India, US explore strong partnership in agriculture, food security at key Washington meeting.
The US-India Business Council (USIBC) on Wednesday hosted a PHDCCI delegation in Washington amid the ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral engagement between the countries in the agriculture sector. The PHDCCCI delegation, led by IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani, held key meeting with USIBC officials to represent Indian farmers’ interests.
Source: thestatesman.com
Union Minister Piyush Goyal Sets Target Of 10,000 GI Tags By 2030.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has set a target of reaching 10,000 Geographical Indication (GI) Tags by 2030. Addressing a GI Samagam in New Delhi, Mr Goyal said that this target will be achieved through a whole-of-government approach, and the government will constitute a committee to oversee this. He informed me that the number of GI tags issued by the department to date stands at 605. The Minister highlighted the efforts of the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a thrust to the Intellectual Property Ecosystem (IPR) ecosystem. The number of authorized users for GI tags increased from 365 to 29 thousand and the number of patents granted increased from 6000 to one lakh, in the last 10 years. Stressing the idea of ‘Vikas bhi aur Virasat bhi’ given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Goyal highlighted the constant efforts of the Prime Minister including mentioning various products in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio program.
Source: newsonair.gov.in
North East India expands focus on speciality crop and fruit exports.
North East India is increasing its focus on food processing and agri-exports as the region expands production of speciality crops and horticultural products for international markets. During the India Food Manufacturing Summit – Northeast in Guwahati, industry representatives, policymakers, and agricultural experts discussed the role of the region in India's export-oriented food sector.
Source: freshplaza.com
Illegal import in Bhutan undermines pork prices, raises biosecurity concerns.
Pig farmers in southern Bhutan say government efforts to stabilise the struggling pork sector have failed to address deeper challenges, including declining consumer demand, illegal meat inflows and recurring outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF). While the government has established a national committee to assess market conditions and introduced a price guarantee scheme for piggery farmers, producers argue that measures focused solely on pricing offer limited relief in a market where demand for domestic pork continues to weaken.
Source: asianews.network
India approves two rice varieties to secure yields in direct-seeded rice farming.
Two new rice varieties developed for dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) systems have been identified for release in India, marking an important step toward helping farmers grow rice with less water, less labor, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. One of the newly identified lines, DRR Dhan 92, combines traits for crop establishment, stress tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and grain quality. In national trials, it yielded 5.8 t/ha under direct-seeded conditions, about 18% higher than the popular variety, MTU 1010, and 5.74 t/ha under transplanted conditions. The variety has been identified for release in northeastern India through the All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice (AICRIP).
Source: irri.org
Uttar Pradesh: Muzaffarnagar jaggery secures GI tag, boosting global recognition for traditional product
Muzaffarnagar's renowned jaggery has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag status, a development expected to strengthen its identity in domestic and international markets while benefiting farmers, producers and traders associated with the sector. The district's jaggery was selected under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme and has now been granted GI recognition, according to the District Industries Promotion and Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Hindustan reported.
Source: chinimandi.com
Mizoram eyes global markets for GI-tagged ginger CM Lalduhoma
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday said the state government is working to establish Mizoram ginger as a premium agricultural product in both national and international markets by capitalising on its superior quality and Geographical Indication (GI) tag status. He said efforts are being intensified to enhance production, value addition, and market access for the state's GI-tagged ginger, to boost farmers' income and strengthen Mizoram's agricultural economy.
Source: tripuratimes.com
From turmeric to kiwi: Northeast India is eyeing global export opportunities
From Meghalaya's globally sought-after Lakadong turmeric to Assam's citrus fruits and Nagaland's indigenous chillies, North East India is increasingly emerging as one of the country's most promising frontiers for food processing and agri-exports. Industry leaders, policymakers and agricultural experts at the India Food Manufacturing Summit – Northeast in Guwahati said the region's vast horticultural base, coupled with rising global demand for organic, traceable and speciality food products, could position the North East as a significant contributor to India’s food export ambitions over the next decade.
Source: eastmojo.com
How India-Oman Trade Pact Opens Alternative Route to Gulf Beyond Hormuz
The India-Omani CEPA comes into force amid the ongoing US-Iran war, which has severely disrupted the movement of ships in the international waters crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The India-Oman trade pact, offering zero-duty access to a range of Indian labour-intensive exports, is kicking in today. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in December last year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Muscat.
Source: ndtv.com
High-level dialogue on advanced livestock tech & feed systems in BRICS
India's BRICS Chairship in 2026 marked another milestone in advancing cooperation in the livestock sector, as the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, convened the High-Level Dialogue on Advanced Livestock Technology & Feed Systems (ALT&FS) under the BRICS Agricultural Working Group in virtual mode from Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The dialogue witnessed virtual participation from Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj; Prof. S P Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj; Naresh Pal Gangwar, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD); Varsha Joshi, additional secretary, DAHD; Dr Meenesh Shah, chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); and senior officials of DAHD.
Source: fnbnews.com