To increase the country?s tiny share in the global agricultural and processed food market, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is eyeing former countries of the former Soviet Republic, particularly Russia, for export of fresh vegetables and meat. A series of discussions have been held with Russian authorities for dealing with issues concerning food safety, sanitary and phyto-sanitary restrictions. Representatives of the Russian government have already visited export facilities for taking stock of hygiene and other standards.
?Because of the physical proximity, we are targeting to increase exports of fresh vegetables and meat to Russia and other CIS countries,? Asit Tripathy, chairman, APEDA, told FE. Russia has been imposing restrictions on import of food items from various countries periodically. Russian veterinary services had placed severe import restrictions on Norwegian pelagic fish, poultry products from the US and meat from the United Kingdom in the last few years.
Tripathy said that APEDA has initiated processes relating to promulgating the protocol for the exports to Russia and other CIS countries for fresh vegetables and meat. ?There are lots of non-tariff barriers in many countries about import of food items, thus it is long-drawn and time-consuming,? he said.
According to APEDA, exports of agriculture and processed food products are expected to be Rs 26,900 crore during 2008-09, up from Rs 24,384 crore in 2007-08, an increase of over 10%. However, exports to CIS countries are only about Rs 400 crore. India?s share in the global trade of agri processed products is only about 1.6 %. Only 15 countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom , Bangladesh, South Africa account for more than 63% of the country?s export of fruits, vegetables and other agric products.
Major importers of Indian agri-products such as mango, onion and basmati rice are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Italy, and Germany.