AI-based monsoon forecasts help 38 million Indian farmers make planting decisions
This summer, 38 million farmers across India accessed AI-driven monsoon forecasts, enabling them to choose whether to plant, change crops, or delay. This was made possible by NeuralGCM, a Google Research model enhanced by the University of Chicago, combining physics with machine learning to deliver precise monsoon predictions. For years, weather and climate models have […]
Key Indian kharif oilseeds, pulses rule over ₹1,000 a quintal below MSPs in agri-market yards
Average mandi (agriculture market yard) prices of key kharif pulses and oilseeds are ruling lower by ₹1,076-1,778 per quintal than their respective minimum support prices (MSPs) of the 2025-26 season, even as arrivals of fresh harvest have started in some areas. If prices remain depressed after supplies increase from mid-October, the government will be under […]
Drop in Indian rice production may be marginal in Punjab
Punjab may see only a fall in rice production after the floods destroyed the paddy crop in about 2 lakh hectares, said a senior state official. The yield in non-affected areas is likely to be higher, he said. Last year, the State produced 14.36 million tonnes (mt) of rice, including Basmati. Official sources said more […]
Centre sets Rabi foodgrains production target at 171 million tonnes
TFertilizer became the main theme at the annual Rabi conference as most of the States demanded adequate availability during the next winter sowing season, commencing from October as the crop nutrients are essential to achieve targeted production. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while announcing that there is more than enough seeds available for the Rabi […]
Kharif sowing increases 2% so far this year; oilseeds lag behind last year
Total area sown to paddy rose marginally by 2 per cent to 438.51 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing 2025-26 kharif (summer) season, but oilseeds acreage was lagging behind, according to agriculture ministry data released on Monday. Paddy, the main kharif crop, was sown in about 430.06 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. The […]
CBIC assures considering all micro-nutrients uniformly under GST
The Union Finance Ministry has agreed to consider the Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association’s (IMMA) plea for treating all micro-nutrients coming under the Fertiliser Control Order uniformly under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, this would be done in consultation with the Agriculture Ministry, the officials told a delegation of IMMA. The delegation met officials […]
What impact will lower GST have on farming and allied sectors?
What impact will lower GST have on farming and allied sectors? The recent announcement of the GST reform package will have a significant impact on the Indian economy, including the agriculture and allied sectors. Reducing the GST rates on farm machinery and fertiliser inputs—from the current 12 per cent (machinery) and 18 per cent (fertiliser […]
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 […]