Rice other than Basmati - Increase in exports

•   While basmati exports have traditionally been India’s forte, of late, the rice other than basmati varieties has also picked up in the financial year 2020-21.
•   One big reason for the above was India could offer these varieties at competitive prices to the global market amidst the spread of Corona. Another driver was the demand from African and Asian countries during Covid.
•   The country has exported ~13 MT of Non-Basmati Rice to the world for the worth of Rs. 35,476.61 Crores/4,799.91 USD Millions during the year 2020-21. The same is expected to cross 17 million tons in FY22. 
•   Non-Basmati rice exports have recorded a 51.8% rise between April and December last year, over the previous year’s corresponding period, due to high purchases made by China and Bangladesh. 
•   Major Export Destinations (2020-21): Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Somalia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Togo, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Russia

 

Black rice exports increase

•  Today, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Karnataka, UP are all cultivating this nutrient-dense rice and boosting their farm incomes considerably. 

•  The same is exported to Australia, UK, USA, Thailand, Denmark, and Malaysia among others.

• The Central government has distributed 750 quintals of black rice seeds to farmers in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys of Assam.

• In late 2019, a farmer in Prayagraj, reading about the medicinal benefits of black rice decided to cultivate the black paddy as an experiment. He did so successfully and for the first time in Uttar Pradesh (UP) black rice was grown. Since then, many farmers in UP have jumped on the wagon to earn a pretty penny.

•  Recently, a group of 300 farmers in UP’s Chandauli district – known as the rice bowl of eastern UP – not only harvested 900 quintals of black rice efficaciously, but are also priming their produce for exports

•  APEDA organized a formal meeting between the exporter and farmers in Chandauli district so that the farmers could directly negotiate with the exporters. The effort paid off. The initial exports are slated for Australia and New Zealand and then to other countries. APEDA is now motivating more farmers to grow black rice because the soil in Chandauli district is particularly favorable to paddy farming.

Fresh fruits and vegetables (increase in exports)

• During 2020-21, India exported fruits and vegetables worth Rs. 9,940.95 crores/ 1,342.14 USD Millions which comprised of fruits worth Rs. 4,971.22 crores/ 674.53 USD Millions and vegetables worth Rs. 4,969.73 crores/ 667.61 USD Millions.  A Growth of ~12% was witnessed YoY.

• Grapes, Pomegranates, Mangoes, Bananas, Oranges account for a larger portion of fruits exported from the country while Onions, Mixed Vegetables, Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Green Chilly contribute largely to the vegetable export basket.

• The major destinations for Indian fruits and vegetables are Bangladesh, UAE, Netherland, Nepal, Malaysia, UK, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Qatar.

• Exports have improved due to concurrent developments in the areas of state-of-the-art cold chain infrastructure and quality assurance measures. Apart from large investment pumped in by the private sector, the public sector has also taken initiatives and with APEDA's assistance several Centers for Perishable Cargoes and integrated post-harvest handling facilities have been set up in the country. Capacity building initiatives at the farmers, processors and exporters' levels has also contributed towards this effort.

World’s most delicious Apricot from Ladakh to supermarkets of Dubai

• In a major boost to agricultural products export potential, first commercial shipment of Halman variety of Apricots from UT of Ladakh was exported to Dubai. Apricots were exported by APEDA registered M/s Fair exports, Mumbai & imported by M/s Lulu group, Dubai. These royalty fruit born and raised by 
• farmers in the difficult terrain of Kargil and Leh. HALMAN is the sweetest, most deliciously & flavorful apricot in the world, grown without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. 

Major surge in India’s Wheat Exports

• In a major boost to India’s agricultural products export potential, India recorded a huge surge of 387 per cent from USD 1742 million during April-January 2021-22, over the corresponding period in 2020-21 with USD 340.17 million. This directly impacts the livelihood of thousands of farmers from northern and central India, majorly Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat. 
• In recent years, India has successfully tapped into new markets such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Qatar, and Indonesia. The constant efforts of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Commerce has led to improved infrastructure for facilitating seamless wheat export. 

