India's cold chain for fresh produce starts connecting the dots.
Six or seven years ago, cold chain infrastructure for fresh produce in India was barely existent, says Swarup Bose, founder & CEO of Mumbai-based Celcius Logistics. 'Only a small percentage of farmers, traders, wholesalers, or buyers used it, and even then, just for critical consignments. Perishable fruits like lychees and strawberries were often moved open-air because refrigerated trucks and cold storage were scarce and expensive. And for cold chain companies, fresh produce was too risky to be bothered with,' he recalls.
Source: freshplaza.com
Israel-Iran war: India rapeseed sales shift to private traders as war lifts edible oil prices.
Indian farmers are selling rapeseed to private traders as market prices remain well above government procurement rates, driven by a rally in edible oil prices linked to the Iran war. Domestic oilseed prices in India, the world's largest importer of vegetable oils, tend to track international benchmarks, which have surged on expectations that the conflict will boost edible oil use in biofuels.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India-EU trade push: Denmark launches India chamber of commerce to deepen ties amid FTA momentum.
In a move aimed at strengthening bilateral economic engagement, the Indian Danish Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its India chapter in New Delhi on April 8, 2026, an official statement showed on Thursday. The chamber will serve as a strategic platform to support Danish companies operating in India, as well as those exploring business opportunities in the country, facilitating trade, investment and collaboration.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Maharashtra government expands agricultural oversight structure.
The Maharashtra government has issued a fresh notification amending its earlier provisions under the Insecticides Act, 1968, to strengthen administrative oversight in the agriculture sector. The notification, released by the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department, introduces new appointments at the divisional, district, and taluka levels.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Israel allows import of Indian okra seeds, wants virus-free declaration.
Israel has allowed India market access for a lesser-known agricultural product - okra (bhindi or lady’s finger) seeds, with a permit system. India’s total export of okra, including in seeds form, was 6,504 tonnes worth $6.44 million (or Rs. 54.85 crore) in 2024-25, with Germany as the top buyer.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
MoFPI Holds Parliamentary Consultative Committee and NIFTEM Council Meetings in Shillong.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, today convened the Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee followed by the NIFTEM Council Meeting at Courtyard by Marriott, Shillong. The meetings were chaired by Shri Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries, in the presence of senior officers of the ministry including Sh. Avinash Joshi, Secretary, MoFPI, and Sh. Devesh Deval, Joint Secretary, MoFPI, along with Hon’ble Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.
Source: pib.gov.in
Cabinet approves Nutrient Based Subsidy rates for Kharif season 2026.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for fixing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS), rates for Kharif season 2026, from April 1 to September 30, 2026, on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers. The tentative budgetary requirement for Kharif season 2026 would be approximately Rs 41,533.81 crore. This is approximate Rs 4,317 crore more than the budgetary requirement for Kharif 2025 season. The budget for Kharif 2025 was Rs 37,216.15 crore.
Source: fnbnews.com
Three-day National Agriculture Fair to bring all schemes under one roof for farmers.
At the National Agriculture Fair to be held in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, from April 11 to 13, farmers will get access to comprehensive information on crop insurance, credit, agricultural infrastructure fund, improved seeds and fertilisers, organic certification, Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) marketing, and the future ‘agriculture roadmap’ — all on a single platform. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a virtual interaction with sarpanches of the region and appealed to them to ensure maximum participation of farmers from every village, making the fair a success through collective involvement.
Source: fnbnews.com
ICAR advances conservation agriculture & climate-resilient wheat research.
In a significant step towards advancing Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is spearheading transformative research in conservation agriculture and climate-resilient wheat and barley systems to strengthen national food security, fuel self-reliance, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Source: fnbnews.com
India-US trade deal: Indian delegation to visit Washington this month to ink deal, says envoy.
Taking to X, the US envoy stated that he held a 'highly productive' meeting with trade representative Jamieson Greer on how to advance President Donald Trump's trade priorities in South and Central Asia. 'The United States and India have previously agreed to a trade deal, and we look forward to welcoming an Indian delegation to Washington later this month,' he added further.
Source: hindustantimes.com