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Context:

India has achieved a tenfold increase in banana exports over the past decade and aims to reach $1 billion in exports within the next five years according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

About the banana

• It is essentially a tropical crop and the second most important fruit crop in India after the mango.

Required climatic conditions:

• Temperature: Grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with a relative humidity of 75-85%.
• It prefers tropical humid lowlands and is cultivated from sea level to an altitude of 2000 m.
• In India, this crop is cultivated in climates ranging from humid tropical to dry temperate subtropics by selecting suitable varieties.

Soil:

Deep, rich loamy soil with a pH between 6.5 - 7.5 is best for growing bananas. The soil for bananas should have good drainage, adequate fertility and moisture. Salty hard, calcareous soils are not suitable for growing bananas.

Varieties grown in India:

Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Nendran, Red Banana, Nyali, Safed Velchi, Basrai, Ardhapuri, Rasthali, Karpurvalli, Karthali and Grand Naine etc.

Major Producing States:

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala etc.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985.

It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The office is based in New Delhi.

In 2020, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) to achieve better synergy in agricultural activities.

Function:

APEDA is entrusted with the responsibility of export promotion and development of planned products viz. fruits, vegetables and their products, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, dairy products, confectionery, biscuits and bakery products, honey, jaggery and sugar products, cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages , Cereals and Cereal Products, Groundnuts, Groundnuts and Walnuts, Pickled Vegetables, Papads and Chutneys, Guar Gum, Florists and florist products, herbal and medicinal plants.

APEDA was tasked with monitoring sugar imports.

It takes care of the development of industries related to the planned products for export by providing financial assistance or otherwise by conducting surveys and feasibility studies, participating in subsidy programs.

Registration of persons as exporters of said products and establishment of standards and specifications for said products for export purposes.

Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products at slaughterhouses, processing plants, warehouses and improving the packaging of planned products.

Composition of the APEDA office

• The APEDA Authority consists of the following members namely:
• Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
• Agricultural Marketing Adviser to Government of India, Ex-Officio.
• One member appointed by the Central Government representing Niti Aayog.
• Three members of parliament, two of whom are elected by the House of People and one by the Council of States.

Eight members appointed by the central government representing individual ministries of the central government.

• Agriculture and rural development
• Trade
• Finance
• Industry
• Food
• Civil supplies
• Civil aviation
• Transport and transportation

Five members appointed by the Central Government by rotation in alphabetical order to represent the States and Union Territories.

Seven members appointed by the Central Govt. representing

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research
• National Horticultural Council
• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation
• Central Food Technology Research Institute
• Packaging Institute of India
• Spices Export Promotion Council a
• Cashew Export Promotion Board

Twelve members appointed by the central government representing

• Fruit and vegetable industry
• Meat, poultry and dairy industry
• Other industries of planned products
• packaging industry

Two members appointed by the Central Government from among experts and scientists in the fields of agriculture, economics and marketing of scheduled products.

Source:

DDNEWS