• • Organically certified Moringa Leaves powder (2 MT) has been shipped on 29th December 2020 from the processing unit located at Sangareddy district, Telangana to USA.


• Export of seven unique value-added products of Moringa (6 MT) and Vacuum Freeze-Dried Ethnic Village rice (4MT) took place from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu to multiple destinations of Australia, Vietnam, and Ghana on 26th February 2021. Subsequently, two commercial consignments of the patented ‘village rice’ (4.50 MT) sourced from Kumbakonam was exported on 29 May 2021 to Ghana & Yemen via air & sea routes respectively.


• The first consignment of Red Rice (40MT) was shipped to the USA by sea. Iron rich ‘Red rice’ grown in Brahmaputra valley, Assam (referred to as Bao-dhaan) was exported from Sonepat, Haryana on 04th March 2021.


• Flavored jaggery powder (4MT) was exported from Navi Mumbai to the USA through sea route for the first time on 24th February 2021.


• The first consignment of millets grown in the Himalayas; Uttarakhand has been exported to Denmark. APEDA in collaboration with Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board (UKAPMB) & Just Organik, an exporter, has sourced & processed Ragi (finger millet) and Jhingora (barnyard millet) from farmers which meet the Organic certification standards of European Union.


• In the current season, a consignment of Banganapalli (GI certified) & Suvarnarekha mangoes (2.5 MTs) sourced from farmers in Krishna & Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh was exported to South Korea on 06 May, 2021. The mangoes were treated, 



• processed & shipped from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh and exported by IFFCO Kisan SEZ (IKSEZ). This was followed by three more consignments which got cleared by PQ agency, South Korea.


• An air consignment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Dahanu Gholvad Sapota (200kg) sourced from GI registered farmers in Dahanu-Gholvad taluka of Palghar district of Maharashtra was exported to the UK on 19 May, 2021.

• • The first consignment of Shahi Litchi from Bihar was exported to the United Kingdom by air route on 24 May, 2021. 
  
  
  • Fresh jackfruit (1.2 MT) was exported from Tripura to London by air. Jackfruits were sourced from the Tripura based FPO. The consignment was packed at the first APEDA assisted pack house in NER, which was approved in May 2021. Another consignment (1.6 MT) was shipped to London in July 2021.
  
  
  • A sea consignment of value-added products of organically certified gluten free jackfruit powder & retort packed jackfruit cubes (10.20 MT) was exported to Germany from Bengaluru on 25 May, 2021.
  
  
  • Exports of Saffron and dry fruits from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to Saudi Arabian FMCG LuLu Group International have already been channelized along with sending samples.
  
  
  • A consignment of Jamun fruit (black plum-500kgs) has been sent to London by air for the first time from Lucknow, U.P. on 05 June 2021.
  
  
  • A consignment of groundnuts (24 MT) was exported to Nepal from West Bengal for the first time by road on 07 June 2021. The consignment was sourced from farmers of West Midnapore district of West Bengal.
  
  
  • A week-long Indian mango promotion programme was organized in Bahrain where 16 varieties of the fruit including three GI certified Khirsapati & Laxman Bhog (West Bengal) and Zardalu (Bihar) were displayed at 13 retail stores of importer Al Jazeera group. Earlier the 16 varieties of mango were consolidated and shipped from Kolkata to Bahrain by air on 08 June 2021.
  
  
  • The export of Marathwada Kesar Mango (GI) (1.20MT) from Aurangabad to the UK by air took place on 10 June 2021.
  
  
  • The first commercial shipment of Bhagalpuri Zardalu mango (GI) procured from Bihar was processed at Lucknow packhouse and shipped to London, UK by air on 14 June 2021.
  
  

• • The first sea shipment of GI variety Jalgaon banana (22MT) procured from Jalgaon cluster district was exported to Dubai on 14 June 2021.
  
