Seeds sector faces major shake-up as India readies new laws and treaties
The over-Rs 20,000 crore Indian seeds sectors could be in for some interesting times, thanks to both global and domestic developments that could fundamentally alter the manner in the governance and functioning of the sector. The first is the new draft Seeds Bill formulated by the Union Government earlier this month which seeks to replace […]
CCI’s cotton procurement at MSP gains pace; may top last year’s levels as prices rule weak
As market arrivals of cotton pick up, the procurement of the natural fibre crop by the State-run Cotton Corporation of India(CCI) at minimum support price (MSP) has gained pace with daily purchases exceeding the one-lakh bales (170 kg) mark. The market arrivals crossed two lakh bales on Monday, according to the trade. “Procurement has started […]
India’s wheat sowing up 19% as overall rabi crops acreage gains 12%
India’s overall rabi crops acreage was up 12 per cent in the week ended November 21, with the area under wheat leading the show with a 19 per cent increase. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare showed that the overall acreage was up at 306.31 lakh hectares (lh) compared with 272.78 lh […]
India’s Cotton Productivity Mission likely to get 10-year tenure
The Indian government has decided to have a longer tenure of 10 years for the proposed Cotton Productivity Mission after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) suggested the initially proposed 5-year tenure was not enough, sources said. The ICAR, which is piloting the mission, is awaiting the Agriculture Department’s inputs to finalise it, The mission was […]
Sugarcane crushing picks pace in Maharashtra, up 8 times year-on-year
Maharashtra’s sugarcane crushing season for 2025–26 has picked up pace, with 147 mills crushing 117.27 lakh MT of cane as of November 19, according to the latest report from the state sugar commissioner. Kolhapur division continues to lead the State, with its 30 operational factories crushing 29.61 lakh tonnes (lt) of cane and producing 25.32 […]
PM releases 21st PM-KISAN instalment of ₹18,000 crore for 9 crore farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN, amounting to over ₹18,000 crore to support 9 crore farmers across the country. Lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu have also received funds in their accounts, he said while releasing the instalment at the South India Natural Farming Summit at Coimbatore. The Prime […]
Solapur set to emerge as India’s new onion hub under Maharashtra’s policy push
The State government committee drafting Maharashtra’s onion policy has recommended setting up an onion terminal in Solapur, positioning the city as a key central hub for onion trade between North and South India. At a recent meeting in Solapur, under the chairmanship of the president of the Agriculture Costs and Prices Commission, Pasha Patel, members […]
India’s rabi crops acreage up 10% with wheat area rising 17%
Early sowing is helping India to continue witnessing a higher coverage in rabi crops compared with the year-ago period. Now, with an early onset of winter with cold wave gripping many parts of the northern India, farmers are expecting the yield to improve this year, helping the government to achieve its production target. The total […]
Govt pushes nano-fertilizers amid surge in conventional fertilizer demand, but farmers remain wary
The government is urgently pushing the use of nano fertilizers (liquid) in the ongoing Rabi sowing season to address the growing concerns about supply of conventional (granular) fertilisers. This is triggered by simultaneous increase in both conventional fertilizer demand and widening of acreage under cultivation this year. Data show that in the first week of […]
Maharashtra farmers cut moong acreage, maintain tur and expand urad
Maharashtra’s final pulses sowing report for the kharif 2025–26 season shows a mixed trend, with key crops performing unevenly against the state’s five-year averages. Data from the Maharashtra agriculture department indicate that while some pulse crops have expanded their acreage, others have seen a sharp decline due to erratic rainfall and shifting farmer preferences. Tur […]