Joint Working Group meet to advance collaboration in the horticulture sector, with strong focus on kiwifruit, apple and pear development
India and New Zealand held the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on horticultural cooperation in India on 19 February, marking a significant step forward under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the two countries on 12 March 2025.
New Zealand kiwifruit
Image: AdobeStock
The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Priya Ranjan, joint secretary (horticulture) for India’s Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and New Zealand’s Steve Ainsworth, divisional manager bilateral relations and trade, who joined the meeting virtually.
As part of the meeting, senior officials and technical experts from both sides came together to advance collaboration in the horticulture sector, with a strong focus on kiwifruit, apple and pear development.
Ranjan noted that kiwifruit had been identified as a priority crop for India and deliberated on key focus areas under the Kiwifruit Action Plan including the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs), improved orchard management and productivity enhancement, access to quality rootstock and planting material and strengthening post-harvest management and supply chains. The meeting also deliberated on procedures for importing kiwi rootstock from New Zealand and organising training programmes for Indian farmers and entrepreneurs in New Zealand.
Ainsworth reviewed the current status and challenges for kiwifruit, apple and pear production in India and committed support built around collaborative research, capacity building and grower training, as well as strengthening supply chains, quality standards, and market positioning to boost grower incomes and productivity.
The meeting concluded with the finalisation of timelines and an implementation roadmap for both Action Plans. In their closing remarks, senior officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening horticultural ties. The JWG identified immediate next steps and proposed a schedule for follow-up meetings and reviews to ensure sustained momentum in India–New Zealand horticultural cooperation.