  
  • The first commercial air shipment of Nendran banana (700 kgs) procured from Thrissur cluster district was exported to Singapore on 21 June 2021.
  
  
  • The first export shipment of Dragon fruit sourced from Sangli; Maharashtra was dispatched to Dubai by air on 25 June 2021.
  
  
  • A shipment of fresh Burmese grapes (0.5 MT) has been exported from Assam to Dubai. The exotic fruit was sourced from the Darang district of Assam and exported from Guwahati airport to Dubai via Delhi on 26 June 2021.
  
  
  • The first commercial export shipment of Mishri variety Cherries from the Kashmir valley, Srinagar to Dubai was sent on 05 July 2021.
  
  
  • Two shipments of GI tag Madurai Malli (jasmine) and other traditional flowers were exported to the USA (1.5 MT) and Sharjah (2 MT) by air on 06 July 2021. 
  
  
  • The first shipment of GI wheat variety from Gujarat, Bhalia Wheat was exported to Kenya (1 MT) and Srilanka (3 MT) by sea on 07 July 2021.
  
  
  • In yet another initiative to promote lesser-known mango varieties of Eastern region (some of them bearing GI tag), APEDA organized a Promotion Program for Mangoes from the Eastern Region of India at Doha, Qatar in association with EoI, Qatar. Eight varieties of mangoes procured from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were sent by the exporter and showcased at 2 of the stores of the importer on 07 July 2021.
  
  

• • The first commercial shipment of Fazli mango (GI variety) was exported from Kolkata to Bahrain on 10 July 2021.
  
  
  • Exports of Herbal and Medicinal Plants (3MT) to Germany from Tamil Nadu took place on 15 July 2021.
  
  
  • Fresh jackfruit (1MT) was exported from Tripura to Germany by air on 16 July 2021 after sourcing the produce from the Tripura based FPO.
  
  
  • A commercial consignment of mix vegetables (2MT) has been sent to Dubai for the first time from Uttarakhand to Dubai by air on 24 July 2021.
  
  
  • A shipment of 203Kg of fresh King Chilli (GI) was exported from Nagaland (Tening, Peren District) to London via Guwahati by air on 28 July 2021.
  
  
  • The export shipment of Dragon fruit (1MT) sourced from Bharuch, Gujarat was dispatched to London by air on 03 August 2021.
  
  
  • A consignment of dehydrated Mahua flowers (9MT) was exported via sea through JNPT, Navi Mumbai from Chhattisgarh to France on 11 August 2021. The produce was sourced from forest region in Korba district, Chhattisgarh & processed by APEDA registered exporter.
  
  
  • For boosting income of small ruminant farmers, a consignment of processed Himalayan Goat meat sourced from villages of Uttarakhand hills was exported to Dubai, UAE on 11 August 2021. The goats were sourced by Uttarakhand’s apex cooperative federation for sheep and goat farmers and processed by APEDA registered exporter.
  
  

• • APEDA facilitated dragon fruit exports from West Bengal and organized a dragon fruit promotion programme for the Saudi Arabia market in association with a leading retailer, Lulu group international on 11 August 2021.
  
  
  • With the support of HPMC, an air consignment of Himachal Apples (600kg consisting of five varieties) was shipped from Kolkata to Bahrain on 12 August 2021.
  
  
  • In a move which could boost agricultural and food products exports from Ladakh, the first commercial shipment of Apricot sourced from Kargil region of UT of Ladakh has been exported to Dubai on 01 September 2021.
  
  
  • In an effort to promote indigenous & GI tagged products, first consignment of GI tagged sweet dish Mihidana sourced from Bardhaman, West Bengal has been exported to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 01 September 2021.
  
  
  • The first ever Export consignment of Sitabhog (GI tagged) of Bardhaman, Langcha, Chandrapuli and NarkelNaru (Coconut & Jaggery laddu) to the Kingdom of Bahrain on 05 October 2021.
  
