Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part – II)

As per the available data, the imported quantities of different pulses in recent years are as follows :

It is noteworthy that India is the largest producer of pulses as well as the largest consumer of pulses in the world.

• The meat industry is slowly yet steadily catching pace on the global front also as India exports both frozen and fresh chilled meat to more than 60 countries of the world.
• Meat exported from India is risk-free, lean, nutritious and competitively priced meat.
• It has resulted in consistent, high compound growth rate in the export volumes.
• The major item of export includes de-boned and de-glanded frozen buffalo meat, which accounts for 97 per cent of the total meat export.
• The major market for Indian buffalo meat is Malaysia and Egypt and for sheep and goat meat are UAE, Iran and Jordan.
• India also exports a small quantity of processed meat to Thailand, Yemen, and Japan and poultry products to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.
• Uttar Pradesh state has emerged as the major exporter of buffalo meat followed by Punjab and Maharashtra
• The value addition to slaughterhouse by products generate additional income as well as the costs of disposing of by products can be minimized.
• There is huge potential in this sector for economic development of country through increasing exports so the policy makers should adopt critical measures at every stage to encourage and support this vital segment of the Indian agriculture.

• 'Banganapalli', 'Benishan', Ratnagiri, Alphonso, Daseri are some of the mango varieties
• Mango trees are planted, and produced and the fruit is enjoyed by people in India, followed by China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Mexico.
• However, India leads the rest, accounting for 54.2% of the total mangoes produced worldwide.
• Last year, India exported 28,000 MT of mangoes and earned about 48 million dollars!
• Nowadays, mango trees are planted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengal, with fruits from each state having their own special tastes
• Uttar Pradesh is the largest mango producing state in India.
• With an annual production of around 2. 5 million metric tons, Uttar Pradesh accounts for approximately 25% of the country's total mango output
• Second Andra Pradesh 18%, Then karnataka 14%

• 'Banganapalli', 'Benishan', Ratnagiri, Alphonso, Daseri are some of the mango varieties
• Mango trees are planted, and produced and the fruit is enjoyed by people in India, followed by China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Mexico.
• However, India leads the rest, accounting for 54.2% of the total mangoes produced worldwide.
• Last year, India exported 28,000 MT of mangoes and earned about 48 million dollars!
• Nowadays, mango trees are planted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengal, with fruits from each state having their own special tastes
• Uttar Pradesh is the largest mango producing state in India.
• With an annual production of around 2. 5 million metric tons, Uttar Pradesh accounts for approximately 25% of the country's total mango output
• Second Andra Pradesh 18%, Then karnataka 14%

From the above table, it is clear that the quantity of imported edible oils is more than the domestic production of edible oils in the previous years. As per the data of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), import of vegetable oils during oil year 2022-23 (Nov.2022 to Oct. 2023) is reported at 167.1 lakh tonnes (edible oils - 164.7 lakh tonnes & non- edible oils - 2.4 lakh tonnes) compared to 144.1 lakh tonnes during 2021-22 i.e. up by 16 percent.

According to ICRA, India occupies prominent position in the world oilseeds industry with contribution of around 10% in worldwide production. But the demand of edible oils (extracted from oilseeds in addition to palm oil) is significantly higher than the domestic production, leading to dependence on imports. Thus, statement 1 is correct.

In order to harmonize the interests of farmers, processors and consumers and at the same time, regulate large import of edible oils to the extent possible, the import duty structure on edible oils is reviewed from time to time. At present, the government has been reducing customs duty on imported edible oils to cool down domestic prices. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.