1.   

US India Business Delegation Meets Indian Agriculture Minister

With a view to collaborate with Indian governments initiative on public private partnership in agriculture sector, an executive level delegation of US India Business Council having representatives from Food and Agriculture sector meet the Indian agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh recently. Detailing the purpose of their visit the delegation said that they have come to express their commitment to advancing agricultural development in India and discuss areas where the government and industry can collaborate.

2.   

Following the footsteps of Sikkim, Meghalaya to take organic route

Following in the footsteps of Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram which decided to go 100 organic, the Meghalaya government is set to initiate a process to get its horticultural and agricultural produce certified as "organically produced". "Traditionally Meghalaya is a producer of organic crops with the slash and burn method of agriculture in practice among farmers for a long time, so what is needed is to certify them as organically-produced", Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture, government of Meghalaya P. Kharkongor said.

3.   

India assures Afghanistan of cooperation in agriculture

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Thursday assured the Afghanistan Ambassador Shaida Moh Abdali of cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. Abdali today met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and expressed thanks to Government of India for extending cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, an official statement said today.

4.   

Fruity future as horticulture production beats grains

In 2012-13, national horticulture production (at over 268 million tonnes or MT) for the first time exceeded food grains (262 MT) production. This positive development is expected to help change the economic scenario for farmers taking up horticulture. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is now consciously promoting horticulture, including promoting more investment. "ICAR is stressing on quality horticulture, including taste and nutrient value, which will increase farmers' income," N Krishna Kumar, deputy director general of horticulture, told TOI.