World Bee Day 2026: India’s honey boom has a hidden sting.
India exported over a lakh metric tonnes of honey last year. It has climbed from the ninth to the second-largest exporter in the world in just five years, a significant rise that makes it one of India’s quieter agricultural success stories. India’s Sweet Revolution is backed by Rs 500 crore of investment through the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM). However, there is another number that the export dashboard does not carry. Native bee populations across India are visibly in retreat — a decline documented by field researchers and beekeepers alike, even as the export numbers climb. These two facts belong in the same sentence.
Source: downtoearth.org.in
Minimum export price on agri items will lift forex coffers.
On May 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian citizens to conserve precious foreign exchange in view of the West Asian crisis. Since then, the government has come up with a slew of measures, more than doubling the import duty on precious metals, hiking prices of fossil fuels and imposing curbs on silver imports. These measures will go a long way in cutting foreign exchange (forex) outgo. However, the government should have looked at increasing forex earnings, particularly on the agricultural commodities export front. Concerned over surging retail prices of sugar, it has banned the export of the commodity.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India’s Export Ambition Hinges On Import Substitution, Quality Upgrade: Goyal.
Speaking at the launch of the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav website in New Delhi, Goyal said India has set an ambitious export target of USD 1 trillion this year and USD 2 trillion over the next five years. Exports have already touched USD 863 billion, nearly 5 per cent higher than last year, despite global headwinds, with both goods and services showing growth.
Source: businessworld.in
Global Wheat Supplies Tighten as Exporter Crops Fall.
USDA’s Economic Research Service says the global wheat outlook is tightening as production falls from last year’s record. World wheat production for 2026/27 is forecast to be down by 24.8 million metric tons, though it remains the second-highest on record.
Source: rfdtv.com
Reducing food loss in India through a decade of India–Netherlands cooperation.
India is one of the world’s largest producers of horticultural crops but continues to lose significant quantities of food between harvest and retail. Over the past decade, India and the Netherlands have worked together to address this challenge through investments in cold-chain infrastructure, value-chain development, and knowledge exchange. This cooperation illustrates how combining technological innovation, private-sector engagement, and systemic approaches can help reduce food loss and strengthen agricultural supply chains.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
AI4Agri Summit 2026: Investing in India’s AI Agriculture Future.
At the AI4Agri Summit 2026 in Mumbai, a major shift appeared to be happening in Indian farming. Instead of just focusing on weather, leaders are now focusing on bringing investment and technology to the fields. As India works toward its ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ goal, Maharashtra is leading a global change by connecting Artificial Intelligence with the needs of small-scale farmers. Organised by the Government of Maharashtra, the event served as a major global platform where leaders discussed the ‘MahaAgri-AI Policy’ and the future of technology in Indian farming.
Source: ddnews.gov.in
J&K horticulture gets Clean Plant Programme boost.
Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector is set to receive a major boost under the Government of India’s ambitious Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at providing virus-free and high-quality planting material to fruit growers across the country. According to the annual report by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector, along with other states, is set to receive a major boost under the ambitious Clean Plant Programme (CPP).
Source: risingkashmir.com
Qul Fruits, CIV Italia Launch IVAR for Protected Fruit Varieties.
In a landmark development for India’s horticulture sector, Qul Fruits and Italy-based Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV Italia), one of the world’s leading fruit breeding and nursery consortia, today announced the formation of IVAR (Ivar Variety Management and Genetics Private Limited) as India’s first dedicated institutional platform for protected fruit varieties and genetics management. The press conference was addressed by Khuram Mir, Founder Qul Fruits, Federico Stanzani, Managing Director CIV, and Pier Filippo Tagliani, Vice Chairman CIV. Established as a strategic joint venture between Qul Fruits and CIV Italia, IVAR has been created to build a structured, transparent, and globally aligned framework for varietal introduction, evaluation, stewardship, licensing, and breeder protection in India, with an initial focus on the temperate fruit-growing regions of Jammu & Kashmir and the wider Himalayan belt.
Source: kashmirobserver.net
India plans to ease import rules for Vietnamese durian.
India is preparing to remove additional phytosanitary declarations and special import conditions for fresh durian from Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS). The update was included in the SPS report covering May 1-15 for members of the World Trade Organization.
Source: freshplaza.com
Global uncertainty 'opportunity for faster reform': Piyush Goyal urges industry to leverage FTAs, emerging tech.
India should use global uncertainty to accelerate reforms, strengthen supply chains and deepen engagement with the world, according to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who framed current geopolitical risks as a chance to build resilience and drive competitiveness. Addressing a session at the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASOCHAM) on Tuesday on ease of doing business, the Union Minister said the government was working to make India a trusted partner for investment and exports as the country advanced toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com