India trade deal buoys horticulture sector at Fieldays 2026

Horticulture executives attending this year’s Fieldays agricultural showcase have rallied behind the recently signed free trade agreement with India.

The four-day event kicked off in Hamilton’s Mystery Creek on Wednesday morning.

Horticulture New Zealand Chief Executive Kate Scott said the country’s horticulture sector was a beneficiary of the India deal, with feedback since news broke in December that negotiations had concluded being “overwhelming positive”.

“Especially for kiwifruit and apple growers who can continue to provide their produce to Indian customers [at a lesser tariff],” Scott said.

“When we look at tier two crops such as persimmons and avocados, we are really excited to see what opportunities are there for these in our partnership with India.

“Our crop specific groups do most of the market access discussions, which will be ongoing over time. This will help them understand how to grow their ability to send their fruit offshore.”

Danielle Adsett, chief executive of New Zealand Apples and Pears, said the sector she represented was “really happy” with the India trade deal.

“We have been exporting to India since the 1990s,” Adsett said.

“It is a really important market for us - among our top five markets - so to get tariff concessions is a great outcome.

“We have seen exports [to India] increasing just on the back of the announcement, and we have not even seen the concessions yet.

“At the moment, we don’t have enough quota to satisfy what that [Indian] market could grow into.

“So, we will easily utilise the quota we have been given under the concessions, and we look forward to hopefully growing that quota in future.”

Under the trade agreement, the current 50 percent tariff on apples will reduce to 25 percent for 32,500 tonnes from day one, growing to 45,000 tonnes over six years.

Michael Fox, head of Global Public Affairs at Zespri, said the kiwifruit sector was also “very positive” about the India trade deal.

“We have been in India for a long time,” Fox said.

“But haven’t progressed much in the market, essentially due to the 33 percent tariff which made it uneconomic relative to others.”

Under the India trade deal, the current 33 percent tariff on kiwifruit is eliminated for 6250 tonnes from day one, growing to 15,000 tonnes over six years.

In addition, there will be a 50 percent tariff reduction on kiwifruit exports exceeding the quota to 16.5 percent as soon as the trade agreement is in place.

“Giving its population, given the increasing focus on health and wellbeing, the growing economy and the demand for kiwifruit, India has the potential to be a really strong market for kiwifruit,” Fox said.

New Zealand has agreed to establish centres of excellence under the accord, with focused action plans for kiwifruit, apples and honey to improve productivity, quality and sectoral capabilities of these fruit growers in India.

These centres will work on capacity building for growers, provide technical support for orchard management and impart knowledge on post-harvest practices, supply chains and food safety.

In return, there will be paired market access for New Zealand exporters managed through a tariff rate quota system with minimum import prices and seasonal imports.

Scott said the sector viewed the centres of excellence in India with New Zealand’s help as part of the trade deal’s reciprocity.

Adsett said New Zealand’s apple sector had been sharing knowledge with Indian growers in the past, adding that she was excited to continue doing that as part of the centres of excellence.

“We have been sending our experts and growers up there to share our knowledge and expertise on how to grow a great apple tree for a long time,” Adsett said.

Fox highlighted Zespri’s track record of building high-value demand, promoting kiwifruit benefits and building awareness in markets it ventures into.

“New Zealand is counter-seasonal to India. We sell in our season, and Indian growers sell in their season. We believe there is demand for kiwifruit year-round in India,” Fox said.

“We will be working with Indian kiwifruit growing communities with a focus on upskilling, helping them to improve production and supply chain performance.

“We will help them focus on Indian green kiwifruit varieties. For us, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Jeff Ilott, chief executive officer of the New Zealand Timber Industry Federation, said his members were reporting an increased level of enquiries coming from India on the back of the signing of the free trade deal.

“This is very positive,” Ilott said. “There are a number of delegations going and coming from India. So, we are establishing very good links at the government level and with industry bodies there.

“At this stage it is very promising for New Zealand producers.

“One of our big focuses in dealing with the Indian market is extolling the virtues of radiata pine as a product. Particularly for high value products which we can produce from it such as clear timber or engineered timber products for making large beams.”

Ilott said the federation was working on various market research to work out the potential Indian market for New Zealand timber growers.

“[But] some members who have been around a long time say they are seeing similarities with what happened in China 20 years ago,” he said.

“China became a huge market for New Zealand radiata pine [after the signing of the free trade agreement with the East Asian nation in 2008], and, if it gets close to that number, … it will be good hope for the future.”

Trade Minister Todd McClay, who attended the opening ceremony of the first-ever India pavilion at Fieldays hosted by the Consulate General of India in Auckland, agreed.

“[The trade deal with India] will be as important to us in the end as the China free trade agreement,” McClay said.

“An overwhelming majority of people in our Parliament support the deal as all New Zealanders do. There have been surveys done around the country that show very strong support to it.

“All New Zealand exporters I have spoked to see a huge opportunity. The agreement will grow the relationship between India and New Zealand significantly.”

The minister thanked the opposition Labour Party for supporting the trade deal with India.

Notably, with New Zealand First opposing the deal, National needed to secure Labour’s support to get the agreement through Parliament.

Damien O’Connor, trade spokesperson for the Labour Party, said the trade momentum with India would continue if his party came to power after the November election.

“There is excitement here at Fieldays about the India trade deal,” O’Connor said.

“Having a formal relationship with a very big country is something really appreciated by a very small country like ours.

“No trade agreement is ever perfect, but it provides a platform for building growth and partnerships.

“In government, we will continue to push for improved relationship with India.

“We will take delegations to India and seize on the opportunities that it provides.”

Muanpuii Saiawi, recently appointed Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand, said India would participate in Fieldays in future.

“The relationship between the two countries is in upswing,” Saiawi said.

“We have to work together for the mutual prosperity of both the countries.”