NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXPORT POLICY PENDING IN CABINET

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXPORT POLICY PENDING IN CABINET

1 News

• A draft National Agricultural Export Policy has been released by the Commerce Ministry.

2. Objective of the policy

• Double farmer income by 2022
• The goal is to increasing the share of agricultural exports from present about USD 30 billion to over USD 60 billion.
• To make the country in top 10 places in exporting agricultural products in the world

3. Draft proposal

Barring essential agricultural commodities, no other commodity will be placed under export restriction

• To remove minimum export price (MEP), export duty and export ban on agricultural products, exception will be given to essential commodities.
• Common portal should be established for all rejected agricultural commodities by foreign countries.
• Export promotion councils, commodity boards and industry association, will act as a forum to rationalize APMC act and MANDI fees.
• Development of export centric clusters.
• Promoting value added products through incentives.
• Marketing and promotion of geographical indication (GI) commodities for exports.
• Strengthening post-harvest infrastructure for logistical movement of agricultural commodity.
• Promoting R&D activities for new product development for the upcoming markets.
• Dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues are also the priorities.
• Policy made a case for promoting contract farming as it would help in attracting investments.