The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an arm of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has recently launched a new initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech startups. The initiative aims to promote innovation, encourage young entrepreneurs, and create new opportunities in agricultural exports.
About APEDA
APEDA is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985, which was passed by Parliament in December 1985. It replaced the earlier Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
APEDA functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Objective of APEDA
The primary objective of APEDA is to develop and promote the export of scheduled agricultural and processed food products. Products notified under the APEDA Act are known as scheduled products, and exporters dealing in these products are required to register with APEDA.
Scheduled Products under APEDA
Scheduled products include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry products, dairy products, confectionery, biscuits, bakery products, honey, jaggery, and several other agricultural and processed food items.
Roles and Responsibilities of APEDA
APEDA provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development and export promotion of scheduled products. It is also entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the import of sugar into India.
In addition, APEDA functions as the Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for the accreditation of certification bodies under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), which facilitates organic exports from India.
Functions of APEDA
APEDA is responsible for setting standards and specifications for scheduled products and for the registration of exporters upon payment of prescribed fees. It works to improve the packaging and marketing of scheduled products and conducts quality inspections to ensure product standards.
The authority also provides training in various aspects of industries related to scheduled products, undertakes surveys and feasibility studies, and promotes the development of industries connected with agricultural exports. Additionally, APEDA collects and publishes statistical data from factories and establishments dealing with scheduled products.
Organisational Structure of APEDA
APEDA is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. The authority has established 15 regional offices across the country, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Telangana, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi, Tripura, Srinagar, Jammu, and Ladakh.
BHARATI Startup Challenge
BHARATI, which stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement, is a startup challenge launched by APEDA to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural and processed food export sector.
The initiative aims to support export-ready startups by providing mentorship, access to global markets, and policy facilitation.
Global Exposure under BHARATI Initiative
Under the BHARATI Startup Challenge, the top 10 selected startups will receive international exposure by participating in major global exhibitions such as Gulfood in Dubai and BIOFACH in Germany. This initiative is expected to strengthen India’s agri-export ecosystem and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian startups.