<p data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">NEW DELHI — Unified Inter-Ministerial Directive Deploys Priority Berthing, Dedicated Perishable Corridors, and Automated Phytosanitary Pre-Clearances to Slash Port Dwell Times for Agri-Commodities</b></p><p data-path-to-node="4" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">In a major institutional push to shield India’s farm-to-ship supply chains from costly logistical delays and post-harvest degradation, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)—under the Department of Commerce—have formally established a unified inter-agency operational framework to streamline agricultural export flows across all major maritime gateways.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Formulated in direct coordination with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the joint directive establishes standardized operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at reducing seaport dwell times for perishable, refrigerated (reefer), and containerized agri-commodities by more than 40%.</p><h5 data-path-to-node="7" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Priority Port-Side Infrastructure and Fast-Track Corridors</b></h5><p data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Historically, agricultural exporters navigating Indian deepwater ports faced compounding turnaround friction due to mixed cargo gate queues, delayed statutory clearances, and competition with heavy industrial freight for active berth windows. The new inter-agency mechanism addresses these bottlenecks through dedicated port-side interventions:</p><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Priority Berthing Windows for Agri-Freighters:</b> Major port trusts and private terminal operators will allocate scheduled priority berthing slots for vessels handling time-sensitive agricultural and perishable export consignments, preventing extended anchorage waiting times.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Dedicated Green Corridors &amp; Pre-Gate Lanes:</b> Port authorities are establishing segregated, rapid-access gate lines for reefer trucks and containerized agri-cargo, backed by automated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and optical character recognition (OCR) systems to eliminate quayside congestion.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Integrated On-Dock Cold Staging Infrastructure:</b> The directive mandates the expansion of high-density plug-in stations and temperature-controlled pre-cooling staging areas inside port perimeters, safeguarding sensitive horticultural, dairy, and floricultural shipments against thermal excursions.</p></li></ul><h5 data-path-to-node="11" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Digital Convergence and Single-Window Pre-Clearance</b></h5><p data-path-to-node="12" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">A cornerstone of the MoPSW–APEDA initiative is the digital integration of agricultural traceability platforms with national maritime single-window systems.</p><p data-path-to-node="13" id="p-rc_26658cbbb2a1dff2-182" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="13,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">APEDA’s digital export certification engines (including <i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="56" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Hortinet</i>, <i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="66" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">TraceNet</i>, and <i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="80" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Basmati.Net</i>) are now directly interfaced with the CBIC’s ICEGATE customs portal and the Maritime Single Window (<i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="192" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Sagar Setu</i>)</span><span data-path-to-node="13,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="13,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. This interoperability allows phytosanitary certifications, digital certificates of origin, and laboratory testing clearances to be processed simultaneously before the cargo arrives at the port gate</span><span data-path-to-node="13,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="13,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1245712290="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1245712290="" _nghost-ng-c4000927477="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="14" id="p-rc_26658cbbb2a1dff2-183" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="14,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">By shifting from manual, multi-agency physical audits to automated, risk-based digital pre-clearances, export containers that meet verified quality compliance benchmarks can transition straight from inland freight corridors directly to vessel loading bays without undergoing redundant destination de-stuffing checks</span><span data-path-to-node="14,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="14,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1245712290="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h5 data-path-to-node="16" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b>Insulating Farm Exports and Boosting Price Realization</b></h5><p data-path-to-node="17" id="p-rc_26658cbbb2a1dff2-184" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="17,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The accelerated maritime framework arrives at a vital juncture as India's agricultural export basket—spanning Basmati rice, fresh fruits, vegetables, marine products, and GI-tagged niche specialties—continues its rapid expansion into high-value consumer markets across the Middle East, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific</span><span data-path-to-node="17,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="17,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1245712290="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="18" id="p-rc_26658cbbb2a1dff2-185" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="18,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways noted that the initiative directly complements the broader targets of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan</span><span data-path-to-node="18,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. By eliminating structural export friction, the coordinated framework protects thin agrarian export margins, cuts demurrage overheads, and strengthens the international competitiveness of Indian agribusinesses on the global stage</span><span data-path-to-node="18,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2100481332="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2100481332="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span></p>