Annual Report 2009-2010 - Department of Agriculture & Co-operation

Annual Report 2009-2010
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vii) Construction of Rural Godowns, and
viii) Development/Strengthening of Agri-cultural
Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and
Standardisation;
10.15 Standardisation and Grading: The
Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act,
1937 empowers the Central Government to
formulate quality standards, known as 'AGMARK'
standards, and to prescribe terms and conditions
for using the AGMARK seal. The formulation of
grade standards for agricultural and allied
commodities is one of the important activities
of the DMI. The standards are framed on the
basis of important quality parameters after
analysis of an adequate number of representative
samples of commodities from different
producing areas and assembling centres over a
period of time. The Central and Regional Agmark
Laboratories provide analytical support for the
programme. Purity standards under the
provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration
Act, 1954 are invariably taken into consideration.
International standards framed by Codex/ISO are
also considered so that Indian products can
compete in the international market. The Agmark
standards are reviewed from time to time
keeping in view the changes in production,
consumers' preferences, etc.
10.16 The Final Notification of Vegetable Oils
Grading and Marking (Amendment) Rules, 2009
has been published in the Gazette of India
(extraordinary), Part II, Section 3, sub section (i)
on 3 June 2009 vide GSR No. 383(E) dated 3 June
2009. The final notification of Organic Agricultural
Produce Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 has
been published in the Gazette of India
(extraordinary), Part II, Section 3, sub section (i)
on 18 July 2009 vide GSR No. 534(E) dated 18
July 2009.
10.17 The final notification of Karanja Seeds
Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 has been
published in the Gazette of India (extraordinary),
Part II, Section 3, sub section (i) on 25 November
2009 vide GSR No. 842(E) dated 23 November
2009. The final notification of Puwad Seeds
Grading and Marking Rules, 2009 has been
published in the Gazette of India (extraordinary),
Part II, Section 3, sub section (i) on 25 November
2009 vide GSR No. 841(E) dated 23 November
2009. The final notification of General Grading
and Marking (Amendment) Rules, 2009 has been
published in the Gazette of India (extraordinary),
Part II, Section 3, sub section (i) on 5 November
2009 vide GSR No. 796(E) dated 30 October
2009. The preliminary draft notification of Fruits
and Vegetables Grading and Marking
(Amendment) Rules, 2009 (containing standards
of nine fruits and vegetables approved by the
Standing Committee on fresh fruits and
vegetables, APEDA, i.e., limes, lemons,
grapefruits, mandarins, oranges, walnuts in the
shell, shelled walnuts, amla, and potatoes) has
been published in the Gazette of India
(extraordinary), Part II, Section 3, sub section (i)
on 12 October 2009 vide GSR No. 743(E) dated
7 October 2009.
10.18 Till date (up to 30 November 2009), 112
Commodities Grading and Marking Rules
covering 202 agricultural commodities have been
notified under the provisions of the AP (G&M)
Act, 1937. All the final notifications have been
uploaded on the AGMARKNET website
www.agmarknet.nic.in for the benefit of its users.
10.19 Agricultural commodities valued at Rs.
7,865.25 crore were certified under AGMARK for
domestic trade during the year 2008-09.
Agricultural commodities valued at Rs. 241.08
crore were certified under AGMARK for exports
during the year 2008-09. A total of 5,742
Certificate of Authorisation holders were
functioning for grading and marking of
agricultural commodities for domestic trade and
445 Certificate of Authorisation holders were
functioning for exports by the end of March 2009.
10.20 During 2008-09, a total revenue of
Rs. 11.22 crore was realised by the DMI on
account of grading charges, etc. During 2009-