India starts export of major farm items amid COVID-19 lockdown
"Exports of all major products i.e. rice, groundnut, processed food, meat, poultry, dairy and organic products has started," the Union Agriculture Ministry said.
India has started export of major farm products such as rice, meat, dairy and processed food items after the government stepped in to resolve the issues related to transportation and packaging in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown. 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 further said that 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. On specific demand from countries, agri-cooperative NAFED has exported 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, while 40,000 tonne of the grain to Lebanon under G2G arrangement. Read more