What is the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA)?

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About Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA):

APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act of 1985.
Objective: To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
The products specified under the APEDA ACT are called scheduled products, and exporters of such scheduled products are required to register under APEDA.
It provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development of scheduled products.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Functions:
Setting the standards and specifications for the scheduled products.
Registration of exporters of the scheduled products on payment of required fees
Improving packaging and marketing of the Scheduled products
Carrying out an inspection of products to ensure the quality of such products
Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products
Development of industries relating to the scheduled products and undertaking surveys, feasibility studies, etc
Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments and publication of such statistics
Examples of scheduled products: Fruits, Vegetable, Meat, Poultry Products. Dairy Products, Confectionery, Biscuits, Bakery Products, Honey, Jaggery, etc.

What are Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)?

A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity formed by primary producers, viz. farmers, milk producers, fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, and craftsmen.
A PO provides for sharing of profits/benefits among the members.
Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) is one type of PO where the members are farmers.
Goal: To increase farmers’ advantage in emerging market opportunities and their competitiveness.
Primary operations: Supply of seed, market linkages and fertilizer, machinery, training, financial, networking, and technical advice.
The FPOs are open to persons who are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership without social, gender, political, racial, or religious discrimination.
Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is providing support for promotion of FPOs.

Q1) What is Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)?

SFAC is a society that is promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Government of India which is focused on increasing incomes of small and marginal farmers through aggregation and development of agribusiness.

Source: APEDA targets 1,000 FPOs to turn direct exporters of farm produce