  
  • A shipment of Jackfruit value added products, passion fruit, nutmeg (1MT) was exported from Thrissur, Kerala to Melbourne, Australia on 05 October 2021. Further, a shipment of value-added products of jackfruit was exported to New Zealand & USA on 12 October 2021.
  
  
  • A sea consignment of two containers (40MT) of fresh banana procured from the farmers at Lakhimpur, has been shipped from the Lucknow packhouse to Iran for the first time on 14 October 2021.
  
  
  • The export consignment having five regional varieties of rice from Gujarat & Maharashtra was facilitated for being shipped to London, UK on 14 October 2021.
  
  

• • A sea consignment of Instant drinking chocolate powder from New Mangalore Port to Morovia, Liberia was exported on 25 October 2021.
  
  
  • The first air consignment of fresh vegetables was shipped from Pakur, Jharkhand to Doha, Qatar on 26 October 2021.
  
  
  • Subsequent to a BSM organized between potential orange growers and exporters, a shipment of fresh oranges (24MT) sourced from Pandhurna, Chhindwara cluster (MP) was exported to Bangladesh by road on 18 November 2021.
  
  
  • An air shipment (2MT) of mixed vegetables, gucchi, almonds, walnuts, saffron and aromatic rice (Mushk Budji) was facilitated for being exported from Srinagar to M/s Lulu, Dubai on 04 December 2021.
  
  
  • The first air consignment of GI tagged Vazhakulam Pineapple (2.5MT) sourced from Vazhakulam, Ernakulam, Kerala has been exported to Dubai and Sharjah, UAE on 07 January 2022.
  
  
  • The first consignment of traditional and farm-made GI tagged Marayoor jaggery (2MT) sourced from Marayoor, Idukki district, Kerala has been exported to Dubai, UAE by sea on 13 January 2022.
  
  
  • A commercial consignment of Himalayan Millets (Organic Barnyard, Finger Millets and Amaranthus) was sent to Vietnam for the first time from Uttarakhand on 21 January 2022.
  
  
  • For the first time, a consignment of Puffed rice (Murmura) (4MT) sourced from Cuttack, Odisha has been exported to Malaysia via Vizag seaport on 29 January 2022.
  
  A consignment of Jaggery (25MT) in powder/cube form has been exported for the first time from Bijnor to Dubai by sea on 06 March 2022.

• Varanasi (Fresh vegetables Cluster) Uttar Pradesh



• Working in tandem with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, APEDA has taken several initiatives to develop the Varanasi Agri Export Hub. With the intervention of APEDA, infrastructure facilities have been created, FPOs have been strengthened and connected to exports and multimodal shipments of fresh fruits, vegetables, regional rice have been facilitated to several destinations.


• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between four FPOs of Varanasi region and Fresh Vegetables and Fruits Exporters Association (VAFA), Mumbai at the Buyer-seller meet organized by APEDA in November 2019. 


• As a result, the first trial Sea shipment of 14MT Fresh vegetables (green chilies) export to Dubai was made in December 2019 after the procurement took place from farmers in the Varanasi cluster region. As an outcome of this export promotion activity, farmers in the region received reasonably good prices for their Fresh produce, which was considerably more than what they used to get from the local market earlier (Rs.30/kg for export vis-à-vis Rs.18/kg domestic).


• Exports of around 20,000 MT of agro products, which includes 5000 MT fresh fruits & vegetables and approx. 15,000 MT cereals (including Basmati Rice) have taken place from the Varanasi region so far.


• Till date, six Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) have been registered as exporters and have been linked with AD code registration at the airport.

• Anantapur (Banana Cluster), Andhra Pradesh



• In continuation to the initiative taken and looking into the export potential of Banana, APEDA in collaboration with Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Ministry of Railways executed reefer train movements from Anantapur district to the Middle East countries and Iran via JNPT port. 


• In the last season, 30,291 MTs of bananas (Dec 2020 –April 2021) have been exported from the district so far. 


