India’s key weather event, South-West monsoon, has set in over Kerala coast: IMD
The South-West Monsoon, a key weather event for India that makes up over 75 per cent of the annual rainfall, has set in over Kerala this morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It said over the past two days, convective cloudiness increased over the South-East Arabian Sea, a feature of the setting in of the monsoon over Kerala. […]
Centre asks states to activate district-level contingency plans to tackle El Nino threat
The agriculture ministry on Tuesday directed central and state agencies to activate district-level contingency plans immediately after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a below-normal southwest monsoon and the possible development of El Nino during the rainy season. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired a high-level meeting at Krishi Bhawan, said preparations should prioritise […]
El Nino’s local impact may outweigh overall monsoon deficit, warn experts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) last week lowered its 2026 monsoon forecast to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), downgrading it from its April forecast of 92 per cent of the LPA. Though the forecast comes with a model error margin of plus or minus 5 per cent, if the actual rainfall […]
The missing middle of Indian agriculture: Why small-farm mechanisation is the next big reform
Every few months, India’s agriculture debate circles back to the same pressure points: minimum support prices, loan waivers, subsidies and agri-tech funding. These conversations matter. But they consume so much oxygen that a quieter, structural gap rarely gets the attention it deserves. The gap is not at the extremes. It’s in the middle. Most Indian […]
Weather forecasting and AI in Indian farming: Transforming crop protection and agriculture
Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy and supports the livelihood of millions of people. For generations, Indian farmers have depended on traditional knowledge, seasonal experience, and local weather patterns to make farming decisions. However, climate change, unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, and increasing crop diseases are creating new challenges for agriculture. To deal with […]
Raw material cost spike to be absorbed by govt subsidy amid West Asian conflict : GSFC
State-run Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) said fertilizer raw material prices have surged due to the US-Iran conflict in the West Asian region, but government subsidy support is expected to fully absorb the cost impact and protect margins in key products such as Urea and Diammonium Phosphate or DAP “The fertilizer segment heads into […]
India’s gherkin exports hit record high $307 million in FY26 despite US tariffs
India’s gherkin exports touched a new high both in value and volume during 2025-26 as key buyers such as Germany, Russia and Canada scaled up purchases of the pickled cucumbers. The record exports are despite the tariff issue hurting shipments to the US, the largest buyer, and sluggish off-take by key European buyers such as […]
Brewing storm over Bay may delay classical monsoon onset in Kerala
Incoming south-west monsoon continues to linger along the Sri Lankan latitudes, still deprived of the sea-borne circulation that would normally propel it northward into Kerala. Such a ‘vortex’ now appears unlikely to form before month-end, delaying the season’s decisive advance into mainland India. Nor is there support forthcoming from the upper atmosphere. The Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), […]
German firm B+H Solutions to invest 1 million euros in India to push nano-fertiliser growth
German agricultural technology company B+H Solutions GmbH is eyeing the Indian market to expand its presence, with plans to invest 1 million euros in 2026, banking on rising demand for its metal-based nano-fertilisers and a recent regulatory breakthrough to accelerate growth in the country. The company, which markets its products through its Indian subsidiary Dr Heinisch […]
Why transparent sugarcane pricing can improve sustainability across the sector
Sugarcane remains one of the most important pillars of India’s rural economy, supporting millions of farmers and workers across the agricultural and industrial value chain. India is among the world’s largest producers of sugarcane, with annual cane production exceeding 450 million tonnes in recent years. Given the scale and socio-economic importance of the sector, a […]