Kashmir cherry growers pin hopes on rail cargo to cut losses, boost returns
Ganderbal accounts for nearly 65 per cent of the Valleys cherry production, with around 1,200 hectares under cultivation. Basharat Ahmad, a cherry grower from central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, says the planned transport of cherries via parcel trains to markets outside Jammu and Kashmir offers fresh hope for farmers battling heavy losses.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India-New Zealand FTA duty concessions under to help boost exports of single malt whisky: CIABC
Duty concessions on Indian liquor under the free trade agreement with New Zealand will boost exports of single malt whisky and enhance price competitiveness for other items in the island nation, industry body CIABC said on Tuesday. The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) also said that given the current low export base, the agreement is likely to support market entry and brand building, particularly in segments such as whisky, rum and premium Indian spirits.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Visiting Canada next month to speed up FTA negotiations: Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said he will visit Canada next month to speed up negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). On March 2, India and Canada launched negotiations for the agreement with an aim to finalise the pact soon.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Andhra Govt Evaluating Apple Cultivation After Rayalaseema Farmer Succeeds With Temperate Climate Fruit
The KLD apple varietys adaptation to local conditions and realising higher prices than traditional growers in the northern states has sprung a surprise. After several years of dominating India's apple market, north Indian states Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh may see a challenger emerging from the southern part of the country, Andhra Pradesh, in the years to come. The unexpected success of an enterprising state farmer in growing the temperate climate fruit in drought-prone Anantapur district has created a sensation, spurring the state government to look at the possibility of scaling up this novel horticultural activity.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
Indian grape prices range from US$42 to US$240 as arrivals remain low
Grape markets across India showed wide price variation and low arrivals on April 24, 2026, reflecting localized supply chains where demand, grading, and logistics influence price formation. Across key producing and consuming states, including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh, prices ranged from Rs 3,500 to Rs 20,000 per quintal (US$42–240 per quintal), depending on location, quality, and volumes. Most mandis recorded arrivals below one metric ton, indicating limited aggregation.
Source: freshplaza.com
FSSAI brings order to food recall by launching functionality within FoSCoS
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a new Food Recall functionality within its existing FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) platform. This digital upgrade is designed to speed up the retrieval of hazardous food items from the market and provide citizens with real-time safety alerts. The initiative follows the Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2017, which mandates a transparent process for removing sub-standard or dangerous products from the supply chain. By moving this process to the FoSCoS portal, the FSSAI aims to replace manual tracking with a streamlined, automated system.
Source: fnbnews.com
Ready-to-drink beverage market to reach $40 bn by 2030
Indias ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverage market is entering a new growth phase, expected to reach $40 billion by 2030, doubling from $20 billion in 2025, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants. This growth is being driven by a structural shift in the purchase and consumption patterns of beverages moving from planned stock-up buying to immediate, need-based consumption, enabled by the rapid rise of quick commerce experiencing 100%+ growth in the RTD category, which makes it an essential driver for both trial and repeat purchases.
Source: fnbnews.com
Progress of Area Coverage under Summer Crops as on 24.04.2026
Progress of Area Coverage under Summer Crops as on 24.04.2026
Source: pib.gov.in
Basmati exporters forum seeks measure of reasonableness from shipping companies
The Basmati Rice Farmers and Exporters Development Forum (BFEDF) has criticised the role of shipping lines in dealing with shipments of basmati rice stranded at inland container depots (ICDs), transhipment hubs such as Jebel Ali in the UAE, and mid-sea. The situation is a fallout of the Iran war that has resulted in the Strait of Hormuz being blocked. BFEDF Chairperson Priyanka Mittal, told businessline in an interview that shipping lines have behaved hypocritically in the whole issue. Shipping lines are taking a very asymmetrical position concerning force majeure. They are saying we cant deliver the product because its force majeure we invoke it because of war she said.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
J&K fruit trade needs modernisation, direct market access: NITI Aayog report
The report called for strengthening farmer collectivisation through farmer producer organisations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs) and primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), in addition to investments in storage facilities and cold chain networks The marketing of fruits in Jammu and Kashmir remains largely traditional, dominated by contractors and commission agents, limiting returns for growers, according to a NITI Aayog report outlining a roadmap for horticulture development in the Union Territory by 2047.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com