International trade in
agriculture and processed food products has expanded
impressively over the years. At a disaggregated level, the
product structure of world food exports highlights the growing
importance of horticulture, fisheries, meat and dairy products
and processed consumer products. The patterns of consumer demand
and commercial development in both industrial and middle- income
countries provide excellent opportunities for India, especially
considering the high production potentials of these products.
Vision 2020 envisages that by 2020, India could be a powerhouse
of agriculture by harnessing water resources, developing
agriculture in rain fed areas and reforming policy to stimulate
growth. With rising per capita incomes in the country and
increasing liberalization of world agro commodities, there is
even greater scope for the development of these components,
which can help pull up the overall growth in agriculture, which
would have significant impact on the reduction of rural poverty.
These opportunities are further enhanced as a result of
globalization and liberalization which has taken place during
last decade. With the formation of WTO, the framework of
international trade has underwent significant changes in all
sectors including agriculture. Barriers to international trade
have come down resulting in new opportunities and thus
redefining competitiveness of the countries and business
entities.
While on one hand, WTO has rapidly changed the global business
environment but on the other hand the increased competition has
posed significant challenge not only to firm’s profitability but
their survival too. It has brought in challenges for the exports
of farm products as the proposed dismantling of barriers is yet
to take place . This is clearly indicated by the fact that
despite fairly strong growth in agricultural production in the
country, it has not translated into growth in agricultural
exports and the share in global trade is mere 0.5 percent.
In this context, backward and forward linkages and integration
across the supply chain becomes essential. Training at each
level becomes important to enhance the efficiency of players
throughout the value chain to boost competitiveness of
agricultural exports from India. Hence capacity building of
state level institutions from amongst various training
institutes under DAC, under State Department of Agriculture,
Rural Development and Cooperatives, State Agriculture
Universities (SAUs), ICAR and Export Promotion Agencies on
various aspects of International trade and WTO agreements
affecting agriculture exports becomes essential.
The proposed training program to be conducted by IIFT and
sponsored by Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, Ministry
of Agriculture, Government of India, aims to provide an in-depth
understanding of the dynamics of agricultural business
environment and evolve efficient strategies for enhancing the
competitiveness of this sector.
Objectives of the Program
This Capacity Building Program on International Business aims at
developing required skills and professional competence among
government officials, entrepreneurs, farmers, exporters and
corporate executives at regional and state levels across the
country. The program objectives include:
• To enhance awareness about Emerging business opportunities for
Indian Agro exports;
• To understand issues in production and marketing of agro
products for exports
• To develop an understanding about Export-import procedures and
documentation;
• To understand the International trade logistics and SCM for
agriculture;
• Institutional framework for promotion of agro exports at
Central and State level;
• To analyze the implementation issues with reference to various
WTO agreements affecting agricultural exports from India and
defining the role of State Governments
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