Foreign buyers from leading countries like China, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, and European Union have shown keen interest in Indian organic food products to cater to increasing consumption levels in their own countries.
Foreign buyers from several countries including 50 buyers invited by Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) currently visiting the ongoing three-day Biofach 2018, the largest organic event of the country, are showing great interest in Indian organic products like - tea, spices, honey, basmati rice, coffee, cereals, dry fruits and vegetables etc.
Paban K Borthakur, Chairman, APEDA told that “Apart from showing interest in Indian organic products foreigner customers are also interacting with Indian companies and farmers and exchanging information, resources and knowledge about agricultural practices. They have suggested that in order to trade globally, the three factors that Indian farmers needed to consider were quality, quantity and price point”.
Borthakur added that “Apart from organic food items foreign buyers are also showing interest in nonfood products including beauty and health and personal care products. The major demand under organic product category is for flax seeds, sesame and soybean; for pulses such as arhar chana and rice besides tea and medicinal plants.”
APEDA has also stressed on the need of bridging the existing gap between Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture to further boost agri exports from the country. Borthakur said, “An integrated approach and better cooperation is needed among the two union ministries for boosting agriculture production and trade, increase export of organic food products as well as to double Agri-exports to US $60 billion by 2022 from current US $38 billion”.
APEDA plays pivotal role in developing the database of the mandated products, markets, services, and distribution of related information to exporters. The authority extends financial assistance under its Agriculture and promotion Plan Scheme for various components like Market Development, Infrastructure Development and Quality Development. India’s domestic agricultural policies are largely aimed at food security and price stabilization and often put export restrictions to control food inflation.
India exported organic products worth USD 515 million (INR 3453 crore) in the year 2017-18, From USD 370 million (INR 2727 CRORE) in the year 2016-17 thus Registering an increase of 39 per cent . The total volume of export during 2017-18 was 4.58 lakh Metric Tonne. The organic food export realization was around INR 3453 crore (515 million USD). Organic products are exported to countries such as USA, European Union, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Japan.
