Question : Organic Food Festival

(a) whether the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) has recently organized Food Festival with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII);

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereof;

(c) whether India ranks 9th in terms of World’s Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers and is fast growing in the organic food segment;

(d) the details of organic products exported by India to different countries during each of the last three years and the current year, country-wise;

(e) the amount of foreign exchange/revenue earned by the Government from the export during the said period; and

(f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen organic branding for the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the Event Partner, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), organised an event titled “National Organic Festival for Women Entrepreneurs” at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi from 21st – 23rd February, 2020. The event included exhibition of organic produce to create awareness about organic food and establishing market linkages and capacity building for the 180 women entrepreneurs and SHGs from 25 States and UTs, who participated in the event. 600 B2B meetings were facilitated for improving the business linkages and empowering the women entrepreneurs.

(c): As per information provided by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India ranks 9th in the area under organic certification. The area under organic cultivation registered in TraceNet for the year 2018-19 was 19,38,220 Ha (including the area under in conversion). There are 12,89,058 farmers registered in TraceNet during 2019. India ranks 1st in terms of number of organic producers.

(d): As per the information provided by APEDA, a statement showing the details of organic produce exported to different countries during the last three years and the current year is enclosed at Annexure.

(e): The amount of foreign exchange/revenue earned for export of certified organic products during the last three years and current, as provided by APEDA, is as follows:-

Year Export (Value) Million USD
2018-19 757
2017-18 516
2016-17 370
2015-16 298

(f): MoFPI, MoWCD and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are taking various steps to strengthen the organic brand for the country including holding of awareness events, organic buyer-seller meets, etc.


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