India to Develop Sea Protocol for Mango Exports

INDIA TO DEVELOP SEA PROTOCOL TO BOOST MANGO EXPORTS

Why in the News?

• New initiative: India is developing a sea transport protocol for mango exports to reduce spoilage and maintain quality.
• Export boost: The protocol aims to expand mango shipments to distant overseas markets at lower costs.
• Government support: The initiative is led by APEDA in collaboration with ICAR.

Key Developments and Collaborations

• Successful trials: Sea protocols for bananas and pomegranates to Rotterdam and CIS countries have shown positive results.
• Ongoing efforts: Protocols are being designed to meet international quality standards and minimize losses.
• Institutional backing: APEDA and ICAR are jointly working on mango-specific transport solutions.
• Parliamentary oversight: The Lok Sabha, India’s national parliament, recently discussed the importance of boosting agricultural exports through innovative transport solutions. A parliamentary joint committee has been formed to provide legal scrutiny of these new protocols, ensuring they align with existing trade agreements and the principles of federal politics.

Significance for India’s Agri-Exports

• Export diversification: Helps reach non-traditional markets by reducing air freight dependency.
• Cost efficiency: Sea freight is significantly cheaper, benefiting mango growers and exporters.
• Global competitiveness: Enhances India’s position in the international fruit export market.
• Constitutional considerations: Any constitutional amendment related to international trade agreements would require careful consideration of the basic structure doctrine, as established by the landmark Kesavananda Bharati judgement. This ensures that fundamental aspects of India’s governance, including universal adult franchise, are not compromised in pursuit of economic goals.

ROLE OF APEDA

• Established: Formed in 1985 under the Ministry of Commerce.
• Mandate: Promotes export of agricultural and processed food products.
• Support functions: Offers infrastructure aid, quality certification, and market development.
• Major focus areas: Includes fresh fruits, vegetables, organic products, and meat exports.
• Parliamentary collaboration: APEDA works closely with the parliamentary joint committee to ensure that export protocols align with national interests and receive proper legal scrutiny.