Question : Export of Fruits and Vegetables

(a) whether as per Horticultural Report 2016, India is the second largest producer in the world of fruits and Vegetables and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether India has recently emerged as one of the largest exporter of fruits and vegetables and if so, the details thereof along with the details of fruit and vegetable exports from the country during the last three years and the current year;
(c) whether the export of fruits and vegetables has come down in the current financial year in comparison to previous two years and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has any data of area-specific production of fruits that are exported out of the country particularly from Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken to enhance the exports of fruits and vegetables from the country;
(e) whether the Government is contemplating to provide assistance to the grapes farmers especially to those belonging to Nasik district for direct export to foreign countries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) whether various countries have stopped the import of a number of fruits and vegetables from India or issued any warning in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) As per ‘Horticultural Statistics at a Glance 2016’, published by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, India is the second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world. As per FAOSTAT data for the year 2014, India’s share in the production of Fruits (excluding Melons) was 12.83% and for production of Vegetables & Melons, India’s share was 10.82%.




(b) India is not a major exporter of fruits and vegetables. As per UN COMTRADE data for 2016, India’s share of world export of fruits and vegetables was only about 1.5%. Details of India’s exports of fruits and vegetables, during the last three years and the current year, are as under:

Value in USD Million
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (Apr - May 2017)
Commodity Unit Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
Fruits / Vegetable Seeds Kgs 12499306 69.96 13104108 80.89 11638461 78.86 1053564 21.92
Fresh Fruits Ton 539227 516.26 654659 635.49 820317 750.90 176026 166.99
Fresh Vegetables Ton 2081802 763.24 2104359 799.93 3389795 860.29 497737 120.63
Grand Total 1349.46 1516.31 1690.05 309.54
Source: DGCI&S

(c) Comparison of India’s exports of fruits & vegetables during the current year (Apr – May 2017), with the exports for the corresponding periods during the previous two years, is as under:
Value in USD Million
2015-16 (Apr-May 2015) 2016-17 (Apr-May 2016) 2017-18 (Apr-May 2017)
245.89 293.38 309.54
Source: DGCI&S

The value of exports during the current year (Apr-May 2017) has increased as compared to the corresponding periods during the previous two years.

(d) State-wise data for exports is not maintained. Promoting exports of fruits and vegetables is a continuous process. The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an autonomous organisation under the administrative control of Department of Commerce, has been mandated with the export promotion of fruits and vegetables. APEDA has been providing assistance to the exporters of fruits and vegetables under the various components of its scheme ‘Agriculture Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA’. Continuous efforts are also being made to gain market access in various countries for opening up of new markets.

(e) The assistance provided by APEDA is available to all the exporters of fruits and vegetables, including farmers looking to directly export their produce.

(f) At present, there is no instance of any country having stopped the import of fruits and vegetables from India. In the past, EU had placed a ban on import of mangos and four vegetables from India w.e.f. 1st May 2014 due to detection of harmful pests. Due to corrective action taken by India, the ban has been revoked – w.e.f. 5th February 2015 for mangos and w.e.f. 31st December 2016 for the four vegetables. Saudi Arabia had imposed a ban on import of green chillies from India w.e.f. 30th May 2014 due to detection of agrochemicals i.e. pesticides above the maximum residue limits. Due to corrective action taken by India, the temporary ban was lifted w.e.f. 13th January 2016.
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