India has started its export of major farm items such as rice, meat, dairy products and other processed food as the government took steps to resolve issues relating to transportation and packaging amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Union Agriculture Ministry in a statement said exporters’ problems are being resolved by the farm export promotion body Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
“Exports of all major products i.e. rice, groundnut, processed food, meat, poultry, dairy and organic products has started,” the ministry said.
APEDA has put in a lot of efforts and issues related to transportation, curfew passes, and packaging units, which are being resolved, it said.
The ministry said the government has adopted a “flexible approach” and is issuing digital copies of phytosanitary certificates for exports. So far, the government has issued 9,759 phytosanitary certificates for exports, it added.
Further NAFED has exported 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afganistan and 40,000 tonnes of grain to Lebanon under G2G arrangement.
And in reference to imports, the government said that they are accepting digital copies of phytosanitary certificates with undertaking from the importer for submission of original when received.
The ministry further added that about 2,728 consignments were released for imports so far.
It also added that 33 ”Import Permits” for import of pesticides, 309 certificates for export of pesticides and 1,324 certificates to facilitate indigenous manufacturers of pesticides have been issued.
These measures taken by the government is to ensure that the nation’s agriculture sector and its allied sector is not hit hard by the lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19.