Government to launch multi-lingual AI tool Bharat-VISTAAR for agriculture sector.
The government will launch a multi-lingual artificial intelligence tool 'Bharat-VISTAAR' to integrate agristack portals and ICAR package on farm practices, a move that will help provide customised advisory support to farmers. In her budget speech on Sunday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of 'Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources)'.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Farm jam: Budget bets on nuts, cocoa, fisheries to boost agri value.
The budget’s thrust on high-value farm produce and allied sectors will help India cut import dependence, raise farm incomes, strengthen exports, and modernise agricultural practices, experts said, pointing to a fresh look at areas that may have been relative stragglers in drawing sufficient funds over the past few years.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Despite tariff pressure, Indian shrimp exports grew in 2025.
Data from October and November 2025 shows Indian shrimp exports found a way to succeed despite U.S. tariffs, according to industry blog ShrimpInsights. 'Growth was front-loaded and mid-year driven, but the imposition of higher U.S. tariffs in October led to a visible shift in trade flows rather than an outright slowdown,' ShrimpInsights Founder and Analyst Willem van der Pijl said in a recent trade update.
Source: seafoodsource.com
Centre, States Align to Scale AgriStack Across Schemes and Services at the National Workshop on AgriStack.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare today organised a National Workshop on 'AgriStack & AI in Agriculture: Now, Next & Beyond' at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The workshop, held in follow-up to the 5th Conference of Chief Secretaries, focused on translating agreed national action points into time-bound implementation for building a smart, data-driven and farmer-centric agricultural ecosystem.
Source: pib.gov.in
Modi Government Lays Out Clear Roadmap to Double Farmers’ Income.
The Modi government on Thursday sought to answer the long-pending question of the farming community—how to double farmers’ income—with a multi-pronged strategy centred on productivity gains, policy push and institutional reforms, as outlined in the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Survey makes it clear that the objective of doubling farmers’ income is being pursued through a mission-mode approach, combining technology adoption, input support, market reforms, income support and risk mitigation.
Source: himbumail.com
Canada looks to fast-track India trade talks, invites Commerce minister Piyush Goyal for FTA push.
Canada has conveyed its intent to expedite the launch of formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, signalling a reset in bilateral trade engagement after talks were paused in 2023, PTI reported citing an official statement on Wednesday. Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Maninder Sidhu has invited Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to visit the country in the third week of next month, the official added, as both sides move to firm up the next steps.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Eco-survey hails J’khand’s GIS-based climate smart agriculture, agri stack scheme.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament by Union minister of finance and corporate affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday hailed Jharkhand’s GIS-based climate-smart agriculture and agri stack scheme (2024), calling it among some of the state-level innovations with potential to drive India’s agriculture story forward. The survey also cited how targeted agricultural reforms equipped with technology promise to yield positive outcomes.In 2024, Jharkhand launched the GIS-based climate-smart agriculture and agri stack scheme to enable farm-level tracking and climate-informed planning, with outcome indicators still in development, the survey said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Trade deals, diversification to strengthen exports momentum.
India's export momentum is expected to strengthen, supported by advancing bilateral trade negotiations with the US, trade agreements with other major economies, and continued efforts to diversify export markets. Countries are pursuing beggar-thy-neighbour trade policies, and export licensing is now more the norm than the exception, the survey said. Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations said that exports have performed better than expectations.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Trade deal talks with US may end this year, says Economic Survey.
India’s ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement with the United States are expected to conclude during the year, which could help reduce uncertainty on the external front, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. The Survey said global conditions currently pose external uncertainties for India rather than immediate macroeconomic stress. It noted that slower growth in major trading partners, tariff-related disruptions to trade, and volatility in capital flows could at times affect exports and investor sentiment.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Local MSMEs seek export diversification, GST relief in Union Budget.
Ahead of the Union Budget to be presented on Feb 1, Rajasthan's leading industry bodies called for wide-ranging reforms to ease compliance, strengthen exports, and prepare Indian industry for technology-driven growth amid global uncertainty. While CII Rajasthan said the Budget must focus on translating ease-of-doing-business intent into time-bound execution, the Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry (FORTI) urged the Centre to facilitate industry to expand exports to African markets. Sanjay Agarwal, chairman, CII Rajasthan, outlined key proposals for Union Budget 2026–27, focusing on regulatory reforms, technology readiness, and manufacturing resilience. He suggested incentivising states to grant approvals only through the National Single Window System (NSWS), with real-time ranking to drive accountability.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com