In the frame of the Indo-German Cooperation project on Agriculture Market Development (AMD) project, a study tour to Germany was conducted for five Indian delegates from July 24th to 28th 2022. The study tour consisted of technical meetings and discussions with the Indian participants/ delegates and German counterparts to develop comprehensive understanding of the German / EU commodity standards and import regulations. The overarching frame of the study tour was designed to enable the Indian delegates to improve their understanding of the German/ EU market regulations and later comprehend the Indian domestic markets, export policies and programs vis-à-vis the German/EU market standards for vegetables and fruits.
In this regard, several meetings with federal and private institutes were scheduled at Germany. Specifically, meetings with BLE – Federal Office of Agriculture and Food (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung), Bonn; State Authority for Food Control (Amtliche Lebensmittelüberwachung), Düsseldorf; AMI Agricultural Market Information Company (Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft), Bonn; Fairtrade Germany, Cologne; GLOBAL G.A.P, Cologne were arranged. Meeting with these federal and private institutes led enabling senior administrative participants from Indian side to develop more detailed understanding of the commercial standards and requirements, traceability systems requirements and existing agricultural market information systems in Germany.
The study trip also incorporated a visit to the Biofach 2022 trade fair in Nürnberg and interactions with representatives from the German agri-food industry, focused on fruit and vegetables were organized. This enabled the Indian participants in identifying opportunities for establishing business 2 business linkages that will be useful for the Indo-German Cooperation project on Agriculture Market Development (AMD) project.
This current study trip is specifically designed for the senior government officials. The next study trip (proposed in February 2023) will be organized for the Farmer Producer Organization members that will be oriented towards practical sessions and exposure visits to the technological interventions.
Indian Participants:
Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Nadendla (Head of Delegation), Joint Secretary (Policy & Marketing), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, GoI –; Mr. Kapil Ashok Bendre Director Marketing, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI, New Delhi; Mr. Rishirendra Kumar Special Secretary (Agriculture), GoUP, Uttar Pradesh (Nodal Officer of Uttar Pradesh); Mr. Keshar Singh Deputy Director, Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board, GoR, Rajasthan (Nodal Officer of Rajasthan) ; Mr. Sukant Kumar Subudhi Deputy Director, Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Odisha (Nodal Officer of Odisha); Mr. Pratyush Ranjan Singh Deputy Team Leader and Agribusiness Expert – AMD Project
