Browse Data and Analysis

Over the past two decades, India’s political landscape continues to hinder the developments in agriculture biotechnology. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) approved in 2002 remains the sole biotech-derived crop approved for commercial cultivation.

FAS New Delhi forecasts India’s total milk production in 2025 to rise to 216.5 MMT, attributable to the growing herd size of animals in milk, increased government support for the dairy sector, the expected continuation of good weather, high milk prices, and an absence of a major disease outbreak.

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 coffee production (Oct/Sep) at 6.2 million 60-kilogram bags, four percent higher than the previous forecast due to plentiful southwest monsoon rains that will improve Robusta crop yields.

A heavy 2024 southwest monsoon season has caused flooding and water logging in several central India states, leading to crop damage and expected lower agricultural production. India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that monsoon withdrawal was delayed by a week to September 23 and is likely to further exacerbate crop damage during harvest.

India's retail food sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased household purchasing power, rising awareness of gourmet products, and a growing economy.

Cumulative rainfall during India's 2023 northeast monsoon was nine percent lower than the fifty-year average, according to India’s Meteorological Department (IMD), spurred by a delay in onset of nearly 20 days.

In 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a series of food safety notifications. The FSSAI has re-operationalized its Labeling and Display Regulations, to include a six-month implementation extension of the disclaimer for brand names and trademarks on front-of-pack labels.

In the calendar year (CY) 2023 (January-December), India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying published the requirement for an integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC) for the import of milk and milk products into India.

On January 3, India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) published on its website, Office Memorandum L-11/1/2019-Trade (E-11542), to delay the implementation timeline of the new integrated Veterinary Health Certificate requirements for milk and milk products by six months.

India is the world’s most populous country and boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As Indian households continue to reach higher levels of consumer spending, imported agricultural products are becoming more accessible to a larger number of people.