Imported or ‘Swadeshi’ tug-of-war in ₹60,000-crore dry fruits/nuts market
As Diwali shoppers fill their baskets with almonds and walnuts, few realise that most of these “Indian” dry fruits aren’t truly Swadeshi. There is an intense tug-of-war in marketing this produce, which has a ₹60,000-crore market dominated by nearly 75–80 per cent imports. Agritech startup KisaanSay is marketing Indian-grown dry fruits as a premium, “flavour-rich” […]
India’s biofuel revolution: Leveraging the social cost of carbon to mitigate climate change
India is on the frontline of climate change, grappling with intensifying extreme weather events, from scorching heatwaves to the spread of vector-borne diseases. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared 2024 as the hottest year on record, with global mean near-surface temperatures soaring 1.55 ± 0.13°C above pre-industrial levels. India faced extreme weather on 88 per […]
India’s ICAR panel shortlists 23 new wheat varieties for commercial release
A key panel of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has approved a total of 28 new varieties of wheat and barley for the seed sub-committee to consider for release. This comes when the wheat sowing season is set to begin.The Varietal Identification Committee (VIC), convened in August under ICAR’s Assistant Director General SK […]
Soybean production expected to fall by 20.5 lakh tonnes: Industry body
The production of soybean, known as ‘yellow gold’ among farmers, is expected to decline in the country by about 20.5 lakh tonnes this year to 105.36 lakh tonnes, an industry association has said. The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) cited the decrease in soybean acreage and productivity as well as the impact of adverse […]
Maharashtra announces ₹31,628-crore flood relief package, but farmers demand loan waiver
Even as the Maharashtra government announced a ₹31,628-crore relief package for flood-affected farmers on Tuesday, several farmers’ organisations expressed dissatisfaction, calling the aid inadequate and demanding a comprehensive loan waiver.According to the government’s announcement, farmers whose fields have suffered complete soil erosion will receive compensation of ₹3.5 lakh per hectare. Those holding non-irrigated land will […]
Turf war within ICAR: Baby corn, sweet corn agriculture or horticulture crop?
A controversy is brewing within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) over which division should oversee research for baby corn and sweet corn. The disagreement, fueled by a request from a Haryana farmer and supported by the State’s horticulture university, centers on whether these specialty corns should be treated as field crops or vegetable […]
Big project with Indian government’, German Envoy lauds German project’s success in agricultural sector
German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann said that Germany is trying to help Indian farming techniques be more efficient and sustainable. Ackermann, who also met Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, told ANI that collaboration in the field of agriculture has been great. “I think agriculture is an important area here. Germany is […]
PM Modi will ensure immediate help for rain-hit Maharashtra farmers: Amit Shah
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not delay assistance to Maharashtra farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the recent heavy rains. He said the Centre stands firmly with the farming community and has asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the […]
Global wheat market poised to continue in the grips of bears
Global wheat prices are poised to rule bearish, with forecasts pegging the production at a record high of over 815 million tonnes (mt), with estimates of a higher crop in the US, Australia, European Union, Canada, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, analysts say. This comes at a time when Indian growers are set to plant the […]
China, Southeast Asia to redefine global table grape trade
China is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in the global table grape trade, challenging established exporters and reshaping demand across Asia, according to the latest RaboResearch report On the other hand, Southeast Asia offers “untapped opportunities” for diversification, not only for China but also for competing exporters such as Australia, India and South Africa, which […]