Govt drafts customs playbook for 100 imports to streamline FTA benefits.
The government is creating a customs playbook for key imported goods. This initiative aims to standardize the faceless customs regime across India. It will reduce disputes and speed up clearance times for businesses. The playbook will help companies utilize free trade agreement benefits effectively. This reform seeks to improve ease of doing business and trade efficiency.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India-UK trade pact to boost agri, auto exports with lower tariffs, better market access: Experts.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is expected to strengthen India's agricultural and automotive exports by improving market access, lowering tariffs and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian products in the UK, according to industry experts. The trade pact, which came into force on July 15, provides duty-free or preferential tariff treatment for a range of agricultural and processed food products, while also reducing or eliminating duties on automobiles and auto components exported from India.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, Africa powerful force for global progress: Jaishankar.
Africa is India's partner and its 'priority', and whether one speaks of a multipolar world order or of a reformed multilateralism, it will happen only when the continent is 'given its due place', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. In his address at an event marking Africa Day 2026, Jaishankar said India continues to maintain close contact with the African Union and looks forward to reconvening the deferred India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-4).
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Shift from production to agri-food value chains key to raise farm incomes: ICAR's Jat.
India must shift from a production-centric agriculture model to an agri-food value chain approach to boost farmers' incomes, drive diversification and create rural jobs, said M L Jat, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR on Tuesday. Jat said agriculture is shifting from a production-only model to one focused on entrepreneurship, value addition and integrated value chains. He added that this shift is key to raising farm incomes and meeting the country’s long-term development goals.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Traditional craft, global reach: India's GI ecosystem gathers momentum
Geographical Indication (GI) tags are emerging as a key driver of India’s heritage economy by protecting traditional products, improving rural livelihoods, and expanding access to domestic and international markets. Backed by policy support, legal protection, and export promotion initiatives, the country’s GI ecosystem is steadily transforming local craftsmanship into globally recognised brands. A GI tag certifies that a product originates from a specific geographical region and possesses qualities or characteristics linked to that location. Beyond safeguarding traditional knowledge and preventing imitation, the certification helps artisans, weavers, farmers, and producer groups receive greater recognition and better prices for their products.
Source: ddindia.co.in
As the 'GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit' starts in Delhi, India needs to reflect on hurdles in harnessing potential of GIs for agricultural commodities
The term Geographical Indication (GI) is used to denote a link between the quality characteristics, reputation or other characteristics of a good and its origin. In general, GIs are a form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). However, they differ from the other forms of IPRs in that, they are collectively owned and often used as a multifunctional tool to achieve the development objectives. GIs around the world help protect product distinctiveness, preserve cultural heritage, and thereby contribute to regional prosperity through higher economic returns. In the case of developing countries like India, GIs are seen as a relatively new concept that is conceived not on the basis of the realised needs of the producers but rather as an obligatory part under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
Source: downtoearth.org.in
Farmers voice strong support for Ethanol after meeting Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Farmer leaders from across the country have expressed strong support for the expansion of ethanol production, describing it as a major opportunity to boost farm incomes and strengthen India’s energy security, during a meeting with Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Krishi Bhavan on Tuesday. A delegation of the All India Kisan Coordination Committee (AIKCC), comprising representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other states, held detailed discussions with the Minister on issues related to ethanol, farmers' income, minimum support price (MSP), agricultural markets and the proposed National Agriculture Policy.
Source: ddindia.co.in
Beyond Trade: Building the India–Africa Agrifood Partnership
The India-Africa relationship has reached an important inflexion point. Political commitment to South-South cooperation is well established, but the challenge now lies in translating that commitment into institutionalisation and implementation. The expansion of BRICS has created a timely institutional opportunity to deepen this partnership. With Egypt and Ethiopia now full members and India holding the BRICS Chairship through 2026, the grouping provides a broader platform to scale bilateral initiatives, promote joint research, mobilise investment and strengthen agrifood cooperation across the Global South. The central question is no longer whether India and Africa should work together, but how that partnership can deliver measurable outcomes for farmers, consumers and economic development.
Source: orfonline.org
MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICES (MSPs) FOR ALL CROPS
Every year, Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops for the country as a whole, based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of the State Governments and Central Ministries / Departments concerned. The Union Budget for 2018-19 had announced the pre-determined principle to keep MSPs at levels of at least one and half times of the cost of production. Accordingly, Government had increased MSPs for all mandated Kharif, Rabi and other commercial crops with a minimum margin of 50 percent over all India weighted average cost of production from year 2018-19 onwards.
Source: pib.gov.in
SUPPORT FOR FARMER PRODUCER ORGANISATION
The Government is implementing the Central Sector Scheme for "Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). 10,000 FPOs have been formed under the scheme since 2020-21. FPOs undertake a wide range of business activities including agri-input supply, aggregation and trading of agricultural produce, value addition and processing, seed production, digital commerce through e-market places, custom hiring services & export promotion. From the audited financial statements 2024-25 of the scheme FPOs, 6964 FPOs had a turnover of up to Rs.50 Lakh, 862 FPOs had a turnover of Rs.50 Lakh to Rs.1 Crore and 1135 FPOs had a turnover of over Rs.1 Crore.
Source: pib.gov.in