• Around 5 FPOs under the Banana cluster identified have been actively cultivating banana under contract farming through MoU or agreement with a buy back arrangement with five leading banana exporters. Before the cluster development activities like BSMs, Fruit care, creation of 5-line Pack house facility, the farmers were fetching an average price of Rs. 5/kg. Currently the farmer/FPOs are getting an average price of Rs. 11/- kg, also avoiding the middlemen / commission agents in the supply chain.

• Nagpur cluster (Orange), Maharashtra



• The first Buyer-Seller Meet cum Training programme on "Nagpur Orange cluster" on 5th December 2019 at VANAMATI, Nagpur. Farmer Producers companies (FPOs) and exporters attended the programme. The main focus of the programme was to increase the exports of Nagpur oranges in the Middle East countries and to branding of Nagpur Oranges in the Middle East.


• Exporter M/s. SDF Productions Pvt. Ltd. procured oranges directly from the farmers of the cluster, transported to APEDA funded VHT Facility at Vashi, Navi Mumbai and exported to Dubai. The first sea consignment of Nagpur oranges (15MT) was shipped to Dubai on 13th February 2020 from VHT facility. More than 100 MT of oranges have been exported to UAE and supplied to top supermarkets in importing countries i.e., Lulu Supermarket, Safari Mall, Nesto. Farmers were paid a price of Rs. 24/kg for export in comparison to domestic selling price of Rs.12/kg.


• The FPOs M/s. Maha Orange and M/s. Navya Orange processing has dispatched more than 2000 MT of Fresh mandarin from Nagpur to Bangladesh. The produce has been exported by rail up to Shalimar, Kolkata (thereby minimizing post-harvest losses by 20%), from where it was connected to Bangladesh via road. Farmers have got an export price of Rs.25/kg in comparison to domestic selling price of Rs.18/k

• Theni cluster (Banana), Tamil Nadu

• The FPO named Western Ghat banana producer group (including 25 farmers) has been linked for supplying fresh produce for exports to Maldives and Middle East destinations. The fresh produce packed and dispatched has been sourced from the 

• above mentioned FPO. Farmers’ price realization for export was Rs.10/kg in comparison to domestic selling price of Rs.8/kg.
• During 2020, more than 110 containers (2400 MT) of G9 & Nendran banana have been exported to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Maldives from the cluster. From April to November 2021, around 106 containers of Bananas (2120 MTs) have been sent from Theni cluster to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

• Towards one of the action points highlighted in the Cluster meetings of Theni, the initiative has been taken to upgrade the existing Food & Pesticide residue testing lab at Horticulture College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Periyakulam for export purposes. The proposal has been submitted to MoFPI for consideration by TNAU.

• Coffee Board: Record high Coffee Exports in 2021-22:

• India's Coffee Exports achieved a record level of USD 1042 million for the first time in history during 2021-22, an increase of 42% over the last year value realization. The volume of coffee exports has reached its highest ever in 2021-22 close to 4.20 lakh tons. India’s value-added coffee exports also increased by 20% to USD 304 million in 2021-22 over last year. 

• MPEDA - All time high exports of Marine Products 2021-22:

• Marine products exports from India reached the all-time high of US$ 7,740 million during 2021-22, despite the heavy odds faced by the sector. The growth observed is 30% higher when compared to 2020-21 in US$ value terms. The seafood export Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the past decade stands as 8.23%. During 2021-2022, India has exported marine products to 121 countries. Moldova and Virgin Islands of the United States are the new geographies where Indian marine products ventured. 
• The USA continues to be the top destination for exports this fiscal year also. The US has remained the top destination for seafood export for the past 11 years. The target fixed for the US market during the fiscal year was US$ 3021 million and the achievement is US$ 3315 million. The US$ value % share contribution of the USA was 43%.
• China, again stood at number two position, a ranking it has retained during the previous 3 years despite the various trade challenges faced. Exports to China touched US$ 1121 million against the target of US$ 1021 million. The US$ value % share contribution of China was 14%.
• Japan, stood at number three position, again retaining the same ranking for the past 3 years. Exports to Japan were US $448 million against the target of US $428 million. The US$ value % share contribution of Japan was 6%.
• USA, China, and Japan are top 3 favorite destinations of Indian marine exports. Exports to these three countries contributed 63% of our exports in US$ value terms. The top destinations followed by Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, Canada, Italy, UAE, and Belgium. 

