High-density cherries transform Kashmir’s orchards, boost farmers’ incomes.
High-density varieties have transformed the cherry cultivation in the Valley with farmers growing exotic varieties that fetch premium prices in the market. Over the past few years, many growers in the major cherry-producing areas of Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Shopian districts have shifted from traditional varieties to imported, high-yielding cultivars. The popular exotic varieties introduced in the region included Regina, Kordia, Lapin , Areko, Santina and Sweet Sarreta.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Centre Approves Large-Scale Procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds Under PSS in Four States; Farmers to Benefit: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday approved large-scale procurement of pulses and oilseeds at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for four states through video conferencing. The procurement will be undertaken under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, ensuring remunerative prices for farmers and protecting them from distress sales.
Source: pib.gov.in
Bharat Buildcon 2026 Inaugurated Under the Theme ‘One Nation, One Expo’.
Bharat Buildcon 2026 – One Nation, One Expo, an exhibition for the building materials and construction industry, was inaugurated today at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi, by Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal, and Member of Parliament Shri Parshottam Rupala, in the presence of representatives of the construction and building materials industry. More than 25,000 visitors attended the exhibition on the inaugural day. The exhibition brings together architects, builders, developers, contractors, manufacturers, traders, policymakers, industry associations and international buyers from different parts of India and abroad, providing a platform for industry interaction and business engagement.
Source: pib.gov.in
'Mother Of All Trade Deals': India, EU Target FTA Signing Before End Of 2026.
India and the European Union are set to sign their ambitious Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. The agreement, described as the 'mother of all trade deals', is expected to cover nearly a quarter of the global economy and significantly boost trade and investment between the two partners. Alongside the FTA, India and the EU also agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation and accelerate work on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The leaders emphasised the need for resilient supply chains and deeper strategic collaboration amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Sonpari mango debuts in U.S. market as India's export season shifts north.
India's mango export season is entering a seasonal transition, with Gujarat's Kesar crop nearing completion and exporters preparing to ship northern Indian varieties such as Langda and Chausa in the coming weeks. At the same time, a new hybrid variety called Sonpari makes its export debut in the United States, with shipments arriving in Washington and New York this week, says Chetan Medapara of mango exporter Hortica Foods LLP.
Source: freshplaza.com
UP tops India in horticulture output again: Leads in potato, mango, peas.
Uttar Pradesh has retained its position as the country’s biggest contributor to horticulture production, emerging as the largest producer of potatoes, mangoes and green peas, according to the second advance estimates for 2025-26. The state produced 250.6 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of potatoes, 61.9 lakh MT of mangoes and 37.6 lakh MT of green peas (matar) during the period. At the national level, production stood at 598.8 lakh MT for potatoes, 236.2 lakh MT for mangoes and 72.3 lakh MT for peas.With 16.4% of India’s total horticulture output, Uttar Pradesh remains the single largest contributor.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Agricultural Exports Of India Expand To Nearly 500 Products, Says APEDA Chairman.
Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Abhishek Dev, highlighted that India’s agricultural export basket has expanded from around 280 products a decade ago to nearly 500 products today, despite facing competition from major global exporters such as the United States, Brazil, China, and the European Union. Mr Dev informed us that the country’s agricultural exports reached 53 billion dollars last year and consistently ranked among the world’s top ten agricultural exporting countries. He noted that the country has significantly diversified its agricultural exports beyond traditional products such as rice and spices to include pulses, cocoa products, pineapples, grapes, and pomegranates, which are now being shipped to markets across dozens of countries.
Source: newsonair.gov.in
APEDA Signs 70-Year Lease With UP’s Agriculture Department For Basmati And Organic Training Centre.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed a seventy-year lease agreement with Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Department for establishing a Basmati and Organic Training Centre in Pilibhit. The move is aimed at strengthening the Basmati rice ecosystem in India. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the facility is also aimed at supporting training and capacity building for Basmati and organic farmers, and also serves as a resource centre for agricultural experts and students. It added that the centre will be equipped with facilities including an auditorium, museum and gallery on Basmati and organic farming, conference room, laboratory and storage space for organic farming inputs. Developed over an area of approximately seven acres, the facility will be the country’s first Basmati organic training and demonstration farm covering both conventional and organic Basmati cultivation.
Source: newsonair.gov.in
India-UK free trade deal to take effect on July 15, opening 99% of exports to tariff-free access.
The free trade deal between India and the UK will come into effect on July 15, about 11 months after the pact was inked, overcoming disagreements related to British trade restrictions on steel and unlocking tariff-free access for 99% of India's exports. The rollout of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer following discussions between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-Les-Bains.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India, US 'very close' to inking a trade deal, says Trump after meet with Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the matter of Indian seafarers coming under attack in the Gulf with US President Donald Trump, affirming that their safety and security was of paramount importance, as the two met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in what was their first structured in-person meeting since February 2025. 'We have always said that freedom of navigation should be ensured and we should also stress upon that,' Modi told Trump in his opening remarks on Wednesday.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com