Agricultural Products’ Export Development Authority (APEDA)

In News 

• Recently, the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) celebrated its 36th Foundation Day. 

About APEDA

• The Government in 1986 had set up APEDA through an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
  •  Then the newly created body replaced the then-existing Processed Food Export Promotion Council. 
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• It is an apex-Export Trade Promotion Active body, which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The APEDA had been undertaking most of the activities as per its mandate and scope of work allocated spanning its 14 product categories which mainly includes the sector of fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, animal, dairy and poultry products and cereals.
• It promotes exports of agricultural & processed food items (including GI products) by providing assistance to the exporters.
• It also supports exports through various schemes like Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES), Market Access Initiative (MAI), etc.

Achievements

• APEDA actively supported the Government in taking the export of agricultural products to USD 20.67 billion in 2020-21 from USD 0.6 billion in 1986 when it was founded.  
• APEDA also helped expand the export basket to 205 countries.
• APEDA has undertaken initiatives like the paperless office (re-engineering, digital signatures, electronic payment facility), APEDA Mobile App, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation, uniform access, and virtual trade fair to make governance more efficient and effective.

• For promoting the use of hybrid technology, APEDA has integrated a Blockchain solution into its GrapeNet traceability platform.

Source: PIB