APEDA promotes NER as an agri export hub
Recently ‘APEDA’ (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority-APEDA) has prepared a strategy to promote the North East Region (NER) as an agricultural export hub.
The Northeast region comprises eight states: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
- The soil of this region is fertile,
- The climatic conditions here are favorable,
- The region is rich in forest wealth and biodiversity.
- The sector has an educated workforce and the value of exports of agricultural products reached US$17.2
- Much of this region is exported to Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and Europe. However, only 1% of the region’s total agricultural production is exported.
There are following reasons for this:
- Lack of necessary infrastructure for long-term storage of agricultural products,
- processing industries are not available,
- Issues related to production and its aggregation etc.
Initiatives of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
- Facility to visit the fields is being given to the importers. With this initiative the importers can get direct information about the quality farming practices being adopted by the farmers.
- Capacity building programs are being conducted to increase awareness for exports in different parts of the North Eastern Region.
- Conferences are being organized on the export potential of agricultural products having Natural, Biological and Geographical Indication (GI).
- Assistance is being given for branding and promotion of products of North Eastern Region. Kiwi wine etc are similar products.
- APEDA is a statutory body. It is located in New Delhi. It has been established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act,
Source – The Hindu
