India and New Zealand hold the first JWG meeting and finalise action plans on kiwifruit, apples and pears cooperation.
India and New Zealand today held the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Horticulture Cooperation, marking a key milestone under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the two countries on 12 March 2025.
The meeting was co-chaired by Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (Horticulture), Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), representing India in person, and Steve Ainsworth, Divisional Manager – Bilateral Relations and Trade, who joined virtually from New Zealand. Senior officials and technical experts from both sides participated to advance collaboration in the horticulture sector, with a strong focus on kiwifruit and pip fruits: apples and pears.
During the discussions, India identified kiwifruit as a priority crop and outlined key focus areas under the Kiwifruit Action Plan. These include the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs), improved orchard management and productivity, access to quality rootstock and planting material, and the strengthening of post-harvest management and supply chains. Procedures for importing kiwifruit rootstock from New Zealand and organising training programmes for Indian farmers and entrepreneurs in New Zealand were also deliberated.
From the New Zealand side, Steve Ainsworth reviewed the current status and challenges in India’s kiwifruit, apple and pear production, emphasising collaboration in research, capacity building, grower training, supply chain strengthening, quality standards, and market positioning to enhance farmer incomes and productivity.
The meeting concluded with the finalisation of timelines and an implementation roadmap for both action plans. Senior officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening horticultural cooperation, identifying immediate next steps and proposing a schedule for follow-up meetings to maintain momentum in the India–New Zealand partnership.
Source: PIB
