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India allows import of hot peppers and pomegranates from Uzbekistan
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India allows import of hot peppers and pomegranates from Uzbekistan

India has approved the import of fresh hot peppers and pomegranates from Uzbekistan, provided that established phytosanitary requirements are met. This decision was made shortly after the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan, which took place on August 29–30.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare of India issued a notification on August 31, allowing Uzbek products to enter the Indian market under the phytosanitary risk management system.

For batches of fresh hot peppers, requirements include the absence of the pest Aculops lycopersici, known as tomato stink bug, as well as the brown mottled fruit virus of tomatoes. Furthermore, batches must be free from plant residues and soil.

Separate phytosanitary norms apply to pomegranates. Batches must be cleaned of plant residues, weed seeds, and soil. They must also be accompanied by a certificate confirming the absence of Euzophera bigella, or kiwi moth, Lobesia botrana, or European grape moth, Pseudococcus comstocki, or Comstock mite, as well as Botrytis cinerea, or grey mold.

Opening the Indian market to agricultural products from Uzbekistan is viewed as a step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food security. It is expected that this will also support the development of agro-food supply chains, export opportunities, and bilateral trade.

Projections for the two products in the Indian market may differ. Uzbek hot peppers are expected to remain a niche product. Meanwhile, pomegranate supplies from Uzbekistan could increase competition for Indian producers in major agricultural states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.

India is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of hot peppers. Approximately 70% of peppers grown in the country are consumed domestically, with the remainder being exported. Hot peppers account for about 31% of the total volume of spices exported by India.

The decision to open the market for imports was made shortly before Narendra Modi's visit to Uzbekistan. During this visit, both sides expressed their intention to strengthen economic ties and expand cooperation in the field of agriculture.

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Uzbekistan plans to expand meat imports from India and increase jute cultivation
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Uzbekistan plans to expand meat imports from India and increase jute cultivation

The Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov, announced plans to strengthen cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors with India. These plans include increasing meat imports, establishing joint processing enterprises, and introducing new crop varieties during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tashkent.

The central focus of the interaction remains seed production, as Indian companies are introducing new crop varieties in Uzbekistan. In the Khorezm region, salt-tolerant cotton varieties are being tested over an area of 12,000 hectares, and new vegetable and fodder seeds are also being imported.

In the meat sector, Uzbekistan intends to increase purchases of cheaper Indian meat through joint ventures and updated agreements with the Allana Group. This initiative covers both imports and production projects, with Uzbek specialists participating in processing and halal slaughtering directly in India to ensure compliance with quality standards and certification. Supply logistics will be managed with the participation of Turkish partners via the Port of Mersin.

Currently, India is the main supplier of beef to Uzbekistan. In the first half of 2026, Uzbekistan imported 72,000 tons of beef worth $359.5 million, which is 9.1% more than in the same period of 2025. India supplied 33,900 tons, accounting for about 47% of the total beef import volume. Additional supplies came from Belarus (19,600 tons), Kazakhstan (10,600 tons), and Pakistan (4,000 tons).

Bilateral agricultural trade between the two countries has increased more than threefold in recent years. Uzbekistan exports more than 30 types of agricultural products to India, and the government is shifting from transit through third countries to direct supplies, especially concerning pulses.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan is expanding domestic jute cultivation to reduce the import of natural fibers, which currently costs nearly $30 million annually. Jute is currently grown on an area of about 2,000 hectares, and there are plans to increase the cultivated area to at least 50,000 hectares for use with cotton in textile production. It is also worth noting that Uzbekistan imported over 10 tons of early-maturing cumin seeds from India in partnership with Nath Bio-Genes to conduct joint planting trials between cotton rows in various regions.

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