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Nature, Sustainability, World

New FAO GIAHS designations include ones in China, Iran and the Republic of Korea

A pasture system in Andorra, hay milk in Austria, areas growing chestnuts, white ginger and waxberries in China, flood-spreading gardens a walnut cultivating region in Iran and an all-female fishery in the Republic of Korea have become the latest additions to Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

The systems, formally designated during a meeting of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group taking place in Rome from November 7 to 10 included the first ones to be approved from Andorra and Austria. Meanwhile, additional sites in China, Iran and the Republic of Korea again highlight the key role played by Asia’s traditional agricultural practices in food security and combating climate change and biodiversity loss.

Under the flagship programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the selection criteria stipulate that sites must be of global importance, have value as a public good, support food and livelihood security, agro-biodiversity, sustainable knowledge systems and practices, social values and culture as well as outstanding landscapes. “Now over 20 years strong, GIAHS has proven to be a great model for showcasing longstanding practices to render agrifood systems more resilient to climate change,” said Maria Helena Semedo FAO Deputy Director-General.

With the newest addition to the global agricultural heritage systems list, FAO’s worldwide agricultural heritage network now consists of 86 systems in 26 countries around the globe. 

New FAO GIAHS designations include ones in

Horticulture, North America, Supply Chain, Trade

Removal of additional retaliatory duties and additional rates for the import of US apples, walnuts and almonds will not result in any negative impact on domestic producers

With the decision to resolve six outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes between the US and India through Mutually Agreed Solutions in June 2023, India has withdrawn additional duties on eight US-origin products, including apples, walnuts and almonds vide notification number 53/2023 (Custom).

Additional duties of 20 per cent each on apples and walnuts and Rs 20 per kg on Almonds were imposed on the US’s products in 2019 over and above the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty as a retaliation to the US’s state protectionist measure of increasing tariffs on certain steel and Aluminium products. These additional duties imposed by India on US-origin products have been withdrawn as the US agreed to provide market access to Steel and Aluminium products under the exclusion process. There is no reduction on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples, walnuts and almonds, which still applies to all imported products, including US-origin products, at 50 per cent, 100 per cent and Rs 100 per kg, respectively.

Further, DGFT, vide its notification number 05/ 2023 dated 8 May 2023, made an amendment in import policy for Apples under ITC (HS) 08081000 by applying MIP (Minimum Import Price) of Rs 50 per Kg for imports from all countries except Bhutan. Therefore, this MIP will also apply to apples from the US and other countries (excluding Bhutan). This measure would protect against the dumping of low-quality apples and from any predatory pricing in the Indian market.

This measure will not result in any negative impact on domestic apple, walnut and almond producers. Rather, it will result in competition in the premium market segment of apples, walnuts and almonds, thereby ensuring better quality at competitive prices for our Indian consumers. Thus, the US apples, walnuts and almonds would compete on the same level playing field as all other countries.

The market share of the US apples dwindled as other countries benefited from the imposition of additional retaliatory duties on the US apple and walnut imports. This is evident in the increase of apple imports from countries besides the US, from $ 160 million in FY 2018-19 to $ 290 million in FY 2022-23. Turkey, Italy, Chile, Iran, and New Zealand emerged as prominent apple exporters to India, effectively acquiring the market share once held by the US. Similarly, in the case of walnuts, the imports increased from $ 35.11 million in FY 2018-19 to $ 53.95 million in FY 2022-23, and Chile and UAE became the largest exporters to India. In the last three years, the import of almonds has been about 233 thousand MT, while domestic production is only 11 thousand MT, and India is highly dependent on imports. Therefore, the removal of additional duties will now ensure fair competition among the countries which are exporting these products to India.     

Removal of additional retaliatory duties and additional

AgroPolicy, Horticulture, Supply Chain, Trade

Apples from the US to compete on the level playing field with other countries

With the decision to the resolution of six outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes between the US and India through mutually agreed solutions as jointly communicated during the official state visit of the Prime Minister to the USA, India will remove additional duties on eight US products, including apples.  

The decision will not result in any negative impact on domestic apple producers and will result in competition in the premium market segment ensuring better quality at better prices for consumers.

After the removal of this duty, the apples from the US would compete on a level playing field with other countries.

The decision will ensure that only premium quality apples could be imported for which there exists a specific market segment and specific demand.

An additional 20 per cent duty was imposed on US apples in 2019 in response to USA’s measure to increase tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products. There is no reduction on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples which is still applicable on all imported apples including in the USA at 50 per cent.