• The top 5 countries contributed 70% of exports and top 10 countries contributed 82% of total marine exports in U$ value terms.
• The marine products sector gives livelihood to millions of families, majorly in the maritime states.

• Success stories about Indian Tea exports during 2021-22

• During 2021-22, aggregate value of tea exports registered USD 751 million with an average unit price of $3.6/kg as compared to USD 756 million with an average unit price of $3.56/kg achieved during 2020-21. 

• Tea Board has steadfastly been undertaking effective & timely trade facilitation measures in resolving/removing trade barriers for the important export destinations such as Iran, Russia, China, EU etc.

• Moreover, a series of virtual BSMs had been organized towards market diversification efforts for Iraq, Saudi Arabia etc along with the established markets such as Russia, Japan. Apart from that, virtual BSM are being lined up for Tunisia, Libya etc at the earliest (which are salient whole leaf tea consuming markets including Iraq, Saudi Arabia).

• However, the market wise major growth achieved in export realizations (10) during 2021-22 as compared to 2020-21 is placed at the Annexure.

• Handloom and Handicraft/ Textile Sector – Carpets sector – Bhadohi and others

• The carpet industry could export Rs 4,108.37 crore from UP whereas in 2019-20, the carpet industry of UP could make exports worth only Rs 3,704.05 crore witnessing a growth of 12%.

• The carpets are sold to meet domestic demand as well as exported to countries including America, Europe, Germany, Japan. Most of the exports are done in the USA.

• Exports were increasing due to better marketing skills of exporters as well as policies of the Central and state governments.

• India’s carpet industry competes internationally with many carpet producing countries, but even after that, the dominance of Indian carpets in foreign markets remains intact.

• The Carpet Expo Mart inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Bhadohi has emerged as a boon in tough times by bringing sellers and buyers under a single roof. Earlier, Bhadohi's carpet producers were forced to take their products to Delhi or other places to sell them. However, the Carpet Expo Mart has infused fresh life into the world-renowned Bhadohi carpet industry of hand-woven carpets by attracting buyers nationally and internationally. With the launch of Carpet Expo Mart, carpet producers have saved a lot of their income. Both buyers and sellers have benefited from this project as the former is provided access to more variety while the latter earn more profit. Carpet Mart in Bhadohi city is the largest carpet mart in the country.

• ‘Queen of Spices’ Cardamom Rules the World’s Taste Buds: 

• Small cardamom reigns as the ‘Queen of Spices,’ a name bestowed to it because of its unmatchable flavor and aroma. The spice has maintained its upward export trend and registered a growth of 63 per cent in quantity and 25 per cent in value terms during FY 2021-22. A total of 9328.79 MT of Indian small cardamom valued at 165.72 million USD reached world destinations like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the USA, among others. The humble elaichi is exported to the Middle East regions where it is an important constituent of Qahwa, a spicy concoction of coffee infused with the flavors of cardamom.

• The cultivation of cardamom is mostly concentrated in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats in South India spanning the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In order to boost exports and ensure quality production of small cardamom, the Spices Board has recently launched a Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme for Small Cardamom farmers.

• Thrusts to Spices Trade: 

• To facilitate ease of doing business and move spices trade online, Spices Board has created an innovative virtual platform 'Spice Xchange India', to address the gap in building market linkages created by the pandemic, and in the process, has opened the doors for immense business opportunities to benefit Indian spice entrepreneurs. The portal, which can be accessed at https://spicexchangeindia.com/ is equipped with features like 24x7 virtual office space for Indian spice brands, Artificial Intelligence based matchmaking, market information, access to global spice trade data and events organized by Spices Board. This portal is a key intervention identified by the Board to help the entrepreneurs in the spices sector.

