India-EU FTA: Shift in trade winds.
After nearly two decades of negotiations, on January 27 India and the EU signed a robust free trade agreement (FTA), allowing for closer trade ties. The India-EU Trade Deal, expected to benefit 2 billion people, will likely be rolled out in early 2027, after approval from the Indian Cabinet, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
Source: downtoearth.org.in
How Brazilian President Lula's India visit could boost trade, agriculture and defence ties.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday arrived in the national capital on a state visit, during which he will participate in the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the Brazilian President was warmly received upon his arrival by Minister of State in the MEA, Pabitra Margherita, marking the beginning of his official engagements in the national capital.
Source: indiatvnews.com
India-Canada FTA: Countries may finalise terms of reference for trade pact talks next month.
India and Canada are expected to finalise terms of reference for initiating talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) during the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India next month, an official said. The terms of reference (ToR) outline the scope and modalities of a proposed trade pact.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
FCI signs MoU with WFP to supply rice to support eradication of global hunger.
State-owned FCI and World Food Programme (WFP) have signed initial pact for supply of rice to eradicate global hunger. According to an official statement on Wednesday, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the supply of rice in support of global humanitarian operations aimed at combating hunger.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Farm and processed food exports rise a modest 3.3% in April-January
According to data provided by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the shipment of buffalo meat, dairy and poultry products in the first ten months of FY26, increased sharply by 25% to $ 5.19 billion. The value of rice exports including basmati and non-basmati varieties, declined by 7.5% on year to $ 9.33 billion during the April-January period of FY26. In January, 2026, India, the biggest exporter of rice in the world, shipped grain valued at $ 1.03 billion, a decline of 25% on year.
Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/
Jammu and Kashmir CA storage holds 60% of apple crop volumes
Growers report that extended storage without quality deterioration has reduced pressure to sell during peak harvest. "Earlier, we were forced to sell everything immediately after harvest when prices were low," said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from south Kashmir. "This year, the apples we kept in cold storage fetched much better rates as there was no demand in the main season. It has covered our input costs and given us real profit."
Source: https://www.freshplaza.com/
Denial of speculations on India-US Trade Agreement, farmers’ interests paramount: Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today categorically dismissed various speculations surrounding the India-US Trade Agreement from Jaipur, Rajasthan, stating in clear terms that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, there will never be any compromise on farmers’ interests.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/
West Bengal expected to witness record potato production of 140-150 lakh tonnes for 2025-26, highest in last five years
West Bengal is expected to witness a record potato production of around 140-150 lakh tonnes for 2025-26, highest in the last five years. Total production of the spud in Bengal, the country’s second largest grower, was around 115 lakh tonnes last year, which was also a bumper output. Favorable weather conditions are expected to lead to over 20 per cent y-o-y jump in the production.
Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
India launches ‘Bharat VISTAAR’ to provide single window information to farmers
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the ‘Bharat VISTAAR’ scheme, unveiled the farmer-centric AI Hackathon and the Agri Kosh AI Strategy Roadmap at an event in Jaipur, Rajasthan. ‘Bharat VISTAAR’ was announced in the Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. Terming the Artificial Intelligence-based Bharat-VISTAAR launch as first stage, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said it would be connected with Agristack where all data are getting stored from a farmer identity card.
Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/
India-US trade deal: Trade team heading to Washington next week for legal pact
India's chief negotiator for trade talks with the US, Darpan Jain, will lead a delegation to Washington next week to finalise the legal agreement for the India-US trade deal, which is likely to be signed in March, commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal said Monday. The visit is likely to start on February 23.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/