Source: PIB
Context
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, facilitated the first commercial export of GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mangoes from Madhya Pradesh to the UAE on 26 June 2026. The 1-metric-tonne consignment was exported by M/s Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd., sourced from M/s Seondha Farmer Producer Company Limited and farmer Shri Sonu Gupta of Govindgarh, Rewa district, MP. Packing was done at the APEDA-facilitated pack house of Trisagar FPC in Bhadohi, UP, and the consignment was shipped via Varanasi Airport. Farmers received ₹150/kg — a premium of ₹40-50/kg over the local rate of ₹100-110/kg. The Rewa Sundarja variety received its GI tag in 2023.
What is the key announcement?
- Product: GI-tagged Rewa Sundarja Mango (GI tag year 2023).
- Origin: Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Destination: UAE.
- Facilitator: APEDA.
What is APEDA?
- Full Form: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
- Type: Statutory body.
- Established: 13 February 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985 (Act No. 2 of 1986).
- Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- HQ: NCUI Building, August Kranti Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.
- Regional Offices: 15 (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi, Tripura, Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh).
- Chairman: Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS.
- Replaced: Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
What are APEDA’s key mandates?
- Export promotion of 17 scheduled product categories covering 802 HS codes at 8-digit level (fruits & vegetables, meat & poultry, dairy, cereals, processed food, honey, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, floriculture, herbal & medicinal plants, etc.).
- Basmati Rice included in the Second Schedule of APEDA Act.
- Monitors import of sugar.
- Secretariat for National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
- Cashew Kernels, Cashewnut Shell Liquid, Cardanol added in June 2021.
What is the Geographical Indications (GI) Act, 1999?
- Full Title: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
- Enacted: 30 December 1999; came into force 15 September 2003.
- Purpose: Legal protection for products with geographical origin-linked qualities.
- Compliance With: WTO TRIPS Agreement (Articles 22-24).
- Validity: 10 years; renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
- Penalty for Infringement: Up to 3 years jail + ₹2 lakh fine.
Who administers GI in India?
- Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai.
- Under the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM).
- CGPDTM operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
What is a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) / Farmer Producer Company (FPC)?
- Collective entity of primary producers (farmers).
- FPC registered under Part IX-A of the Companies Act, 2013.
- Aim: Scale, market access, bargaining power.
- Central Scheme: “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs” (launched 29 February 2020, ₹6,865 crore outlay).
- Implementing Agencies: SFAC, NABARD, NCDC.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to APEDA, consider the following statements:
- APEDA is a statutory body established on 13 February 1986 under the APEDA Act, 1985.
- APEDA functions under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- APEDA replaced the erstwhile Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
- APEDA also functions as the Secretariat for the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(All four statements are correct.)
Q2. With reference to India’s agri-export performance and APEDA targets, consider the following statements:
- APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 stood at an all-time high of approximately USD 28.59 billion.
- APEDA has set a target of exporting USD 55+ billion of scheduled products by 2030.
- Total India agri exports in FY 2024-25 stood at approximately USD 51.9 billion, with APEDA accounting for about 55%.
- APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 already crossed USD 100 billion.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; APEDA’s scheduled product exports in FY 2024-25 stood at USD 28.59 billion, NOT USD 100 billion. The $100 billion is the broader agri-export aspirational target.)
Answer Key
- (d) All four — all statements correct.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: APEDA exports USD 28.59 billion, not USD 100 billion.
