Mirzapur, Dec 5 (FN Representative) Union Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, Anupriya Patel said the increase in exports of agricultural and processed food products from Poorvanchal (Eastern Uttar Pradesh) will not only boost India’s foreign exchange earnings, but it will also help in doubling farmers income as well as boost employment opportunities in the region. Ms Patel said that the country has set a $400 billion target for merchandise exports for 2021-22 and $262 billion of exports has already been achieved during April-November 2021-22 period. She said a record export target of $43 billion has been set for agricultural products in 2021-22 and because of efforts by APEDA and farmers, this target would be achieved in the current fiscal. The union minister was speaking at a programme in the APEDA organised ‘Agri-Export Conference cum Buyer Seller Meet’ in Mirzapur on Saturday.
The meet was organised for harnessing agricultural and processed food products exports potential from the eastern Uttar Pradesh which was attended by more than 700 farmers and exporters. Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA spoke about the initiatives taken by APEDA for boosting exports from Purvanchal region. Shri Praveen Kumar Lakskar, District Magistrate, Mirzapur attended the meet as Chief Guest. The event was organized to commemorate the 75th year of Independence being celebrated with a theme of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. During the conference a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between leading exporters-Association and FPOs of Purvanchal region for increasing agricultural products exports. Export consignments of Non-Basmati Rice to China and Green chillies to the United Arab Emirates were flagged off by Ms Anupriya Patel and Dr Angamuthu, Chairman APEDA. Senior officials from Uttar Pradesh government, Mirzapur district administration, APEDA, International Rice Research Institute, ICAR-India Institute of Vegetable Research and representatives of exporters associations, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and other stakeholders attended the meeting. Farmers mostly from the Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Ghazipur and Chandauli districts attended the Conference.