UN cuts India's 2026 GDP forecast to 6.4 pc, still among fastest-growing economies.
The United Nations has revised downward India's economic growth forecast for 2026 to 6.4 per cent from its earlier projection of 6.6 per cent, citing global uncertainties and economic shocks arising from the ongoing West Asia crisis. As per the report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) on Tuesday, India, however, remains one of the fastest-growing major economies.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
IIRR’s direct seeded rice initiative increases yields by 8-13%.
A Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) initiative by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), an Indian Council of Agricultural Research agency, in partnership with the SBI Foundation, has shown that rice yields can rise 8-13 per cent over conventional transplanted cultivation across seasons. The project also demonstrated a 21-23 per cent reduction in cultivation costs per acre, leading to higher net returns for farmers.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Basmati rice to millet bars: PM Modi gifts India's finest grains to FAO Chief.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented elements from India's diverse agricultural heritage as gifts to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), during his visit to Italy. The Prime Minister presented India's finest grains, which included Red Rice from Keralam, Gobindobhog Rice from West Bengal, Basmati Rice from the Indo-Gangetic plains, Joha Rice from Assam, Lala Namak Rice from Uttar Pradesh and millet bars from various regions of Maharashtra.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
With major update to NPOP, organic foods now face tighter regulatory controls.
India’s organic food sector is facing tighter regulatory controls after a major update to the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) officially took effect on May 18, 2026. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, implemented the change by amending Annex 3 (17) of the NPOP 8th Edition. The revision introduces a strict new framework for food additives and carriers allowed in processed organic foods.
Source: fnbnews.com
Eastern India’s agriculture sector can achieve new heights: Chouhan.
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while addressing a press conference during the Eastern Regional Kharif Agriculture Zonal Conference in Bhubaneswar, said, 'Eastern India’s agriculture sector can achieve new heights through a subject-specific, region-specific and state-specific roadmap developed jointly by the Centre and the States.' He said the zonal conference, comprising Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, emerged as a meaningful platform for detailed deliberations on food security, nutrition, farmers’ income, crop diversification, integrated farming, balanced fertiliser use, Farmer ID, pulses and oilseeds, natural farming, horticulture and agricultural infrastructure.
Source: fnbnews.com
'$500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030': US envoy Sergio Gor hints at trade pact with India.
Speaking at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, the envoy said the agreement would help strengthen supply chains, encourage fresh investments and support sustained inclusive growth. $500 billion trade target by 2030 'Our shared ambition of achieving $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 reflects the connectivity between our economies, the confidence built, and the scale of opportunity.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Piyush Goyal highlights India’s 166% toffee export surge as Modi-Meloni ‘Melodi’ moment sweetens Italy .
India’s humble toffee has become an unlikely symbol of both export ambition and diplomacy. On Wednesday, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal celebrated a sharp rise in India’s confectionery exports, noting that outbound shipments of toffees, caramels and similar sweets have climbed nearly 166% over the past 12 years.
Source: storyboard18.com
India, Việt Nam eye stronger agricultural-food ties.
Việt Nam has established itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading agricultural exporters, while India is a major global supplier of farm produce and food commodities, and they could build resilient and efficient supply chains by combining the former’s dynamic processing and export sector and the latter’s production capacity and technological capabilities, the Indian consul general in HCM City has said.
Source: vietnamnews.vn
J&K horticulture gets Clean Plant Programme boost.
Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector is set to receive a major boost under the Government of India’s ambitious Clean Plant Programme (CPP), aimed at providing virus-free and high-quality planting material to fruit growers across the country. According to the annual report by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector, along with other states, is set to receive a major boost under the ambitious Clean Plant Programme (CPP).
Source: risingkashmir.com
Capacity Building Programme on Agri-Export Opportunities Held at Dudhnoi.
A day-long capacity building programme for agri-export oriented stakeholders was organized by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority in collaboration with ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra Goalpara at the KVK campus in Dudhnoi on May 18, 2026. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from nearly 80 farmers and members of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from different parts of Goalpara district. The initiative aimed to create awareness about export opportunities in the agricultural sector and equip stakeholders with knowledge on export procedures and support mechanisms.
Source: assamtimes.org