PIB – December 21 , 2019


General Studies-III

Topic- transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

Context

APEDA sending the first trial shipment of vegetables by sea route from Varanasi to Dubai.

About

  • Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in its endeavor to promote exports from agriculture produce rich regions of India is sending the first trial shipment of vegetables by sea route from Varanasi to Dubai.
  • The potential of production of fruits and vegetables in Varanasi Region comprising of 5 districts namely:

Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur and SantRavidas Nagar.

  • APEDA is in the process of setting up Agri export hubs in these 5 districts of the Varanasiregion.

About APEDA

  • The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act 1985.
  • It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • The Authority has its headquarters in New Delhi.

Assigned Functions

In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, (2 of 1986) the following functions have been assigned to the Authority:

  • Development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes;
  • Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;
  • Fixing of standards and specifications for the scheduled products for the purpose of exports;
  • Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughter houses, processing plants, storage premises, conveyances or other places where such products are kept or handled for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;
  • Improving of packaging of the Scheduled products;
  • Improving of marketing of the Scheduled products outside India;
  • Promotion of export oriented production and development of the Scheduled products;
  • Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments engaged in the production,
  • Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products;
  • Such other matters as may be prescribed.

General Studies- II

Topic– Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

Invest India

Context

Commerce and Industry Minister announce ‘Invest India’ Special Desk for North East States.

About

  • Commerce and Industry Minister announced that Invest India is setting us a dedicated desk for the states of the North East Region.
  • It will look into investment targeting, promotion of investments for the North East States, facilitation of investments and development of websites for the States of the North East Region of India.

About Invest India

  • ‘Invest India’ is India’s official agency dedicated to investment promotion and facilitation.
  • It is set up as a nonprofit venture under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India.
  • It was set up in 2010 for prospective overseas investors and to those aspiring Indian investors desiring to invest in foreign locations.
  • It acts as a structured mechanism to attract investment. Invest India is essentially an Investment Promotion Agency in India.

Structure

  • Operationalized in early 2010, Invest India is set up as a joint venture companybetween the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (35% equity), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) (51% equity), and State Governments of India (0.5% each).
  • Invest India, essentially, is a private company, unlike India Brand Equity Foundation – another investment promotion agency in India set up by the same Ministry – Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Mandate

  • The core mandate of Invest India is investment promotion and facilitation.
  • It provides sector-specific and state-specific informationto a foreign investor, assists in expediting regulatory approvals, and offers hand-holding services.
  • To assist Indian investors to make informed choices about investment opportunities overseas.

Functions

  • It facilitates meetings with relevant government and corporate officials and organizes investment road shows and roundtables.
  • Invest India provides aftercare services that include initiating remedial action on problems faced by investors by involving the Government Departments concerned.
  • Invest India regularly partners with similar agencies across the world in an endeavor to enhance bilateral investment and economic engagement.
  • Invest India is intended to become the first reference point for the global investment community – both domestic and foreign.
  • Make in India campaign / programme is managed by Invest India.

General Studies- II

Topic- Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)

  • The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) came into existence in 1987.
  • It is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India.
  • TRIFED has its registered and Head Office located in New Delhi.
  • It has a network of 13 Regional Offices located at various places in the country.

Objectives of TRIFED

  • The objective of TRIFED is socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of the tribal products such as metal craft, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal paintings and pottery on which the tribals depends heavily for major portion of their income.
  • TRIFED acts as a facilitator and service provider for tribes to sell their product.
  • The approach by TRIFED aims to empower tribal people with knowledge, tools and pool of information so that they can undertake their operations in a more systematic and scientific manner.
  • It also involves capacity building of the tribal people through sensitization, formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs).
  • Imparting training to them for undertaking a particular activity.

Functions of TRIFED

It mainly undertakes two functions.

  1. Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development
  2. Retail Marketing and Development.

What are the MFP?

  • The important source of livelihood for tribal people are non-wood forest products, generally termed ‘Minor Forest Produce (MFP)’.
  • MFP includes- all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, honey, lac, tusser etc.
  • The Minor Forest Produces provide both subsistence and cash income for people who live in or near forests.
  • They form a major portion of their food, fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sales.

Why MFP are critical for Tribal People?

  • MFP has significant economic and social value for the forest dwellers as an estimated 100 Million people derive their source of livelihood from the collection and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (Report of the National Committee on Forest Rights Act, 2011).
  • Around 100 million forest dwellers depend on Minor Forest Produces for food, shelter, medicines and cash income.
  • Tribals derive 20-40% of their annual income from Minor Forest Produce on which they spend major portion of their time.
  • MFP also has strong linkage to women’s financial empowerment as most of the Minor Forest Produces are collected and used/sold by women.

Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development

  • The people who depend on MFP are generally beset with a number of other problems such as perishable nature of the produce, lack of holding capacity, lack of marketing infrastructure, exploitation by middlemen, etc.
  • Due to this, the MFP gatherers who are mostly poor are unable to bargain for fair prices.
  • To cope with the above problem, Govt. of India has decided to introduce the scheme of “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain”.
  • The scheme is designed as a social safety net for improvement of livelihood of MFP gatherers by providing them a fair price for the MFPs they collect.

Retail Marketing and Development

  • TRIFED aims to– improve the livelihood of the tribal communities by creating a sustainable market and create business opportunities for tribal people.
  • It involves exploring marketing possibilities for marketing of tribal products on a sustainable basis, creating brand and providing other necessary services.
  • It has a network of 13 regional offices across the country which identifies and source tribal products for marketing through its retail marketing network of TRIBES INDIA outlets.
  • It has been undertaking sourcing of various handicraft, handloom and natural & food products through its empanelled suppliers across the country.
  • The suppliers comprise of individual tribal artisans, tribal SHGs, Organisations/ Agencies/NGOs working with tribals.
  • The suppliers are empanelled with TRIFED as per the guidelines for empanelment of suppliers.
  • TRIFED has been marketing tribal products through its Retail Outlets located across the country and also through exhibitions.
  • It has established a chain of 35 own showrooms and 8 consignment showrooms in association with State level Organisations promoting tribal handicrafts.

For Prelims

AFGHANISTAN first country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia

Highlights

  • The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) has been recognised formally by the National Department of Regulation of Medicines and Health Products of the Ministry of Public Health of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
  • It will also be used based on the requirement as reputable pharmacopoeia in the laboratory of medicines and health products quality.
  • With this, a new beginning has been made and Afghanistan has become the first country to recognize IP pursuant to the efforts of Department of Commerce and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TEST OF TWO PINAKA MISSILES

  • The indigenously developed Pinaka Guided Weapons System was successfully test fired at Pokhran desert in Rajasthan.
  • Pinaka rocket systems are developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • The rocket system was named after Pinaka, the bow of Lord Shiva.
  • It was initially a 30 to 40 km range rocket. Its range was increased 70 to 80 km with Pinaka Mark II.

GANDHI CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION PRIZE

Highlights

  • ‘Portugal’ has announced Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize.
  • It will be dedicated to social welfare.
  • This would be an award given annually.
  • The first edition will be dedicated to animal welfare.

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