1.   

Private sector joins hands with government to raise grape, pomegranate exports

Mahindra, Bayer and United Phosphorous are some of the top farm companies that have joined hands with the Maharashtra government to improve the yield of grapes and pomegranates for which India has become a major exporter but suffered setbacks due to various reasons. Indian grape exports suffered a major setback in 2010 after the European Union detected a residue of plant growth regulator chloremaquat above the prescribed EU levels.

2.   

India, Iran agree to step up economic and trade ties

In his dealings with Iran’s top leaders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must have felt like the ancient Greeks who had to navigate between the mythical sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. As he sat down with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei for a rare one-on-one meeting, the Prime Minister had to strike the right balance between keeping the Iranians, who have their back to the international wall.

3.   

India, Australia join hands to develop iron-rich bananas

Eating bananas could well be the next best thing in the fight against anaemia soon. Indian and Australian researchers have joined hands to develop iron-rich bananas that could help women with iron deficiency. Bananas contain vitamin B6, fibre and potassium. Globally more than 100 billion bananas are consumed annually, making it the largest agricultural product after wheat, rice and corn.

4.   

India, World's first 100% organic state: A goal to reach by 2015.

Indian State Sikkim’s new mantra is “Become Organic”. The goal is to certify the entire agriculture by 2015. Sikkim is the less populated Indian State (less than 500,000 inhabitants for an area of 7,096 sq km) that confines with the Himalaya. It was the first Indian State to introduce organic agriculture about 10 years ago when in 2003 Prime Minister Pawan Chamling took the proposition of resolution to convert the whole State to organics to the National Assembly.