PDUNASS inaugurates Joint EPFO-ITC-ILO Training Programme (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - It is impermissible for NCLT to examine merits of dispute while considering application for CIRP u/s 9 by operational creditor: SC (See 'Legal Desk') Companies Act - It cannot be expected that registering authority would, in every case, independently identify whether every newly registered company name is identical with or similar to existing company name: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Patents - Claims must be construed as a whole without dissection - product claims are exempt - Section 3(m) objections remain independent of novelty, inventive step & Section 3(k) computer-related evaluations: HC (See 'Legal Desk') IBC - Subsequent efforts to sell mortgaged property does not amount to waiver of financial creditors rights: NCLAT (See 'Legal Desk') Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles must Go Hand in Hand with Disease Treatment : Jadhav (See 'Corp Brief') Ministry of Textiles to organise IIHT SUTRA 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Award is patently illegal and liable to be set aside if it ignores vital evidence, applies circular logic, or blocks party from presenting its case: HC (See 'Legal Desk') In a first, 'Vande Mataram' to be sung from ramparts of historic Red Fort (See 'Corp Brief') National Handloom Designers' Conclave showcases Design-Led Innovation (See 'Corp Brief') PBPT - Routing of funds through company to appellant squarely attracts Section 2(9)(A) of the Act as property stood in name of benamidar while consideration emanated from beneficial owner: SAFEMA Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') PM-YASASVI Scheme implementation in Maharashtra reviewed Regularly: Govt (See 'Corp Brief') MoS calls for greater Private Sector Participation in Biotechnology Ecosystem (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Right of Personal Guarantor to invoke insolvency provisions of Sec 94 of IBC is statutory right that cannot be extinguished merely because Financial Creditor has initiated recovery proceedings under SARFAESI: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Empowering Nari Shakti: 1 crore houses allotted to women (See 'Corp Brief') MoS dedicates to nation first-of-its-kind 'Eco-Educational Hub' (See 'Corp Brief') NI Act - Moratorium protects corporate debtor in respect of insolvency proceedings, but does not grant immunity to natural persons from criminal liability already incurred on account of cheque dishonour: HC (See 'Legal Desk') XI BRICS Culture Ministers' meeting concludes in Bhopal (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - If prima facie arbitration agreement exists and non-signatories have shown conduct aligning with contract, referral court should allow arbitrator to finalize list of parties based on detailed evidence: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Railways approves introduction of Daily Itarsi-Madan Mahal Passenger Service (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - Arbitral award is patently illegal if it is rendered in summary manner without allowing parties to lead evidence or be heard on critical pleadings: HC (See 'Legal Desk') 13th BRICS Education Ministers' meeting concludes with Declaration (See 'Corp Brief') IEPFA organises Stakeholder Engagement with Nodal Officers of Companies on Portal 2.0 (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Any tenancy created after issuance of notice u/s 13(2) without prior written consent of secured creditor, is void ab initio: HC National Handloom Day celebrates Tribal Weaves of India (See 'Corp Brief') Tete-a-tete around AI in banking sector often begins with algorithms (See CORP EINSICHT)

With APEDA aid, Purvanchal region emerges as new hub

Published: Jan 07, 2022

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 07, 2022: WORKING in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has taken several initiatives in making landlocked Purvanchal region as a new destination of agri-export activities through development of Varanasi Agri – Export Hub (VAEH).

APEDA has identified potential districts of Uttar Pradesh to be covered under the VAEH. The Purvanchal division covers districts of Varanasi, Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Chandauli and Sant Ravidas Nagar.

The Varanasi region, where there are negligible agri-exports used to take place because of lack of basic infrastructure, is now abuzz with activities which has given a boost to exports. After the intervention of APEDA, Varanasi region has recorded exemplary changes in the export scenario and registered many first-of-its-kind achievements in a very short span of time.

With the active intervention of APEDA, about 20,000 Metric Tonne (MT) of agri- produce have been exported from Purvanchal region in the last six months. Out of these shipments, about 5,000 MT fresh fruits and vegetables and 15,000 MT of cereals have been exported to Vietnam, Gulf nations, Nepal and Bangladesh by all modes of transportation.

Varanasi and nearby areas witnessed an export of around 12 MT, 22 MT and 45 MT in the months of October, November, December respectively in the year 2021. Also, around 125 MT have been exported from Varanasi and nearby areas.

As Varanasi is a territory based in the plains of river Ganges, it has rich nutritional composition of soil with ample amount of fertility which leads to production of good quality agri-produce. Varanasi region also has reputed institutions of central and international level such as Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Currently, the Varanasi region has a number of exporters and exports of agricultural products is being undertaken through air route due to establishment of robust quarantine as well as custom clearance facilitation centre at Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport. APEDA has organised more than 30 capacity building programmes in the entire Varanasi region followed by eight international buyer-seller meets, which has provided a platform to the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace.

To monitor the product and production, a project of AI tech is also being considered for approval. APEDA is also planning to take member Farmer Producer Organization to different successful territories for unveiling the agri-supply chain and market linkage.

The government is also considering replicating the Varanasi model in the Gorakhpur region of Purvanchal as the geography, demography and few other parameters are common in both the places. The newly established international airport in Kushinagar may play a vital role in triggering the export. The DDU Gorakhpur University, Indian Institute of Seed Science, Mau are the institutions actively working towards promotion of agri- activities in the region.

APEDA has also approved three projects for comprehensive grain and nutritional quality profiling of non-Basmati Rice, value added products from Rice and rice-based food systems. An APEDA-funded project for integrated IT solutions to enhance Agri Export in Varanasi Region is under process.

The export of the first trial shipment of 14 MT green chilly was facilitated by APEDA from Varanasi to Dubai's Jebel Ali Port in December 2019.

For the first time, from Varanasi 3 MT fresh vegetables was exported to London, 3 MT fresh mangoes to Dubai, 1.2 MT fresh mangoes to London, 520 MT regional rice to Qatar and 80 MT regional rice to Australia during the Covid pandemic in 2020, after APEDA's intervention.

Meanwhile, Trisagar Farmer Producer Company Ltd, which is based in Sant Ravidas Nagar district, has started sending shipments on a daily basis to the international market after the intervention of APEDA. In another success story, Gazipur district-based Shivansh Krishak Producer Company Ltd with a base of 1,500 progressive farmers has managed to get a decent realisation for its commodities after exporting a good volume of agri-produce.

Similarly, Varanasi-based FPO Jaya Seed Farmer Producer Company Ltd, which grows mangoes in around 50 acres, is getting higher price as compared to average price of the market after the intervention of APEDA. Prior to the initiative taken by APEDA, the FPC used to sell mangoes at an average price of Rs 25/kg, but in recent season they have sold it at Rs 50/kg to a Netherland-based company named Super Plum having few outlets in Bangalore and Mumbai.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES