Maharashtra pushes natural farming with high-level consultation to build unified statewide strategy.
Maharashtra strengthened its commitment to sustainable agriculture with a high-level State Consultation on Natural Farming, bringing together policymakers, scientists, progressive farmers, certification experts, market players, and implementing agencies to shape a unified strategy for scaling natural and residue-free farming across the state. The consultation was jointly convened under the Hon. Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Maharashtra Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF), and Palladium Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. It served as a platform to align policy intent with field realities, certification protocols, and market expectations as the state prepares to institutionalise a comprehensive natural farming framework.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
FSSAI suspends recognition of four food testing laboratories for 6 months over compliance lapses.
In a significant regulatory action aimed at tightening oversight on food safety testing, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended recognition of four private food testing laboratories for a period of six months after they were found to be non-compliant with the authority’s 2018 Laboratory Recognition Regulations.
Source: fnbnews.com
A soon-to-arrive FTA with Pacific economy takes India's smart trade strategy ahead.
The announcement that negotiations for the proposed India–New Zealand free trade agreement are 'almost completed...may take a few more weeks' last week arrives at a significant geopolitical moment for India. After years of cautious trade diplomacy, punctuated by India’s withdrawal from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2019 and the slow recalibration of its FTA strategy, the near-closure of talks with a Pacific economy carries significance far beyond the relatively small size of bilateral trade.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
We have to be more transparent with trade data to help stakeholders take best decisions: Shri Piyush Goyal.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal launched the Trade Intelligence & Analytics (TIA) Portal today in New Delhi. The Minister said that business needs to be more transparent with trade data to help stakeholders take the best decisions.
Source: pib.gov.in
Chinese demand for rapeseed meal boosts India’s oilmeal exports 3% in April-Oct 2025.
An increase in exports of rapeseed meal, especially to the Chinese market, helped boost the exports of oilmeals during the April-October 2025-26, registering a growth of 3.18 per cent. Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India exported 24.64 lakh tonnes (lt) of oilmeals during the first seven months of 2025-26 against 23.88 lt in the corresponding period of 2024-25, registering a growth of 3.18 per cent.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Indian farm exports outperform – despite Trump tariffs.
India’s agricultural exports are growing at a faster pace than overall merchandise exports. Government data shows the value of farm produce exports in April-September 2025, at $25.9 billion, to have registered an 8.8% jump over the $23.8 billion for the corresponding six months of 2024.
Source: indianexpress.com
India–US partnership is strong, stable and expanding across strategic and economic sectors: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, while addressing the Indo American Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi today, emphasised that the India–US partnership remains strong, stable and continuously expanding across strategic and economic sectors. He said there is no cause for concern regarding the bilateral relationship and reiterated that the friendship between the two nations stands on firm pillars of democracy, diversity and a shared developmental vision.
Source: pib.gov.in
India bats for global cashew standard at Codex meet.
India -- which was re-elected to the Executive Committee (CCEXEC) for the Asia region at the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48) -- has suggested a global standard for cashew kernels. A media release by the Press Information Bureau said that one of the achievements in agricultural trade was advancing the Standard for Cashew Kernels. India successfully advocated for the resumption of this work, and CAC48 recommended issuing a Circular Letter to collect comments, preparing the proposal for review by CCEXEC90 and subsequent consideration at CAC49. This standard is critical for harmonising quality specifications for this globally traded commodity.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Brewing a bigger future. Coffee Board targets doubling India’s coffee output to 7 lakh tonnes by 2047.
The state-run Coffee Board has set an ambitious target to double coffee production to over 7 lakh tonnes by 2047, expanding cultivation to about one lakh hectares in non-traditional states of Odisha and the North East, while taking steps to boost yields in traditional areas. Addressing the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) 67th Annual General Meeting, Coffee Board chairman, M J Dinesh, said, 'Today, India produces around 3.5 lakhs metric tons of coffee. We have set an ambitious target to increase our production to 7 lakh tonnes by 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence. Our goal is to achieve 15 per cent specialty coffee out of these 7 lakh tonnes.'
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India to gain from US reciprocal tariff cuts on some agri items: Commerce ministry.
India is expected to gain from the US decision to roll back reciprocal tariffs on certain agricultural products such as tea, coffee and spices, the commerce ministry said on Monday. A White House Executive Order issued on November 12 excludes coffee, tea, tropical fruits, fruit juices, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, beef and certain fertilisers from the April 2 reciprocal tariff regime. The exemptions took effect on November 13.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com