On 12th May 2020, Centre set up a new body Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF) to give impetus to rice exports under the aegis of Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority(Apeda).
Key points:
i.The Constitution of Rice Export Promotion Forum has been done considering the importance of exporting rice and inherent the potentials and multifarious issues faced in the exportation.
ii.Basmati and non-basmati varieties are India’s largest commodity of agri-export basket.In 2018-2019 the shipments stood at 7.77 billion USD with 4.72 billion USD by basmati export and 3.05 billion USD by non-basmati.
iii.The Rice Export Promotion Forum will be comprised of representatives from the rice industry, exporters, officials of Apeda, Commerce Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and the Directors of Agriculture from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha who are the major rice producing states.
iv.The identity and anticipated developments in the production and exports and the necessary policy measures will be monitored by the EPF.
v.EPF will facilitate, support and provide solutions to the rice producers, exporters and other relevant stakeholders.
vi.EPF will identify, document the particulars and reach out the stakeholders in the production and supply chain of the rice export and increase the export to the global market.
vii.India was allowed to export non-basmati from 2011 which led India to become the largest exporter of cereals.
viii.The Production rate has been growing steadily in the past several year, From 96 million tonnes in 2010-2011 went upto 117.47 million tonnes in 2019-2020
About Apeda:
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority is an apex body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, responsible for the export promotion of agricultural products.
Chairman- Paban K.Borthakur
Director- Tarun Bajaj
Established- December 1985
Head Office- New Delhi
