India - Sri Lanka 1st Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture held today.
The first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture between India and Sri Lanka was held today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and Mr. D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Government of Sri Lanka. Both sides discussed collaboration in key areas including farm mechanization, organic and natural farming, seed sector development, agri-entrepreneurship, agricultural education, soil health management, market access, and climate-resilient agriculture. Opportunities for joint research, and capacity building were also explored.
Source: pib.gov.in
Centre imposes 10% import duty, 20% additional cess on yellow pea imports ahead of kharif season.
The Centre announced on Wednesday a 10% import duty and an additional 20% Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC) on yellow pea imports, to be effective from November 1. The total levy of 30% marks a significant policy shift aimed at supporting domestic pulse growers ahead of the upcoming kharif season.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
JKTPO organizes export awareness cum e-commerce on-boarding drive at Sgr.
The Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization organized Export Awareness cum E-Commerce On-boarding drive as per the scheduled activities for the year 2025-26. The workshop, organized in collaboration with the District Administration Srinagar, One District One Product (ODOP) Team, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and GeM, aims to empower local MSMEs, artisans and SHGs, entrepreneurs by providing them with vital knowledge about export schemes and benefits of digital commerce.
Source: kashmirreader.com
Cyprus sees India as natural partner, ally in current situation: FM Kombos.
India is emerging as a 'leading voice' in an increasing multipolar world and Cyprus sees New Delhi not only as an 'old friend', but also as a 'partner' for future cooperation, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said here on Thursday. In his address at an event, Kombos also said the 'successful conclusion' of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will not only strengthen the EU-India ties, but will also unlock 'immense economic opportunity' for Cyprus, India and all European countries.
Source: business-standard.com
New Australian research could help boost wheat and rice yields, cut water, nitrogen use.
Australian researchers have created tiny structures to help supercharge photosynthesis, potentially boosting wheat and rice yields while slashing water and nitrogen use. A media statement said that researchers from Associate Professor Yu Heng Lau’s group at the University of Sydney and Professor Spencer Whitney’s group at Australian National University have spent five years tackling the problem to make plants fix carbon more efficiently.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
India forms group to address onion storage and export issues.
The Government of India will set up a stakeholder group to address onion storage issues and explore new export markets to help recover lost global share. A delegation of onion exporters met Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi with officials from APEDA to discuss sector challenges. The minister acknowledged their concerns but said raising RODTEP rates or offering transport subsidies was not possible under WTO rules. He directed APEDA to work with the Agriculture Ministry and the Department of Consumer Affairs to develop solutions.
Source: freshplaza.com
New Delhi to host 2-day global rice conference from Oct 30.
Over 5,000 farmers and 1,000 cooperatives are expected to take part in the two-day Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025 to be held in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam from October 30. Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) is organising the event in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), a nodal agency for agricultural and processed food exports.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Goyal to visit New Zealand next week for trade pact talks.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said he will visit New Zealand next week to hold discussions on the proposed free trade agreement between the two countries. The FTA was formally launched on March 16, 2025.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Trump says trade deal with India coming soon, calls PM Modi ‘the nicest looking guy’.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he 'will have a trade deal with India soon' and that he has 'great respect for Prime Minister Modi,' as both nations move closer to sealing the framework for a new trade agreement. Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEOs Luncheon in Gyeongju, South Korea, Trump praised Modi, calling him 'the nicest looking guy,' 'a father,' 'a killer,' and 'tough as hell.' He reiterated his intention to strengthen economic ties with India, saying, 'I am going to do a trade deal with India,' while lauding Modi’s leadership and India’s growing global clout.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Half of EU FTA deal wrapped up: Piyush Goyal.
India and the European Union (EU) have concluded negotiations on 10 out of 20 chapters of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), while another 4-5 chapters have been settled in principle, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Wednesday. Trade negotiators of the two sides will meet next week to iron out sensitive issues, including trade barriers on steel and automobiles. They aim to conclude the FTA negotiations by December.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com