India and New Zealand convened the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on horticultural cooperation, marking a decisive step in operationalising the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the two countries on March 12, 2025. The meeting signalled the beginning of structured collaboration in priority horticulture segments, with particular emphasis on kiwifruit and pip fruit development.
The Joint Working Group meeting was co chaired by Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, from the Indian side in person, and Steve Ainsworth, Divisional Manager Bilateral Relations and Trade, from the New Zealand side in virtual mode. Senior officials and technical experts from both countries participated in the discussions, focusing on strengthening production systems, research collaboration, supply chains and farmer capacity.
Kiwifruit was identified as a priority crop for India, reflecting growing domestic demand and the potential for import substitution and farmer income enhancement. Under the Kiwifruit Action Plan, both sides deliberated on the establishment of Centres of Excellence to promote best practices in cultivation, improved orchard management and productivity enhancement strategies. Access to high quality rootstock and planting material was recognised as a key enabler for scaling up production.
The meeting also examined procedures for importing kiwi rootstock from New Zealand to support varietal improvement and orchard modernisation in India. Strengthening post harvest management, cold chain systems and supply chain integration were identified as essential components for reducing losses and improving market competitiveness. In addition, both sides discussed organising structured training programmes in New Zealand for Indian farmers, entrepreneurs and technical personnel to facilitate knowledge transfer and exposure to advanced horticultural practices.
In the segment on pip fruits, including apple and pear, participants reviewed the current production status in India and identified challenges related to yield variability, quality standards and market positioning. Discussions focused on collaborative research initiatives, grower training, improved planting material, and strengthening quality benchmarks to enhance competitiveness in domestic and export markets.
Steve Ainsworth underscored the importance of building cooperation around research partnerships, capacity building and technical exchange, while ensuring alignment with market demand and global standards. Priya Ranjan emphasised that enhanced productivity, better quality control and improved supply chain integration would be critical to increasing farmer incomes and ensuring sustainable growth in the horticulture sector.
The meeting concluded with the finalisation of timelines and a detailed implementation roadmap for both the Kiwifruit Action Plan and the pip fruit cooperation framework. Immediate next steps were identified, along with a proposed schedule for follow up meetings and periodic reviews to monitor progress and maintain momentum.
The first Joint Working Group meeting establishes a structured institutional mechanism to deepen India New Zealand cooperation in horticulture. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging complementary strengths in research, technology and trade to support sustainable agricultural growth and improve outcomes for growers.