The import of apples from the world has been stable in the range of $ 239 – 305 million (except in 2021-22 when it was $ 385 million) in the last five financial years since the application of these additional duties on US apples. The import of apples from the USA has decreased from $ 145 million (127,908 Ton) in FY 2018-19 to only $ 5.27 million (4,486 Ton) in FY 2022-23.

The market share of the US apples was taken by other countries due to the imposition of additional retaliatory duty on US apples. This is reflected as the import of apples from countries other than the US increased from $ 160 million in FY 2018-19 to $ 290 million in FY 2022-23. Turkey, Italy, Chile, Iran and New Zealand are other top exporters to India of apples which took the market share of the US.

Apples from the US to compete on

AgroPolicy, India, Supply Chain, Trade

The trade between Iran and India reached $510 million in the first quarter of this year

Agricultural officials of Iran and India have agreed to form a joint committee for agricultural cooperation between the two countries within the next three months, According to the Iran media.

The agreement was signed in a meeting between Mohammad Mehdi Borumandi Iran’s Deputy Agriculture Minister and Manoj Ahuja Secretary of India’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry in New Delhi.

Borumandi, recently visited New Delhi to hold talks on the agricultural cooperation between Iran and India and met with his Indian counterpart to review the latest status of bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture.

The officials also agreed to hold the first joint working group on agricultural cooperation between the two countries in the near future.

In the meeting, Borumandi stressed Iran’s readiness for cooperation in various fields including horticultural products, medicinal plants, combating plant pests, agricultural technologies, exchange of professors and experts, and collaboration between research institutions of the two countries.

He stressed removing tariff barriers on agricultural trade as necessary for the future expansion of relations.

Manoj Ahuja announced that the ban on the exports of kiwi to India, which had been temporarily prohibited since last year due to quarantine considerations, has been lifted.

The trade between Iran and India reached $510 million in the first quarter of this year, according to the data released by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

According to the report, agricultural products, especially rice, had the largest share in India’s exports to Iran. Rice accounted for 63 per cent of the total volume of exports, while fruits with $15 million, and tea with $10 million ranked second and third.

The trade between Iran and India reached

Environment, Nature, Sustainability, World

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are communities which base their livelihoods and food security on their close relationship with their surroundings

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) awarded certificates to 24 new Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites.

The 24 sites, which have been designated by FAO since the last ceremony in 2018, are located in 12 countries, including Brazil, China, Spain, Ecuador, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Morocco.

At the award ceremony, which also marked the International Day for Biological Diversity, Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General said that many of the GIAHS had become reservoirs of biological diversity.

“In the context of agri-food systems and rural areas, we need to consider the combined conservation of biodiversity and food diversity. This is the most pragmatic way to raise public awareness of biodiversity.

“Agricultural heritage systems showcase practices that offer solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss, in particular at the local level,” he said.

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are communities which base their livelihoods and food security on their close relationship with their surroundings.

24 new Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites are:

Brazil: Traditional Agricultural System in the Southern Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais.

China: Shexian Dryland Stone Terraced System; Anxi Tieguanyin Tea Culture System; Ar Horqin Grassland Nomadic System in Inner Mongolia; Qingyuan Forest-Mushroom Co-culture System in Zhejiang Province.

Ecuador: Andean chakra: An Ancestral Agricultural System of Kichwas Cotacachi Communities; Amazonian Chakra, a traditional agroforestry system managed by Indigenous communities in Napo province.

Iran: Qanat-based Saffron Farming System in Gonabad; Grape Production System in Jowzan Valley

Italy: Soave Traditional Vineyards; Olive groves of the slopes between Assisi and Spoleto

Japan: Biwa lake to land integrated system; Fruit Cultivation System in Kyoutou Region, Yamanashi.

Republic of Korea: Geumsan Traditional Ginseng Agricultural System; Damyang Bamboo Field Agriculture System.

Mexico: Ich Kool: Mayan milpa of the Yucatan peninsula.  

Morocco: Argan-based agro-sylva-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab-Ait Mansour; The Ksour of Figuig: Oasis and Pastoral Culture Around the Social Management of Water and Land.

Spain: Agricultural System Ancient Olive Trees Territorio Sénia; Historical Irrigation System at l’Horta de València; Agrosilvopastoral system Mountains of León;

Thailand: Thale Noi Wetland Pastoral Buffalo Agro-ecosystem

Tunisia: Hanging Gardens from Djebba El Olia; Ramli Agricultural System in the Lagoons of Ghar El Melh.

 GIAHS, a flagship program of FAO, was established in 2002 to identify and protect important agricultural heritage sites and their associated biodiversity, landscapes, knowledge systems, and cultures. This network currently consists of 74 systems across the world, according to the FAO. 

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)