3 fortified rice brands unveiled at UP workshop
The brands have been launched by Millers for Nutrition, working closely with rice millers and industry stakeholders Three fortified rice brands -- Nutri Crown Fortified Rice by Shree Ram Foods, Nutri Pro Rice by VistaarX, and Grainova Poshan Rice by Jain Industries -- were unveiled at the workshop ‘Unlocking market potential: Advancing fortified rice in Uttar Pradesh’ in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Extreme heat tests India's record milk production
The dairy sector accounts for roughly 5% of India's GDP and supports more than 80 million farmers During a summer of extreme heat with temperature topping 40 degrees Celsius last year, much like northern India is currently experiencing, dairy farmer Neeraj Bharadwaj watched one of his cows deliver a calf months early. The newborn was tiny and almost hairless. People said it would not survive, but Bharadwaj bottle fed it milk until it slowly recovered.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to visit India soon, FTA among key agenda items: MEA
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to visit India soon, with discussions expected to focus on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), trade and investment, as well as security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. Details of the visit are still awaited. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'On the visit of the Foreign Secretary of the UK, we will keep you informed of the schedule. Our relationship with the United Kingdom involves a large gamut of issues, including economic, security, and defence cooperation. When the Foreign Secretary is here, we will discuss all these issues, including the Free Trade Agreement and how we can scale up our trade and investment ties. The Trade Secretary is also currently in India, and the Ministry of Commerce will likely provide a readout of those meetings'.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, UK discuss sticking points delaying free trade pact rollout
India and the UK on Tuesday discussed the 'sticking points' that are delaying the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the two countries. The pact was signed in July last year. The issues came up for discussion during the meeting between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and UK Permanent Secretary Amanda Brooks.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
States asked to focus on sowing pulses, oilseeds
India's government is urging states to focus on pulses and oilseeds for the upcoming kharif sowing season. This directive comes amid predictions of below-normal monsoon rains and potential disruptions in fertilizer supplies. The aim is to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports. Efforts are underway to improve seed availability and farming techniques for these crucial crops.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Garlic economy grows in Kashmir as bumper crop boosts trade
Kashmir farmers report good production and improved rates over last year Kashmir's garlic industry has witnessed a major upswing this year, with farmers and traders reporting a bumper harvest, better market prices and strong demand from different parts of the country, turning the crop into an increasingly important contributor to the Valley’s agricultural economy. The season has brought optimism among growers, particularly in rural areas where garlic cultivation has steadily expanded in recent years. According to traders and farmer groups, thousands of truckloads of garlic are being exported from Kashmir to markets across India, particularly southern states where consumption remains high.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
The next phase of India’s agricultural transformation must be export-oriented, standards-driven, and value-chain centric
Improving standards compliance, institutional coordination, and farmer-market linkages is critical for enhancing India's competitiveness in global agri-food trade. India stands at a pivotal moment in global agri-food trade. It is among the world’s largest producers of rice, milk, spices, fruits, fisheries, and several horticulture products, yet its share in global agricultural exports remains modest at around 2.2 per cent. The contradiction is striking: a country with vast production capacity still struggles to fully translate its agricultural strength into sustained global competitiveness.
Source: downtoearth.org.in
'US-India trade talks on commas and full stops now': Piyush Goyal
India and US have finalised most elements of the legal text of the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement, with negotiations now focused on "commas and full stops", commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Monday, but the treaty, in the works for 15 months, will only be sealed after there is clarity on how the Trump administration deals with the tariff mechanism once the current 10% levy goes away next month. While US is expected to rely on Section 301, under which India faces two probes, along with several other countries, govt wants to ensure that exports from the country retain tariff advantage compared with rival nations.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
India's exports hit $43.56 billion in April as shipments record double-digit growth
The country's exports have recorded a double-digit growth during April-May 2026-27, a senior government official said on Monday. he Commerce Ministry will release the trade data for May on June 15. "During the two months, exports are in double-digit growth," the official said. Exports rose by 13.78 per cent to USD 43.56 billion in April, the highest monthly outbound shipments in more than four years, driven by petroleum products amid a surge in crude oil prices, but the trade deficit widened to a three-month high of USD 28.38 billion due to an uptick in imports.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India and Oman energize a new Trade Gateway through a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Today, the India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force marking a defining milestone in bilateral economic relations and opening a transformative new chapter in strategic trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. The India-Oman CEPA was signed on 18th December, 2025 in Muscat in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said. After completion of internal processes by both sides, the Agreement has entered into force on 1st June, 2026.
Source: www.pib.gov.in