Apeda resumes rice export registration to the Philippines, Senegal after import curbs lifted
After the Philippines and Senegal lifted curbs on rice imports, India’s agri export promotion body Apeda has resumed registering export contracts for non-Basmati rice to both countries with immediate effect. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said in a notice on Wednesday that it has resumed the issuance of Registration-Cum-Allocation Certificates […]
Edible oil imports fall 11.6% as palm oil inflows decrease
Edible oil imports declined by 11.6 per cent during the first two months of the oil year 2025-26 (November-October) due to a decrease in palm oil shipments. Data compiled by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) showed that India imported 25.13 lakh tonnes (lt) of edible oil during November-December of the oil year 2025-26, […]
India’s rabi sowing area exceeds normal acreage, up 3% from last year
With a coverage of about 10 lakh hectares (lh) in the past week, the overall acreage of rabi crops reached 644.29 lh as of January 9, which is 2.8 per cent higher than 626.64 lh a year ago. The area has exceeded the winter season’s average 637.81 lh, the government said on Monday. Wheat acreage […]
Micro-fertiliser industry seeks uniform 5% GST, faster credit refunds ahead of Budget
The Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association has urged the Centre to extend the 5 per cent GST across all fertilisers notified under the Fertiliser Control Order, expedite refunds of excess GST credits, and implement a unified licensing system ahead of the Union Budget. While acknowledging GST 2.0 as a “landmark reform” for the sector, particularly the […]
APEDA launches initiative to boost agri-food, agri-tech startups, exports
The commerce ministry’s arm APEDA has launched an initiative to support agri-food and agri-tech startups, aimed at promoting innovation and creating new export opportunities for young entrepreneurs, an official said on Thursday. APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) Chairman Abhishek Dev said the initiative- BHARATI, which stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, […]
New sugarcane variety ‘Bismil’ gets nod for cultivation in 4 more states
The Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane Research Council, Shahjahanpur, has developed a new high-yielding sugarcane variety named ‘Bismil’, after freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil, which has now been approved for cultivation in four more states, officials said on Thursday. The variety, earlier approved only for Uttar Pradesh, has received clearance for cultivation in Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and […]
Draft pesticides Bill includes tech, digital and other reform-oriented provisions
The Centre on Wednesday released the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, which intends to replace the current Insecticides Act, 1968. The government has sought feedback from the stakeholders by February 4 so that it can be finalised and introduced in the ensuing Budget session of Parliament. In November last year, the Government released the draft […]
Maharashtra seeks 4% RoDTEP support for onion exports
Even as onion exporters have demanded that the Union government raise the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) rate from the existing 1.9 per cent to 5 per cent, the Maharashtra government has officially sought a revision of the rate to 4 per cent to support farmers facing losses due to falling […]
AI-based initiative launched in Ranjangaon to boost sugarcane productivity
An artificial intelligence–based experiment aimed at increasing sugarcane productivity has been launched at Ranjangaon by Natural Sugar and Allied Industries Ltd, Dharashiv district. The sugar factory, which has a crushing capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day, has for the past 25 years been implementing various innovative initiatives to enhance sugarcane production and set new benchmarks […]
India becomes world’s largest rice producer, overtakes China: Shivraj Chouhan
India has become the world’s largest rice producer, beating China, with a total output of 150.18 million tonnes, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday, as he released 184 new varieties of 25 crops. These new high-yielding seed varieties would boost crop production and enhance farmers’ income, he said, while directing the ministry […]