It’ll soon be that time of the year when we start seeing new winged visitors around us. Yes, the winter migratory birds are just around the corner, with some already here in India, and some yet to come. India, with its diverse ecosystems ranging from wetlands to forests, is a haven for birdwatchers, especially during the winter months (October to March) when millions of migratory birds arrive from regions like Siberia, Europe, and Central Asia. The reason why these birds come to visit us is because they are in search of a warmer wintering spot. For food and offspring, our winter is perfect for them. As they escape harsh northern winters, they make some of India’s popular bird sanctuaries their home for a few months. Here is a list of top bird sanctuaries across India preparing to welcome these winged visitors in the 2025 winter season.

India is preparing to ramp up rice exports to the Philippines, the world’s largest importer of the grain, with a delegation of leading exporters scheduled to visit the Southeast Asian nation next month, a senior commerce ministry official told PTI.

The Philippines has emerged as a critical market for India’s agricultural exports. In 2024, Manila imported farm goods worth nearly $20 billion, including semi-milled rice, wheat and meslin, oilcake, food preparations and palm oil. India’s shipments to the country stood at $413 million, making up just 2% of the Philippines’ total agricultural imports.

Key Indian exports to the Philippines included beef, groundnut, rice and tobacco. Despite being the world’s largest exporter of rice, with overseas sales worth $11.83 billion in 2024-25, India’s rice exports to the Philippines were valued at only $48.91 million during the same period.

“Philippines is the largest importer of rice in the world, with imports in 2024 valued at $2.52 billion. However, there is significant opportunity to expand India’s rice exports in the Philippines as, despite India being the world’s largest rice exporter, India’s rice exports were only $48.91 million to the Philippines in the same period,” the official noted, calling it an untapped opportunity.

To bridge this gap, the commerce ministry is facilitating a delegation of rice exporters, along with those dealing in other potential products such as onions, potatoes, groundnut and meat, to travel to the Philippines in early September. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade linkages and help Indian exporters establish a stronger foothold in the region.

The engagement is set to continue later in the year, with a team of Philippine food importers due to participate in World Food India, scheduled for September 25-28 . They will take part in the International Rice Conference on October 30-31, 2025, billed as the first large-scale trade fair of its kind for the rice sector.

India is also witnessing a surge in agricultural exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Exports to the bloc rose from $480 million in 2023-24 to $628 million in 2024-25, driven largely by stronger trade ties with Russia.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has played an active role in the growth of India agriculture exports by showcasing Indian produce at international trade events such as World Food Moscow. According to officials, such platforms have been vital in boosting visibility, forging new business partnerships and consolidating India’s presence in the CIS market.

The KSRTC will deploy 90 additional buses from September 2 to 4 to accommodate Onam travellers between Bengaluru and Kerala.