Context:
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), facilitated the export of over 30 tonnes of cashew on National Cashew Day (23rd November).
About Cashew:
- Origin: Native to Brazil
- Introduced in the Malabar coast by Portuguese in the 16th century.
- Soil and climate: Well-drained deep sandy loam soils.
- Temperature: Range of 20 to 38 degree Celsius.
- Relative humidity: 60 to 95%
- Annual precipitation: 2000 to 3500 mm.
- India – 2nd largest producer and exporter of Cashew Nuts.
- Major Cashew producing states: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Top export destinations – UAE, Netherlands, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA):
- Statutory body under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Act of 1985.
- Ministry – Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Objective – To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
- Scheduled products: Products specified under the APEDA ACT
- Headquarters – New Delhi
- Provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development of scheduled products.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:
1. ‘The National Programme for Organic Production’ (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
2. ‘The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’ (APEDA) functions as the secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
