‘Horticulture FPOs must focus on business-to-consumers to get better returns’.
Farmer producers organisations (FPOs) in general and those working in the area of horticultural produce in particular have done well in supplying produce to organised retail and export players. But it is time they shift their focus to the consumer side of the business by working on brand-building, and gaining the trust of consumers by focussing on issues like traceability and quality.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India palm oil imports fall to one-year low in April on weak demand.
India's palm oil imports fell 27% to a one-year low in April, as sluggish demand from institutional buyers and a recent price rally that eroded its discount to rival oils prompted refiners to curb purchases, five dealers said. Lower imports by the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils could increase stocks in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia and weigh on benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India’s rice purchase reaches near 50 million tonnes, up 6% from a year ago.
The Indian government’s rice procurement for the official reserves during the October 2025-April 2026 period has reached near 50 million tonnes (mt), including 1.21 mt from the winter-grown crop. With over 1.4 mt in April, the procurement is up 6 per cent from the year-ago period. This high procurement may force the government to dispose of through an aggressive sales policy to ethanol distilleries, states, as well as in the open market.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
FSSAI issues directive strictly prohibiting use of Ashwagandha leaves in food products.
After the Ministry of Ayush, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive strictly prohibiting the use of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) leaves in food products, health supplements. The directive clarified that only the roots of the plant and their extracts are permitted for human consumption, citing significant safety concerns regarding other parts of the herb.
Source: fnbnews.com
India-Tanzania Deepen Trade Ties As Bilateral Commerce Crosses USD 9 Bn In FY26.
India–Tanzania bilateral trade rose to USD 9.02 billion in FY2025–26, up from USD 8.64 billion in the previous fiscal year, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said following the 5th Session of the India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held on 29–30 April 2026 in Dar es Salaam. The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary, Amb Dr Samwel William Shelukindo. Both sides discussed trade settlement in local currencies, long-term business visas for Indian businesspersons, regulatory collaboration in pharmaceuticals, and capacity building in health, AYUSH, education and shipbuilding. Key sectoral focus areas included mining, gemstone value addition, agriculture, healthcare and digital cooperation.
Source: businessworld.in
Massive increase in apple exports to India as result of protocol change.
'The rain has proved to be challenging late in our harvesting season, with March ending on 244mm on a 27-year long-term average of 99mm and April 106mm on a long-term average of 67mm. The benefits of the rain were the cooler weather that helped with colour development, but it has made harvesting challenging with bruising and also a delay in getting the crop off.' He explains that apples are more susceptible to bruising after rain because they absorb water, which increases the turgor pressure, making the tissue more fragile, hence more likely to bruise.
Source: freshplaza.com
Agricultural trade agreement| NZ- India trade deal opens new dairy export path.
New Zealand and India have signed a long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone for bilateral trade and agricultural exports. The deal is designed to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, with a particular focus on improving market access for key primary sectors, including dairy.
Source: en.edairynews.com
From Apples To Mānuka Honey: How the India-New Zealand FTA Impacts Agricultural Trade.
On April 27, 2026, India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluding over a decade of negotiations. While the FTA protects sensitive sectors like dairy, its economic scale is limited. New Zealand’s population is only about 5.3 million, of whom about 300,000 are of Indian origin. Therefore, Indian exporters are not looking at a large market, though gains in services exports may be more significant, with New Zealand agreeing to offer 5,000 skilled-worker slots.
Source: thewire.in
India Approves 12 New Crop Protection Products under Section 9(3) at 471st RC Meeting.
India’s regulatory framework for crop protection chemicals witnessed fresh momentum as the Registration Committee (RC) under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare approved a series of new technical and formulation products under Section 9(3) of the Insecticide Act, 1968 during its 471st meeting held on April 16, 2026. The meeting was chaired by the Dr. P.K Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Source: global-agriculture.com
Fruit growers seek dedicated rail corridor, push for AC cargo trains.
Kashmir’s fruit growers have urged the Northern Railway to fast-track dedicated, temperature-controlled cargo solutions and expand rail logistics infrastructure to address long-standing challenges in transporting perishable produce to markets across India. The demand was raised during a joint inspection-cum-interaction between railway officials and representatives of the horticulture trade, who travelled from Srinagar to Baramulla via key stations including Budgam, Pattan, and Sopore.
Source: greaterkashmir.com