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NEW DELHI: India wants early market access for grape exports to New Zealand and approval for vapour heat treatment (VHT) facilities used to kill pests in Delhi and Lucknow.
According to an official statement from the Agriculture Ministry, during a bilateral meeting on Monday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged his New Zealand counterpart Todd McLeay to approve VHT facilities as part of India’s comprehensive strategy to enhance fruit trade between the two countries.
Mint On June 26, news broke that India plans to begin discussions on a new free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand.
Since VHT is critical to meeting New Zealand’s stringent biosafety standards, India’s pursuit for early approval and market entry aims to strengthen its trade ties with New Zealand and expand its fruit export basket.
Vapor heat treatment (VHT) is a process used to kill pests and pathogens on fruit, ensuring compliance with safety and biosecurity standards. This is important for exporting fruit to countries with strict regulations.
According to commerce ministry data, India is a leading exporter of fresh grapes, with exports worth $417 million in FY24. The country ships grapes to various destinations, including the Netherlands, the UK, the UAE, Russia, and Bangladesh.
The two ministers discussed enhancing trade in fresh and dry fruits and Chouhan specifically mentioned the possibility of granting early market access to Indian exporters for exporting grapes to New Zealand, the ministry said.
New Delhi has shifted its focus to exports of agricultural products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as a self-imposed ban on rice and wheat exports has been in place for more than a year.
The Economic Survey 2024 has suggested greater emphasis on cultivation of high-value crops to increase farmers’ income.
The agricultural sector, which grew at an average rate of 4.18% over the past five years, remains vital to economic growth.
Also read: Commerce Ministry focuses on sending fresh fruits and vegetables to US and EU
The Economic Survey says that small farmers cannot significantly increase their income by growing only rice, wheat, millets, pulses and oilseeds. They should turn to high-value agriculture such as fruits, vegetables, fisheries, poultry and dairy farming.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, India’s annual grape production is around 3.5 million tonnes. Major grape-producing states include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
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