Apeda bets on IT-based initiatives to speed up export processes
Some of the major initiatives include, paperless office, enabling digital signatures and electronic payment, phase-wise delivery of online services, monitoring and evaluation
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) has launched a slew of information technology (IT) initiatives over the last couple of years to help speed up shipments through “more efficient and effective” measures.
According to Apeda Chairman M Angamuthu, the Commerce Ministry arm has emerged as a pioneer in making use of IT for promotion and development of exports and thus help shippers speed up their process.
Wheat procurement tops 222 lakh tonnes
Food Corporation of India and other procurement agencies have procured 222.33 lakh tonnes (lt) of wheat till Sunday during the current rabi marketing season against 77.57 lt in the corresponding period last year, an official statement said on Monday.
Punjab, which witnessed some initial hiccups due to the protest by commission agents in the State, surpassed other States and managed to procure as much as 84.15 lt till Sunday. Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, which commenced procurement early, on the other hand, notched up 71.76 lt and 51.57 lt, respectively.
Barring rice and wheat, all rabi crops harvested
Only 40% of winter rice, planted over 45.32 lha, has been harvested so far
Harvesting of most rabi crops, barring wheat and rice, has been completed across the country. The wheat harvest is expected to be over in most States by the end of the month, an official statement said on Sunday.
While harvesting of pulses crops such as gram, lentil, urad, moong and others, sown over 158.1 lakh hectares (lha) and that of rapeseed-mustard covered on 70 lha, is totally over in most States other than Punjab, farmers have reaped 81.55 per cent of wheat sown over 315.8 lha. However, Punjab has 40 per cent of wheat to harvest, Haryana 35 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 20 per cent and they are expected to complete it by the end of this month, the statement said.
