Question : PROMOTION OF AGRO PRODUCTS

(a) the steps taken by the Government to increase its share in the international agricultural produce market;

(b) whether the Government are contemplating to make changes in its domestic agricultural policy keeping in view of the initiation of free trade in the international agro product market;

(c) whether the Government propose to raise demand about lifting of protective duty or non-duty sanctions imposed by the developed countries so as to boost exports of agro products from the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

(SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)

(a) The steps taken/being taken to boost the export of agricultural produce and products include the following:

1. Providing assistance for raising small and large nurseries for production of good quality planting material, upgradation of technical knowhow of farmers through demonstrations, trainings and publicity, rejuvenation of old orchards area expansion, supply of minikits for vegetables, improving productivity and training of farmers;

2. Grant of financial assistance for improved packaging, strengthening of quality control and modernization of processing units;

3. Establishment of vapour heat treatment facilities for eliminating pest incubation in the product, especially in mangoes for gaining greater access to overseas markets;

4. Grant of Air Freight Subsidy for exports of floricultural items and select fresh fruits and vegetables;

5. Arranging promotional campaigns such as buyer-seller meets and participation in important international fairs and exhibitions;

6. Setting up of integrated cargo handling and cold storage facilities at various International Airports for handling exports of perishable items such as flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables;

7. Providing assistance for development of data base and dissemination of market information;

8. Providing assistance for setting up of laboratories for testing of products to ensure quality, eliminating contamination and ensuring freedom from fungi and bacteria;

(b): Efforts are being made on a continuous basis through various programmes and policies to increase agricultural production and productivity for meeting domestic demand as well as for generating surpluses for exports.

(c) & (d): As per the mandate of article 20 of the W.T.O. Agreement on Agriculture, negotiations to further reform International trade in agricultural products have commenced this year. One of the main issues which India is to highlight is the high tariffs prevalent in certain developed country trading partners on items of export interest to developing countries including India. The substantial scaling down of high tariff peaks and reduction in tariff escalation which affects value added agro-products exports is high on India`s agenda for the ongoing negotiations on the Agreement on Agriculture

It has also been observed that certain developed countries apply non-tariff barriers on agro exports in the form of sanitary and phyto sanitary standards, which are sometimes beyond the international norms, without adequate scientific justification. India has been consistently highlighting this problem and will continue to do so in the relevant multilateral fora as well as during the negotiations on the Agreement on Agriculture.