• The Board in association with the Indian Missions has made advances to boost trade in new markets like Azerbaijan, Morocco, Mexico, and Vietnam among others by bringing together the Indian spices exporters and importers abroad on a single platform. The Board has made interventions to streamline trade with major export destinations such as Japan and European Union countries.

• Kashmir Saffron—From Farms to International Markets: 

• Farmers and FPOs are now joining the bandwagon of exporters with the indigenous spice being exported directly by the budding entrepreneurs. The GI tagged Kashmir Saffron, touted as the most expensive spice in the world, is now reaching destinations like the Netherlands, England, Dubai, France, and Afghanistan straight from the farms.

• Kashmir is the only place in the world where saffron is grown at an altitude of 1600m to 1800m above the mean sea level adding to its uniqueness. Saffron farmers from Pampore hold the spice in high esteem and it is an integral part of their life and cuisine representing a rich cultural heritage.

• Handicraft and Textile sector:

• "The Handicrafts exports during the Six months of current financial year from April to September, 2021-22 is Rs 15995.73 crore registering a growth of over 60.34 per cent over the same period in last year," the ministry stated

• According to the Ministry of Textiles, the handicraft industry has shown a steady growth rate of 20 percent every year. The sector is expected to employ nearly 68.86 lakh artisans at present.

• According to official estimates, India is home to 7 million artisans. However, data from unofficial sources indicates that the artisan strength is as high as 200 million.

• In the last five years, exports of Indian handicrafts have gone up by more than 40 percent, as three-fourths of handicrafts are exported. 

• Indian handicrafts are majorly exported to more than a hundred countries, and the US alone constitutes about a third of India’s handicrafts exports.

• Textile exports up 31% so far in FY22, nears $30 billion

• India’s Textiles industry has around 4.5 crore employed workers including 35.22 lakh handloom workers across the country

• Kanpur Saddlery Export –Success Story:

• Kanpur Saddlery Industry enjoys more than 95% share in total export of Saddlery and Harness export from the Country.  The products manufactured by local industry are very much popular across the globe and are exported in around 80 countries with major export destinations such as USA, Germany, U.K., Netherland, France, and Australia etc.  

• The product has been identified as one of the key products under District as Export hub Initiative in both the districts.  The office of Joint DGFT has conducted several awareness programmes in both districts in collaboration with Council for Leather Exports and District Industry offices. One such programme was organized on 30.12.2021 with special focus on increasing the number of G.I. Authorized users. As a result, the Council for Leather Export took this initiative and the number of authorized users increased from 01 in December 2021 to 61 in March 2022.  

• Growth in Exports: - The export of Kanpur Saddlery product has also increased from 707.97 Cr. In 2020 to 1755.06 Cr. In 2021 with a positive increase of 148 %.

• Pharmaceuticals – growth during covid (vaccine exports)

• India is not only manufacturing all the vaccines under the national Covid-19 immunization programme but is also exporting them. 

• Following Indian companies have developed vaccines which reflects the boosting of home-grown vaccine capabilities:

• Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has developed and is manufacturing its vaccine Covaxin
• Oxford-AstraZeneca developed Covishield is being manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII)
• Bharat Biotech exporting Covaxin

• The government has also financially supported the vaccine makers through various schemes such as production-linked incentive scheme for APIs/KSMs and medical devices and promotion of bulk drug parks were introduced by the government
• Funding for Vaccine Research – Finance Minister announced Rs 900 crore for funding as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat package under Covid Suraksha Mission for R&D of Covid 19 vaccine 
• Currently, India is home to only 8% of the world’s biopharmaceutical market. Most of this share by volume is derived from vaccines—a category where India holds more than 40% of the market share, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).