Monday, 18 January, 2021, 08 : 00 AM [IST] Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is mandated to promote and develop exports of agricultural and processed food products from India. Dr Tarun Bajaj, director of APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, shares information about the apex organisationâs yearly progress, virtual events, new market ventures, and exports post pandemic recovery, in an email interview with Manjushree Naik. Excerpts. Exports from India bettered the earlier record last fiscal. How has this been affected this year due to pandemic? In general, this financial fiscal year, there is an improvement in the exports last year. In the month of April, 2020 of lockdown, there was down fall in exports to the extent of 25 per cent which in May, 2020 came down to 19 per cent and in June. 2020 to 10 per cent. From July, 2020 onwards, increase vis.a.vis. the similar period was noticed and in August, 2020, it was increased to 7 per cent, September 13 per cent, October 18 per cent and November 20 per cent. In general, till now there has been increase of more than 25 per cent in some sectors. The increase has been impressive in Rice and wheat to more than 50 per cent, other cereal at 114 per cent, fresh fruits and vegetables 12 per cent, processed food products in general around 15 to 20 per cent. However, marginal decrease in dairy and poultry which is likely to cover up during the remaining period of the year. It is also important to note that during lockdown despite the limitation of transportation, shortage of labour and other factors, the decrease was to the extent of 25 per cent only. APEDA worked in closed coordination with various departments interacted with trade on day to day basis to ensure that exports are not affected. Regular Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs) and B2B interactions were conducted virtually. The issues of the trade were handled on priority. We managed to continue exports and met the international commitments and ensured that supplies are not interrupted. In some cases, India also supplied food items through chartered planes on demand of the respective countries. India has seen as a consistent and reliable supplier and we have gained significant goodwill this year for supplying interrupted quality goods despite limitations.