J&K: Administrative Efforts Help Locally-Produced Agri Goods Reach Global Markets

This increase in demand has given new life to J&K's locally produced goods. Young people are coming up with new ideas and innovations to capitalize on the potential of local goods in the Union Territory.

The idea for promoting 'Brand J&K' came from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government after it abolished J&K's special status under Article 375 of the Constitution and divided the state into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on August 5, 2019.

The administration of Jammu and Kashmir recently formed an expert committee to develop an export promotion policy for the Union Territory to increase annual agricultural exports from the region. Over the next five years, the panel will identify agricultural commodities and increase agricultural exports from Rs 190 crore to Rs 3,000 crore. 

It would also create commodity-specific export promotion recommendations that would cover both strategic and operational aspects of the export, as well as provide all necessary technical inputs to the agriculture production department. The new policy aims to promote 'brand Jammu and Kashmir' for its pristine Agro-climatic conditions, uniqueness, and near-organic quality.

The export policy will concentrate on market access initiatives supported by export promotion organizations, trade promotion organizations, national-level institutions, research institutions, universities, laboratories, and exporters to increase exports by entering new markets or increasing market share in existing markets.

The government wants to shift the focus from simply harvesting and selling produce locally to a demand-driven supply activity focusing on GI tagging, processing, stringent quality control, international certifications, traceability, branding, and marketing of the produce. To combat counter branding, nine J&K products- Kani Shawl, Pashmina, Sozini Craft, Papier-Macihe, Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, Hand Knotted Carpets, Kashmir Saffron, and Basmati- will be issued GI tags after 2019.

Saffron and basmati rice with GI have gained worldwide acceptance and helped preserve their quality. Other products on the GI list include Kashmir's indigenous rice varieties, honey, and a few spices. In addition to issuing GI tags, the government has reduced procedural formalities for export transactions by expediting the processing of export-related documents such as licences and import/export codes.

These steps were taken to connect the Single Window Interface for Trade system to a Single Desk Portal. Over the last three years, the Jammu and Kashmir Trade and Export Policy has been restructured in accordance with the Federation of Indian Export Organizations' recommendations.