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AGRO AND PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS EXPORTS TOUCH RECORD TURNOVER OF RS.
13827 CRORE
AGRI EXPORTS TO AUGMENT INCOME OF FARMERS
JAITLEY GIVES AWAY APEDA EXPORT AWARDS
Date : 24 Dec 2003
Location : New Delhi
Agricultural and Processed food products exports from India have registered a record turnover of Rs. 13827.95 crore with an impressive growth of 35% during the year 2002-03. This was stated by Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Law & Justice, while giving away the APEDA export awards here today. While complimenting the exporting community for their excellent performance, Shri Jaitley stressed the need to increase India’s share in the world agricultural trade, which is a mere 1.2% presently. "For that to happen, we have to push aggressively in the world market. Agri exports can and should augment the income of farmers", he said. Shri J. Vasudevan, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing, Shri S. N. Menon, Special Secretary, Department of Commerce and Shri K. S. Money, Chairman, APEDA were present at the function along with award winners and representatives of trade and industry.
Referring to agriculture as a sensitive issue for the developing countries in the ongoing WTO negotiations, Shri Jaitley said that there was no level playing field between the farmers of developing countries and that of developed countries. "That is where the struggle of developing countries regarding agriculture is in the WTO negotiations", he added. The Minister said that one of the challenges of globalisation was how to connect Indian farmers to the world market. "In other sectors of the economy the benefits of globalisation are increasingly being felt. India is world leader in the services sector and manufacturing sector also is picking up", he said and added that the benefits had to reach the rural India in terms of increase in income levels so as to get the mass support for the process of economic reforms. Shri Jaitley referred to many government policies and programmes, like Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) connecting 8 lakh villages through pacca roads, which would create necessary infrastructure to make agriculture sector more competitive.
Shri Jaitley presented the Golden Trophy award to Allanasons Ltd. Mumbai, for excellent performance in export promotion, product safety, quality and packaging. The Silver Trophies were presented to KRBL Ltd., New Delhi, Shivnath Rai Harnarain (India) Ltd., New Delhi, PKS Ltd., New Delhi. Bronze Trophy was awarded to Satnam Overseas Ltd., New Delhi, Sunstar Overseas Ltd., New Delhi, V. K. Udyog Ltd., New Delhi. Certificates of Merit were presented to Emmsons International Ltd., New Delhi, Amira Foods (India) Ltd., New Delhi and Krishna Traders, Kolkata.
Shri Money in his speech said that one integrated food law when introduced and futures trading in commodities would make India’s agriculture sector more competitive. He said that APEDA was carrying out many activities on the quality front to improve the market share of Indian agriculture products in the world market.
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