Excess rain shrinks India’s green gram, black matpe yield, hurts quality
Despite farmers expanding the kharif area under pulses crops such as moong (green gram) and urad (black matpe) marginally, the output will likely be lower than last season, according to a cross-section of the trade and growers. This is because the excess rain has impacted the yield and quality substantially. Excess rain during July-September has […]
Sugar mills in Maharashtra to pay FRP based on cane recovery for the same year
Sugar mills in Maharashtra have decided that the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to sugarcane farmers will be paid based on the recovery from the cane crushed during the sugar season. The decision came after a recent meeting between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and sugar industry players. Pawar issued directions on the matter; however, […]
Marine exports to the EU set to rise as bloc approves 102 Indian fish units
Spelling some relief for Indian seafood exporters hit by US tariffs, the EU has approved 102 additional Indian fishery establishments for export to the bloc, which is likely to immediately increase exports of the item to the bloc by 20 per cent, according to the government. Simultaneously, there is positive movement in the India-EU free […]
India’s kharif sowing area exceeds normal coverage, though gap shrinks to 2.5%
Crop damage reports have come from different States, including Punjab and Rajasthan, but it will take time to make an actual assessment once flood water recedes and heavy rainfall stops, a senior official said. The Centre is soon sending its inter-ministerial team to affected areas of Punjab as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to […]
SOPA seeks 10% duty on edible oil import, urges Agri Min to implement Bhavantar scheme for procurement
As soybean prices continue to remain bearish, trade body Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has urged the government to impose 10 per cent duty on edible oil imports and implement the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (Price Deficiency Payment Scheme) in place of the large-scale procurement under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for the kharif marketing […]
APEDA launches Bharati initiative to boost agri-food exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched its new initiative ‘Bharati’ on the sidelines of the ‘Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting’ chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, alongside Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, and Union Minister of Food Processing Industries […]
AI in agriculture: Time to move from demos to decisions
There has been a growing hype in the agtech sector that: “AI will transform agriculture”. From advisories like NPSS (National Pest Surveillance System) to intelligent governance dashboard, AI is perceived as the game-changer from our policymakers to farmers. While this is a compelling vision, it is also dangerously oversimplified. It’s time we ask ourselves the […]
Allegations of irregularities in onion procurement surface again
Allegations of irregularities in onion procurement under the Centre’s Price Stabilisation Fund scheme have resurfaced, with farmer groups demanding immediate payment of pending dues and a white paper on the process. The scheme had set a target of procuring 3 lakh tonnes of onions through nodal agencies NAFED and NCCF. However, farmers allege that farmer […]
India lowers rice procurement target, to buy 46.35 million tonne in 2025-26
The Indian government has fixed the rice procurement target at 46.35 million tonne (mt) from the crop grown during the current kharif season. It had purchased about 47.4 mt from the kharif 2024 crop against a target of 51.16 mt. In a meeting with Food Secretaries of States and Union Territories on Monday, where officials […]
Countries pushed India on agri market, but nation stands firm now: Chouhan
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, without naming the United States, on Saturday said some countries had pressured India to open its agricultural market but the nation today stands tall and engages confidently on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said national interest is paramount, and farmers’ interests will not be compromised, Chouhan asserted […]