Seed Bill to protect farmers’ rights to grow, sow, save, exchange & sell farm-saved seeds, says Indian govt
Even as a section of stakeholders are opposing some clauses in the draft Seeds Bill 2025, the government has said that the Bill protects the farmer’s rights in conformity with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, to grow, sow, save, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds. In a written reply in […]
Indian turmeric faces tough competition in the global market
India, which dominates the global turmeric market with a share of about 70 per cent, is facing tough competition from Vietnam, Myanmar and some African countries, which are trying to catch up with the country very fast. “We need to improve the quality of turmeric to meet global standards. Our turmeric is facing stiff competition […]
Onion farmers to set up National Onion Bhavan for price regulation and market monitoring
The Maharashtra State Onion Producer Farmers’ Organisation, based in Nashik, has announced plans to set up a National Onion Bhavan aimed at price regulation, market monitoring, and supporting farmers from cultivation to marketing. “All key decisions related to the production, storage, marketing and price regulation of Indian onions will now be brought directly into the […]
Sowing of rabi crops done in nearly 88% of normal area, shows data
The sowing of rabi crops was completed in almost 88 per cent of the normal area in the week ended December 12 with acreage under oilseeds surpassing five years’ average acreage. Data showed that till December 12, oilseeds have been sown in around 8.97 million hectares, higher than the normal acreage of 8.67 million hectares. […]
Agriculture and national security: India’s first line of defence
National security is usually discussed in terms of defence preparedness, border management and internal security. Yet, one of the strongest foundations of national security lies much closer to home — in the fields that grow our food and the systems that deliver it to our people. For India, food security is not just a welfare […]
Govt to extend Farmer Producer Organisations scheme for five more years
The government will extend its central scheme for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for another five years from 2026-31, addressing gaps that have limited the scaling up of operations, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said on Friday. Addressing the CII FPO Summit here, Chaturvedi said the scheme, launched in February 2020 with a target of forming 10,000 […]
UP to open 50 urad procurement centres, MSP set at ₹7,800 per quintal
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday said the NAFED is set to open 50 urad procurement centres across 17 districts of the state, where farmers will be able to sell their produce at a minimum support price of Rs 7,800 per quintal. Registration has already started, and procurement will begin shortly, it said in a […]
China’s crackdown barely dents India’s speciality fertiliser imports
China’s crackdown on exports of water-soluble fertilisers (WSFs), also called speciality fertilisers, was expected to lead to a massive drop in imports as the country accounted for more than half of the supplies, but recent data show that the so far the impact of any restriction has been rather subdued. China has been intermittently imposing […]
Fertiliser import likely to jump 41% in FY26 on strong monsoon demand: FAI
Despite a jump of over 136 per cent in urea imports during April-October and sales almost at par with the previous year, farmers’ complaints about shortages continue as stock has dropped to 4.99 million tonnes (mt) as of November 28, compared to 6.6 mt a year-ago. However, industry leaders maintain that the availability is adequate […]
Wheat sowing up 11%, mustard 5% higher as farmers cover Rabi season’s 75% area
Farmers in India have completed planting of winter crops in over 75 per cent of the normal area 637.81 lakh hectares (lh) this year as per latest data of the agriculture ministry. While mustard, the key oilseed crop of the Rabi season, and barley have exceeded their normal area, wheat, chana (gram), masur (lentil), maize […]