s local fruit called Leteku (Burmese Grape) was exported to Dubai
  - Assam’s Betel leaves exported to Europe
- APEDA also organised a training programme on the promotion of organic pork export from Sikkim through organic certification.

Despite 85% growth in agri exports in last 6 years, mere 1-2% agricultural output of NER is exported.
The region still suffers from multiple issues like
- Production & aggregation issues
- Nascent food processing industries
- Connectivity issues
- Lack of infrastructure
- Frequent floods etc