**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses the restructuring and strengthening of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). It outlines the budget allocation for APEDA from 2021-22 to 2025-26, details vacant and newly created posts, and describes APEDA's awareness programs and workshops in Tamil Nadu. The restructuring report was approved in January 2019.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Budget Allocation:**
* APEDA received a total allocation of Rs. 405.02 Crores for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
* Yearly allocations are approximately equally apportioned at ₹85 crores in 2021-22, ₹80 crores in 2022-23, ₹80 crores in 2023-24, ₹80 crores in 2024-25, and ₹80.02 crores in 2025-26.
* **Staffing:**
* Currently, 26 posts are vacant: 21 in Group A and 5 in Group B.
* Recruitment is underway to fill the vacant positions.
* 47 Vacancies in Group C are not to be filled, as per the APEDA Restructuring Report approved in January 2019, except for promotion to the posts of AssistantCash Executive.
* 20 new posts were created in September 2022 for APEDA Headquarters and regional offices, including Chennai.
* New posts created: 2 Deputy General Managers (Group A), 8 Assistant General Managers (Group A), and 10 Assistant Managers (Group B).
* **Restructuring:**
* The Department of Commerce approved APEDA's restructuring report in January 2019.
* The restructuring includes creation/re-designation/merger of posts, engagement of subject matter experts, opening new regional offices, and discontinuation of Group C posts.
* **Awareness Programs:**
* APEDA conducts training, sensitization, outreach, and capacity-building programs.
* These programs target stakeholders in Tamil Nadu, including government officials, farmers, FPOs, women entrepreneurs, startups, and exporters.
* The programs focus on export opportunities, certification requirements, quality standards, and organic production.
* More than 80 training programs were held in Tamil Nadu in the last financial year, with approximately 8300 participants.
**Impact Analysis**
* **APEDA:**
* *Impact:* APEDA's operations will be enhanced through increased budgetary support, staffing adjustments, and restructured organization.
* *Action Required:* APEDA needs to utilize the allocated funds effectively, fill vacant positions through the ongoing recruitment process, implement the restructuring plan, and continue conducting awareness programs.
* **Stakeholders in Tamil Nadu (Government officials, farmers, FPOs, women entrepreneurs, startups, exporters):**
* *Impact:* These stakeholders benefit from APEDA's awareness programs, which enhance their knowledge and capabilities related to agricultural and processed food product exports.
* *Action Required:* Stakeholders should actively participate in APEDA's training and capacity building programs to leverage export opportunities and adhere to quality standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA): An organization under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for promoting export of agricultural products.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry: The Indian government ministry responsible for international trade and commerce.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding APEDA was raised.
Thiru D M Kathir Anand: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding the restructuring of APEDA.
Shri Jitin Prasada: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry who answered the question regarding APEDA.
15th Finance Commission Cycle 2021-22 to 2025-26: The period for which the government allocated funds to APEDA, amounting to Rs. 405.02 Crores.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A regional center of APEDA where new posts were created and where APEDA conducts awareness programs. Place in Tamil Nadu, India.
Tamil Nadu: The state in India where APEDA conducts awareness programs and workshops to motivate entrepreneurs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 443
ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
Restructuring and Strengthening of APEDA
443. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री) be
pleased to state:
a. whether it is a fact that APEDA’s annual budget has been stagnant for many
years and more than 15 positions are lying vacant and has not been filled so
far, if so, the details thereof;
b. whether the Government has created new posts in APEDA, Chennai and other
regional centres and if so, the details thereof;
c. whether the Government has any plan for the restructuring of APEDA with
enhanced budget outlay to keep pace with the emerging new trends and
potentialities in trade, commerce and economy and if so, the details thereof;
and
d. the steps taken by the APEDA to conduct awareness programs and workshops
to motivate entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) An amount of Rs. 405.02 Crores has been allocated by Government to the
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in
the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26). The total allocation has
been apportioned in the five-year period, with yearly allocations almost equally
apportioned in the plan period, to ensure optimal and full utilization of funds. The detail
of the Budget Allocation to APEDA is as below:
1Amount in Rs. crores
Year 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Fund Allocated 85 80 80 80 80.02
A total of 26 posts (21 posts under Group-A and 05 posts under Group-B) are presently
vacant in APEDA, on account of superannuation of personnel/creation of new posts
and the recruitment process is underway to fill up these posts. The details of vacancies
in APEDA are as below:
Group A
Director General Secretary Deputy General Assistant General
Manager Manager Manager
Vacant 1 2 -- 3 15
posts
Group B
Manager Assistant Manager Junior Hindi Translator
Vacant 1 3 1
posts
As per APEDA Restructuring Report approved by the Government in January 2019,
Group C posts once vacant (47 Vacancies) are not to be filled, except for promotion
to the posts of Assistant/Cash Executive.
(b) Yes, the Government has created twenty new posts in APEDA in September 2022,
for posting in APEDA Headquarters and other regional offices, including Chennai. The
breakup and details of new posts are as below:
Name of the post Group Number of Posts
Deputy General Manager A 02
Assistant General Manager A 08
Assistant Manager B 10
Total new posts created 20
(c) The Department of Commerce had undertaken a comprehensive review of the
functioning of APEDA and had approved the restructuring report in respect of APEDA
in January 2019. The report included various recommendations which inter-alia
included creation of posts at various levels, engagement of subject matter experts, re-
designation, and merger of posts at the same pay-levels, opening of new regional
offices of APEDA, discontinuation of Group C posts etc.
2(d) APEDA, through its Headquarters and regional office at Chennai has been
organizing training, sensitization, outreach and capacity building programs, for various
stakeholders of the State, including State Government department officials, farmers &
Farmer producer organizations (FPOs), women entrepreneurs, start-ups, exporters for
creating awareness regarding export opportunities for agricultural & processed food
products, certification requirements, adherence to quality standards, organic
production and certification requirements etc. In the last financial year more than 80
training and capacity building programmes were held in the State of Tamil Nadu which
were attended by approximately 8300 participants.
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