India-US trade agreement "99% there", last 1% being finalized: US Ambassador Sergio Gor.
Asserting that India and the United States are on the cusp of a landmark trade agreement, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor revealed that negotiations for the trade agreement are '99% there,' with both nations actively hammering out the final technicalities. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of CITI's 2026 India Conference in Mumbai, Ambassador Gor expressed immense optimism about the imminent finalization of the deal, contrasting the swift 1.5-year progress of the India-US talks with years it took for India to finalize its trade pact with the European Union.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
USHBC to host blueberry event on June 10.
The US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) will host 'Blueberries Go Big India 2026' in Mumbai on June 10. This event will bring together leading chefs, food technologists, nutrition experts, importers, retailers, food service professionals, and food industry leaders to explore the growing opportunities for USA blueberries in India.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
FTA with Oman to give a boost to livestock product exports.
The India-Oman Free Trade Agreement is expected to give a boost to exports of farm products including poultry and marine products, stakeholders said. 'The India–Oman Free Trade Agreement is a significant boost for India’s agriculture, poultry, livestock, and marine export sectors. By providing duty-free access for key products such as shrimp, fish, eggs, and other food items, the agreement will make Indian exports more competitive in a strategically important Gulf market,' said Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA of India.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Haryana to create 20 lakh metric tonnes additional grain storage capacity: Chief Minister Saini.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed officers to ensure adequate storage infrastructure for food grains so that the produce cultivated through the hard work of farmers is protected from damage and minimises post-harvest losses. As part of this initiative, the state will create 20 lakh metric tonnes of additional grain storage capacity and officers have been asked to make all necessary preparations to achieve this target.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to visit India soon; FTA among key agenda items: MEA.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to visit India soon, with discussions expected to focus on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), trade and investment, as well as security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. Details of the visit are still awaited.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
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