National
Vegetable, fruit exports dip by 15 per cent
By Saurabh Katkurwar
New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) Exports of fresh fruits and vegetables have slumped by 15 per cent in terms of revenue during April-November 2017, apart from a substantial dip in the export of pulses and wheat.
Low demand and supply of onions, tomatoes, bananas and raisins to the top exporting markets was the major contributing factor, said Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
During the period, the value of fresh fruits and vegetables was Rs 5,416 crore (more than $845 million), a drop of 15 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2016.
The increase in the Minimum Export Price (MEP) of onions to $850 per tonne in the wake of low production has led to the decline in the export, APEDA Chairman D.K. Singh told IANS.
“The share of onions is about 50 per cent of total exports of fresh vegetables. The MEP of onion has led to the fall in its export,” Singh told IANS.
The central government had notified the higher MEP of onions last November to ensure their domestic availability and to discourage cheap exports.
Overall, in terms of volume, vegetable exports declined to 1.60 million tonnes during April-November 2017 from 2.28 million tonnes during the same period in the previous year.
The UAE accounted for 18.3 per cent of the vegetables exports from India and 27.5 per cent of fruits during April-November 2017.
Bangladesh stood second with 12.2 per cent share while Malaysia came third with 11.8 per cent.
Similarly, fruit exports reduced to 368,361 tonnes from 447,612 tonnes in 2016.
The UAE, Bangladesh, Nepal and the US are among the top export countries for India. The UAE has been identified as a major market for Indian fruits and vegetables, followed by Nepal, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
“This year, demand for our vegetables and fruits from Nepal and Bangladesh has gone down. It is also a major reason (for the dip),” Singh said.
Interestingly, exports of processed vegetables and fruits have shown a slight increase in the April-November period of 2017.
Total output of vegetables in 2017-18 is expected to be 180.68 million tonnes as compared to 178.17 million tonnes in 2016-17.
Similarly, production of fruits is estimated to be 94.88 million tonnes as compared to 92.92 million tonnes in 2016-17.
As for pulses and wheat, their export has declined to 87,760 tonnes and 179,699 tonnes , respectively, in April-November 2017 from 91,652 tonnes and 218,494 tonnes a year ago.
The exports of non-Basmati varieties of rice, on the other hand, have increased to 5.57 million tonnes in the period under review from 4.11 million tonnes in the previous year.
(Saurabh Katkurwar can be contacted at [email protected] )
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.