South Asian countries collaborate to boost export of special agricultural products through OCOP initiative

Bangkok– Senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce, along with agricultural trade experts from six South Asian countries, convened virtually for a regional consultation aimed at boosting exports of special agricultural products (SAPs) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s (FAO) flagship One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative. 

The consultation was co-organized by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia (SSWA) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The event brought together nearly 50 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to explore how better market intelligence can unlock trade opportunities for SAPs.

Market information, key to unlocking the potential of SAPs

This was the first in a series of consultations under the OCOP initiative in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen a vital component of SAP value chains: timely and accurate access to market information on high-value but underutilized agrifood products. Hafiz Muminjanov, OCOP Secretariat Global Coordinator, provided an overview of progress and achievements of the initiative’s implementation worldwide. 

 “Access to accurate and updated market information is vital for increased marketing and consumption of healthy and nutritious food products based on SAPs, which have immense potential for improving both food and nutrition security and the livelihoods of tens of millions of smallholder producers in Asia and the Pacific,” said Robert Simpson, Deputy Regional Representative, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, Director of the FAO Markets and Trade Division, emphasized that the consultation marked “a strategic step towards positioning the SAPs of South Asia more competitively in the world market.”

Rajan Sudesh Ratna, Deputy Head of ESCAP’s SSWA Office, added that the SAPs identified by South Asian countries present significant export opportunities. “Nations need to take action to move up the value chain by processing these products within the country rather than exporting them in raw form.”

A snapshot of the webinar. © FAO

OCOP Market Information Bulletin

FAO presented country-specific briefs on the identified SAPs, which include jackfruit (Bangladesh), quinoa (Bhutan), large cardamom (Nepal), millets (India), chilgoza or pine nuts (Pakistan), and red rice (Sri Lanka). This was followed by an overview of international market trends on the SAPs as well as the challenges and opportunities for enhancing exports, based on the OCOP Market Information Bulletin. 

Developed by the OCOP Asia-Pacific Regional Secretariat, the Market Information Bulletin is designed to provide policymakers, exporters, and producers with relevant and timely data and analysis, supporting improved access to both domestic and international markets. 

Discussions focused on several key areas:

• Strengthening real-time data collection, analysis, and dissemination to enhance the effectiveness of the Market Information Bulletin. 
• Leveraging the unique qualities of SAPs to unlock their full export potential and increase domestic value addition.
• Addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting SAP exports.
• Integrating SAPs into global value chains.

Country representatives shared national experiences and highlighted challenges related to market intelligence gaps, production constraints, and value addition. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka stressed the need for introducing new eight-digit tariff lines for jackfruit and red rice exports, respectively. Bhutan, Nepal, and India underscored the impact of non-tariff barriers on the exports of quinoa, large cardamom, and millets. Several countries also emphasized the need for enhanced regional collaboration and policy coordination to address these challenges. 

The consultation served as an important platform for South Asian countries to collaborate under the OCOP framework, exchange best practices, and identify actionable steps towards improving market access and trade opportunities for SAPs in the region and beyond.